At a glance-
Freedom of the Press 2016: Guyana
Following critical coverage of the government in the state-run Guyana Chronicle, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo in August ordered that headlines in state-run print outlets be screened by his office before publication.
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Freedom of the Press 2015: Guyana
Ranked 70th in annual global media freedom report
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Freedom of the Press 2014: Guyana
Ranked 70th in annual global media freedom report
16 August 2006
GUNMEN KILL FIVE NEWSPAPER WORKERS
The Inter American Press Association (IAPA), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) have condemned the killing of five employees of "Kaieteur News", the highest-circulation daily newspaper in Guyana.
The employes were shot dead by gunmen who stormed the newspaper's printing plant outside the capital, Georgetown on 8 August 2006.
The victims were identified as Richard Stewart, Chetram Persaud, Elion Wegman, Mark Mikoo and Shazim Mohamed, reported IAPA and CPJ. A security guard survived the attack.
CPJ and CJFE say the motive for the attack is unclear. The owner of "Kaieteur News", Glenn Lall, said the newspaper had recently received threats over its coverage of a series of Georgetown rapes.
However, according to an Associated Press report, the shootings may be linked to protests over poor prison conditions which erupted in the capital at the time of the attack. Violence also took place in the village of Bagotstown, where a man died and four were shot, notes CJFE.
The shootings occurred less than three weeks before the general elections, which are scheduled for 28 August.
Visit these links:
- CJFE: http://www.cjfe.org/releases/2006/10082006kaieteur.html- CPJ: http://www.cpj.org/news/2006/americas/guyana09aug06na.html- IAPA: http://www.sipiapa.org/espanol/pressreleases/chronologicaldetail.cfm?PressReleaseID=1719- Associated Press: http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/08/09/guyana.shooting.ap/
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