IAPA Midyear Meeting. April 23 - 24, 2026.
Except for verbal attacks against civil society organizations by media outlets aligned with the PPP/C government and by social media influencers, there are no formal restrictions on the practice of journalism. Reporters are generally free to carry out their work, although some face intimidation from senior officials and members of the ruling party. On social media, stigmatization of independent voices by pro-government users continues.
Guyana has three daily newspapers and a wide range of television and radio stations. The State owns media outlets across all these sectors of the information ecosystem.
A fourth daily newspaper, Stabroek News, ceased publication on March 14. The closure was primarily due to the collapse of traditional advertising and subscription markets. However, it should be noted that the newspaper was owed 85 million Guyanese dollars (approximately US$400,000) by the government information agency for the placement of state advertising. The government’s failure to make regular payments created financial difficulties for Stabroek News. The newspaper has also stated that the withholding of these funds constitutes an attack on press freedom. To date, no payment has been made toward this debt, which covers the period from May 2025 to February 28, 2026.
The practice of journalism is largely dependent on a legislative framework with serious deficiencies. An Access to Information Act was passed in 2011, but in practice it is not functioning. Numerous information requests from civil society and the media have gone unanswered.
Members of civil society groups and media professionals began protesting against the Information Commissioner—whose son is a current government minister—and the ineffectiveness of his office. Despite these protests, the government allocated additional resources to the Office of the Information Commissioner in the 2026 budget, without guarantees of accountability.
Although criminal defamation has been abolished, civil lawsuits remain a concern for journalists, as courts have awarded significant damages in defamation cases.
In January, the acting Chief Justice threatened to file a defamation lawsuit against Stabroek News following the publication of a letter and a news article. The newspaper ultimately issued an apology.
During the period analyzed (October–April), restrictions on access to information from the Executive Branch have persisted. As previously reported in October, President Ali has not held open press conferences since September 16. Presidential communication continues to take place primarily through interviews with pro-government media and limited responses at official events, maintaining restricted access to information for independent press.
On February 2, at the opening of the 13th Parliament, the Speaker of the National Assembly introduced new rules for the press, limiting private media to seven seats. Special credentials issued by the Parliament Office were also required. Additionally, the state media outlet was designated as the only entity authorized to record inside the parliamentary chamber, with other media receiving the signal afterward. Following criticism and a meeting with the Speaker, it was agreed to increase seating to 10 and eliminate the special credential requirement.
