PPP wants reversal of gag order placed on Guyana Times

[www.inewsguyana.com] – The governing People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has come out in support of its Attorney General, Anil Nandlall who recently criticized a High Court Judge for issuing a gag order against Guyana Times, preventing the newspaper from reporting on the case between the National Industrial Investment Company Limited (NICIL) and Royal Investments Limited (RIL). The gag order was placed by Justice Roxanne George.

In a press statement issued on Tuesday, November 5 the PPP registered its “deep concern” on the matter and called on those involved to reverse the decision.

“We support the Attorney General’s contention that the order of the learned Judge may be an abuse of press freedom and is in violation of the Constitution of Guyana,” the PPP noted.

The Political party also used the opportunity to praise itself for “contributing” to freedom of the press.

“As a party which has fought so many battles and contributed to so many advances in the pursuit of freedom of the press, we view this as a most retrograde step. We call upon all concerned to do that which is necessary to reverse it. We may not agree with many of what the press publishes; but we must respect their right to publish it, once it is lawful for them to do so,” the PPP noted.

NICIL filed a law suit against RIL seeking to recover monies due and owing in respect of the sale of Guyana Stores Limited, a State owned entity. The monies which are being sued for are public funds.

The AG had noted that the articles which were published by the newspapers sought to disseminate information, which largely, were extracted from the Annual Reports of Guyana Stores Limited, a public company that has approximately 1500 hundred shareholders.

He contended that the gag order is in collision with freedom of expression and freedom of the press which is a right guaranteed by the constitution.