GPA criticises parliamentary ‘media restrictions’

The Guyana Press Association (GPA) has expressed deep concern over new restrictions on media coverage of the ongoing Budget Debates in the National Assembly.
The association said only five reporters are being allowed into the National Assembly dome at a time, down from up to 17 in previous years. Reporters are also required to submit identification before gaining access.

“The reduction in media access, despite a larger space, is difficult to comprehend,” the GPA said in a statement.
The GPA also criticised the lack of a direct feed for cameras inside the dome. Media houses have been told to rely on a link from the Department of Public Information (DPI), which the association described as “unreliable, with frequent audio breaks and interruptions.”

“A streaming link cannot be considered a direct feed, as it does not provide continuous, unfiltered access to parliamentary proceedings,” the statement said.
The association urged the Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir, to review the measures and restore full press access, calling the restrictions a “direct attack on freedom of the press” and a threat to transparency and accountability.