Georgetown, GINA -- July 27, 2007 --  Government today expressed its regret over the lack of prior communication with regards to the publication of commendation from the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (INCHR).

Minister of Foreign Affairs Rudy Insanally in an invited comment today said, "On behalf of the government I want to register through you (media) disappointment that communication should have been released almost of the same time the government received an official letter,” Minister Insanally said.

The Government believes that the only conclusion that can be made from the steps taken by the Office of the Special Rapporteur is that it was not interested in the Government’s position on the matter before putting it in the public domain.

“The government has not had a chance to examine the request or the matter to be able to reply responsibly to it. I don’t think it is a very welcomed practice. We are very disappointed with the actions taken by the entity,” Minister Insanally said.

The Stabroek News today published a press release by the Washington Office INCHR calling for government to review its decision taken in November
last year to cease advertisements in the Stabroek News.

The report in the Stabroek News also claimed that on June 13 the Rapporteur’s office wrote the Guyana Government for information within 15 days on the allocation of ads and that there has been no response from government.

Minister Insanally said government intends to respond to the statement.  “We will respond in due time. I think the normal international courtesy is the government is first informed before it is put to the general public. We will consult in the nature of that reply.  We are prepared to examine them (the concerns raised) and to respond to them as is necessary. I am just regretting the lack of prior communication to the government," Minister Insanally said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press release this evening said the letter was only received on July 23.

“It is normal diplomatic courtesy for Member States of international organizations to be apprised in good time of any concerns which the latter may have.  Since the Government was asked by the Special Rapporteur to provide the information requested within fifteen days i.e. by June 28, 2007, it was hardly possible to provide a timely and adequate response given the fact that the communication from the Office of the Special Rapporteur was received only on July 23, 2007,” the release said.

Source: gina.gov.gy