HGP Nightly News – A debate on the floor of the National Assembly concerning media access to parliamentary proceedings escalated on Tuesday, resulting in a direct intervention by the Speaker, Mr. Manzoor Nadir, who directed a Member of Parliament to pursue the matter through formal procedural channels.
The exchange occurred during the budget presentation of APNU Member of Parliament Sherod Duncan. In his address, Mr. Duncan strongly criticized recent restrictions limiting the number of reporters allowed inside the parliamentary chamber and called for their immediate rescission.
He described the measures as “a troubling move and a clear break from democratic norms,” accusing the government of hypocrisy regarding press freedom.Before Mr. Duncan could elaborate further, Speaker Nadir rose to address the chamber. Without halting the MP’s speaking time, the Speaker read aloud from Standing Order 110, which governs media access.
He clarified that the authority to grant or revoke permission for media representatives rests solely with the Speaker, subject to rules established by the Assembly.“You can bring a motion to this House, have it debated and passed, and I will implement it,” Speaker Nadir stated directly to Mr. Duncan.
“Until then, what existed in this House up to the end of the last sitting of the 12th Parliament has been expanded. That position was established in consultation with the Guyana Press Association (GPA).” The Speaker rejected the characterization that media had been “locked out,” asserting that both private and state media continue to have access to cover proceedings.
He emphasized that the current protocols are a continuation of measures first implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. The controversy stems from protocols reinstated at the opening of the 2026 Budget Debates, which limit the number of reporters inside the parliamentary Dome to five at any time, operating on a first-come, first-served basis.
Journalists are also required to lodge a form of identification in exchange for a media pass. The Guyana Press Association (GPA) has publicly expressed concern over the reduced access, noting that up to 17 reporters were previously accommodated and questioning the rationale for fewer journalists in a larger space.
The GPA has called for a review to restore full media access in keeping with democratic principles. The parliamentary exchange underscores the ongoing tension between operational protocols, parliamentary authority, and the principles of open legislative access.
