In a significant development for press freedom in Guyana, the Guyana Press Association (GPA) has publicly refuted claims by House Speaker Manzoor Nadir regarding an existing agreement on media access to parliamentary proceedings. The controversy emerged during the February 3-4, 2026 parliamentary sessions when Speaker Nadir asserted that current media arrangements were established in consultation with the GPA.
The GPA issued a comprehensive statement clarifying that any previous agreement with the Parliament Office was specifically limited to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in 2020 and has been obsolete since national restrictions ended in March 2022. The association emphasized that Speaker Nadir’s continued reference to this expired agreement represents a fundamental misrepresentation of the current media landscape.
The dispute centers on the Speaker’s decision to limit parliamentary access to only seven journalists while banning all private television news cameras from the chamber, permitting only the state-affiliated Department of Public Information (DPI) to provide video coverage. The GPA maintains that these restrictions are unjustified, noting that the parliamentary chamber has historically accommodated up to twelve journalists and multiple camera operators simultaneously.
Speaker Nadir challenged opposition parliamentarian Sherod Duncan to formally propose changes to parliamentary rules through a motion while simultaneously expunging Duncan’s concerns from the official record. The Speaker maintained that no journalists are restricted from covering proceedings, despite implementing the seven-reporter cap.
The GPA has identified multiple concerns with the current arrangement, including the unreliable nature of the DPI-provided video feed, which frequently experiences audio breaks and interruptions. The association also rejected the Speaker’s suggestion that smartphone recordings could substitute for professional broadcast equipment.
This conflict represents the latest chapter in an ongoing struggle between Guyana’s media community and parliamentary authorities. The GPA characterizes these restrictions as an attack on media freedom that compromises transparent coverage of the nation’s legislative processes, particularly during critical events like budget presentations.