GEORGETOWN — President Irfaan Ali may have secured a second term in office, but international watchdogs are warning that his record on press freedom threatens to overshadow his fresh mandate.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has called out the government for its poor track record with the media, urging Ali to stop the hostility toward journalists and move beyond political control of information. The watchdog insists that without concrete reforms, his promises of transparency will ring hollow.
While Guyana sits at 73rd on the 2025 RSF World Press Freedom Index, the country plunges to 111th on the political indicator, a ranking that directly reflects the government’s heavy influence over media. The European Union Election Observation Mission also underscored the problem in its post-election review, citing “undue advantages of incumbency” and describing the media landscape as “highly politicised.”
RSF pointed to several troubling cases during Ali’s first term, including the October 2024 targeting of Leroy Smith, publisher of Big Smith News Watch. Smith faced the threat of sedition charges and a multimillion-dollar defamation lawsuit after reporting on alleged misconduct by a senior police official. According to RSF, harassment of journalists by government supporters has become a recurring tactic.
Despite Ali’s September 7 pledge to respect the press and create transparency systems in every ministry, RSF made clear that words are not enough. The organization issued three recommendations: end political hostility toward journalists, establish impartial rules for state advertising, and guarantee equal access for all media outlets.
For critics, Ali’s second term presents a critical test: will his government reset relations with the press, or continue down a path of intimidation and control?
