JAGDEO HITTING CRITICS WHERE IT HURTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L GEORGETOWN 000152

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2017
TAGS: PGOV KDEM GY
SUBJECT: JAGDEO HITTING CRITICS WHERE IT HURTS

REF: GEORGETOWN 110

Classified By: AMBASSADOR DAVID M. ROBINSON FOR REASON 1.4(D)


1. (C) Summary: An escalating conflict between the GOG and
the independent Stabroek News over a recent withdrawal of
government advertisements (reported reftel) illustrates
President Jagdeo's mounting willingness to lash out at
critics with more than verbal attacks. As more groups
condemn the ad withdrawal and Jagdeo sharpens his rebuttals,
local and international observers are increasingly uneasy
over the President's autocratic tendencies. End Summary.


2. (U) Stabroek News continues to complain bitterly about the
government's advertising withdrawal. The paper has promised
to publish a daily protest banner on its front page until the
government recants, and carries a new story of support from
an international press organization almost every day. The
most recent backers of Stabroek News%cause include the
Commonwealth Press Union and the Inter-American Press
Association. Both characterized the government's action as
an attack against freedom of the press. Meanwhile, Stabroek
News has announced that the state corporations Guyana Power
and Light and Guysuco also have stopped booking
advertisements.


3. (SBU) Jagdeo has gone public with his criticism of
Stabroek News' campaign, calling it "sad and pathetic." He
continues to insist that the decision to withdraw advertising
was purely commercial, and has accused Stabroek News of
painting a false picture of events to win sympathy abroad.
In fact, Jagdeo's explanation narrowly conforms with the
letter of the law, which demands only that the GoG place its
ads in at least one private sector newpaper in addition to
government-controlled media outlets. But almost all
observers recognize that pulling the ads from the only
articulate critic of the administration is a punitive slap,
not a financial move, and it may be working. The other two
major dailies' coverage of the story generally is more
sympathetic to the President than to their angry competitor.


4. (C) Well-respected businessman and former Private Sector
Commission Head Yesu Persaud told the Ambassador and the
Canadian High Commissioner that he and others were deeply
concerned by Jagdeo's recent behavior. Persaud was
particularly troubled by Jagdeo's apparent willingness to hit
his critics in the pocketbook, rather than merely lambasting
them in public as he has done in the past. Similarly, major
donor chiefs of mission--including the British, Canadians,
IMF, World Bank, IDB, UNDP and us--agreed at a recent donors'
lunch that the ad controversy is just the latest in a growing
list of moves by Jagdeo to consolidate power in himself.
Even the old guard in the People's Progressive Party,
Jagdeo's own platform, is privately critical of the
President's dismissive attitude toward it and other political
and governmental institutions.


5. (C) Comment: Our collective concern about an
increasingly arrogant chief executive is unlikely to cause
Jagdeo much heartburn. He faces a neutered opposition, a
docile parliament, and a tame press - with Stabroek News the
lone vocal exception. The major donors chiefs of mission,
including the Ambassador, are coordinating talking points for
public and private use encouraging the president and his
inner circle to keep their campaign pledge for greater
democratic inclusion in a robust reform program. The real
opportunity to make that point will come when Jagdeo asks for
help, as we expect he will, in holding local elections either
later this year or early in 2008. We should insist that
specific electoral and constitutional reforms are in place
before taking out our wallet. In the meantime, some
conditionality associated with (IDB) debt relief is a lever
we should only reluctantly drop. End Comment.
Robinson