Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Guyana rated "Free" in 2009 Freedom in the World Report!



A 2009 report made public yesterday by Freedom House, says the international Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) has credited Guyana as a free nation which respects the rights of citizens.

The NGO report, titled “Freedom in the World 2009”, examines the state of freedom in 193 countries and 16 strategic territories. It provides a detailed explanation of each country’s status in relation to the electoral process, governance, women’s rights, media independence and basic freedoms such as expressions, religion and association.

According to the report, freedom of religion is a right which every Guyanese enjoys and there is no hindrance to academic freedom by Government. Similar comments were made about press freedom which is characterised by the way in which several newspapers operate in Guyana.

Reference was made to the boycott of Government ads in the Stabroek News that ended with an announcement by Government at the Caribbean Media and Communication Conference.

The broadcast media in Guyana was cited in the report as agencies that freely criticise the Government.

The report also acknowledged that the Government respects freedoms of assembly and association in practice, and the right to form labour unions which it cited as well-organised.

The country’s judicial system was also highlighted in the report as independent, although disadvantaged by staff shortages. Guyana in 2005 adopted the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), severing ties with the Privy Council in London.

Commendations were also given in the report to the ruling administration for its efforts to protect citizens’ rights.

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