Press freedom not only a professional duty but national imperative for stability, progress – GPA

See statement below from the Guyana Press Association (GPA): 

On World Press Freedom Day 2026, the Guyana Press Association joins the international community in affirming that a free and independent media is the cornerstone of peace, human rights, and sustainable development.

Thus, the theme for World Press Freedom Day 2026 “Shaping a Future at Peace: Promoting Press Freedom for Human Rights, Development, and Security”, is not only timely but relevant.

In Guyana, where our democracy continues to evolve, press freedom is not only a professional duty but a national imperative for stability and progress.

This means the independent media must be afforded the opportunity to access information and operate in an environment that is free from fear and intimidation.
The Access to Information Act must be fully and properly operationalised. The public is entitled to credible information and transparency. It is through the dedicated work of journalists that citizens can get the information needed to demand accountability.

The Guyana Press Association wishes to encourage journalists to be fearless in pursuit of their craft to shape a future that will be at peace. Equally, we urge government, opposition, civil society, individuals, and other non-State actors to join hands in unison to create an enabling environment for officialdom and official documents to be made available.

This will allow Guyanese at all levels an opportunity to make informed and rational decisions that can redounded to the benefit of our beloved country.

The public is entitled to transparency, and so every effort must be made to have a user-friendly Access to Information mechanism as one of the avenues through which information can be provided in a timely manner.

Technological advancements must not be utilised as tools of information restriction as that can, as experience currently shows, result in the dampening of freedom of expression, a fundamental human right in itself. Accurate, timely and relevant information is intrinsically critical to the appreciation and realisation of other human rights, human development, and multi-faceted security.

Bear in mind that journalism is beyond news but extends to features, documentaries, dried discussions and other forms of current affairs content that dissect challenges and offer potential solutions.

The GPA, therefore, urges the Guyana government, opposition, academia, civil society, and other credible non-State actors to work harmoniously towards this common objective that will benefit Guyana regardless of which party governs.