NOTICE TO ALL READERS OF
KAIETEUR NEWS
We are calling to your
attention the continued
systematic campaign to
strangle this newspaper and at
the same time to assure you,
our readers and advertisers,
that those behind this wicked
plot are deluding themselves
into believing that they can
shut down this newspaper.
Over the past year, we have
seen an inexorable drying up
of government
advertisements to the
Kaieteur News. This newspaper
publishes locally and in New
York.
As an example of how
irrational the ads placements
have become, in the one-week
period from April 18 to April
24, 2010, the following are
the percentages:
Guyana Chronicle -
35.9%
Stabroek News
- 32.1%
Guyana Times
- 18.5%
Kaieteur News
- 13.5%
The situation was most glaring
on Monday April 19. Kaieteur
News received 7 per
cent of advertising
while the other three each
received 31 per cent.
This newspaper does not intend
to go down the route taken by
Stabroek News when it saw a
steep reduction in government
ads for eighteen months. We
are not launching any campaign
to protest and
internationalize what we
perceive as a systematic
operation to stifle this
newspaper. We are not
going to whine or beg anyone,
least of all the conniving and
the vindictive.
Kaieteur News has never bowed
to any power, except those in
the heavens. We shall not be
intimidated. We shall not give
in to the pressures and we are
not going to make any deals
that would compromise what we
have always stood for:
fearlessness and independence
in news gathering and
commentary.
We have faced and overcome
similar problems in the past.
For the first ten years of
this newspaper’s existence
we never received Government
ads. We survived because of
the faith that you the readers
reposed in us. We shall
continue to do so despite the
present difficulties
In order to preserve our
independence and reduce our
reliance on government ads, we
shall increase the price of
our newspapers by $20
beginning 1st May, 2010. We
know that you the readers will
appreciate that this is a
necessary step to ensure that
we are outside of the reach of
those that wish to suffocate
us and keep you in the dark.
We know that you, our readers,
will understand what it takes
to survive as a viable
business and will continue to
lend your support, as you have
done, through the years. You
have been the bedrock of our
sustenance as we have
persevered in our quest to
bring you quality reporting on
matters of public interest.
With your support we shall
stand firm. In the words of
Winston Churchill, we say,
“We shall not flag or fail.
We shall go on to the end.
Whatever the cost… We
shall never surrender.”
Wednesday, April
28, 2010