Oops! Guyana's President tells the US to clean its own house

[malaise]

http://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2013/04/27/us-criticisms-of-radio-licences-corruptionclean-your-house-first-dont-lecture-us-president-ramotar/
<snip>
During a press conference at his Vlissengen Road office yesterday, Ramotar said that nobody has the right to lecture Guyana. “I don’t feel we should be lectured upon; I don’t think that anybody has the moral right to lecture upon us.”
He drew reference to the Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba, a detainment and interrogation facility of the US military, which recently saw several prisoners going on a hunger strike to protest abuse.
The Head of State admitted: “We do have issues (here). We have to try to work very hard to eradicate some of the weaknesses in our system.”
The President said that Guyana has taken steps to address some of the weaknesses in the system. One of these is a move to tackle money laundering and possible financing of terrorism. The amendment Bill was recently tabled in the National Assembly and is designed to close current loopholes in the law.
There have been accusations that countless buildings, businesses and other investments are financed from the proceeds of illegal business and crime. However, there have not been many successful prosecutions or seizures of such by government.
Ramotar also pointed to the accusations that the US government has been taking prisoners to different countries and carrying out tortures such as ‘water boarding’. “…That don’t happen in Guyana. We don’t practice those types of things here in our country.”
He also spoke of the case of WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, who has been virtually held a prisoner in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for 11 months now. Assange sought refuge there after publishing a number of leaked US documents on his website, WikiLeaks. Some of the publications included embarrassing secret cables between US Ambassadors and the State Department. Guyana was mentioned, too, in the cables.
“So I think we should all work to clean up our house to strengthen our systems and make these better because those who are making the statements are no paragon of virtue either.”
According to the US in the Human Rights report, the issuance of 11 radio licences under the administration of former President Bharrat Jagdeo “lacked transparency.”
In November 2011, the very month he was leaving the Office of the President, Jagdeo handed out ten radio licences to his friends with associates being granted 15 radio frequencies.
“In 2011 the government approved applications for 10 new radio stations, although the process was controversial, lacked transparency and contained further steps needed before the new stations could begin broadcasting,” the report on Human Rights Practices stated.
However, the report noted that the government influenced print and broadcast media and continued to exert heavy control over the content of the National Communications Network (television), giving Government spokespersons extended coverage, while limiting participation of opposition figures.

[CincyDem]

1. Just another example of the double standard under which we live.

The US Human Rights reports call out Jagdeo because he gave his friends 10 radio stations.

We look like fools (or worse) throughout the civilized world because we do chit like point fingers at a country smaller than North Dakota for showing favoritism when handing out radio licenses (many of which are simply low power repeaters).

At the same time, Bushco favoritism launched a couple wars, restructured our energy policies in secret, and increased privatization of basic education - all for the benefit of Bushco friends. The US Human Rights folks seems to have missed reporting on that.

[dipsydoodle]

2. Indeed

Selective criticism.

[Bluenorthwest]

3. Of course Guyana has had several internationally noted cases of police torture in the last few years

involving people as young as 14.
They also regularly arrest their citizens for 'dress code violations' which target transgendered people and others. Homosexuality is a crime punishable by two years in jail. Guyana is a nexus of human trafficking and they kind of sort of make attempts to meet global pressures to deal with that, kind of, sort of.
So sure, this is all about a radio license or two, and they are just like North Dakota! Unless you are gay, trans, or accused of a crime....

[malaise]

4. You are missing the point

They are all guilty as charged but one keeps preaching about its freedoms and values.
This is about double standards.

[Bluenorthwest]

10. No, you are missing the point. Humans are humans, abuses to LGBT people are abuses of

human beings. Is it not a double standard to pretend it is about radio licenses? Should not BOTH nations clean their houses?
One keeps preaching about values and the other keeps claiming the are beyond reproach, which one is honest? Neither.
I am not going to defend those who jail my people to please straight folk. You straight folk can enforce your own double standard.

[dipsydoodle]

8. On the subject of the USA's double standards

from elsewhere in current news : Syria MAY have used chemical weapons and Israel has STOPPED using phosphorus shells. Use of both the shells and chemical weapons constitute war crimes.

The only thing definitive on these subjects is that stopping using the shells defines the fact that Israel must have used them in the past.

The US harps on about Syria and ignores issues with Israel. Like I said - DOUBLE STANDARDS.

The general use of double standards by the US such is the case with the OP re. Guyana can be summed up in one word - SELFISHNESS

[malaise]

9. Ding ding we have a winner

I found the BBCs timing of the white phosphorus 'we will stop' using very interesting.
No charges there, no red lines and how many Palestinians died again?

[CincyDem]

11. Your right ! So call them out on the real issues, not some radio bullsh*t

Arresting citizens for dress code violations - it's absolutely wrong but remind me, while we may not have law like this in the US, tell me that cops don't arrest folks for a whole range of "stuff" that started with the cop's assessment that they were violating some sense of dress code. Better not call this one out, feels too close to home.

Homosexuality is a crime punishable by two years in jail - it's absolutely wrong but remind me, while we may not have law like this in the US, tell me we don't have systemic and cultural "punishment" of homosexuality that at least rivals imprisonment. Nope, better no call this one out, it feels too close to home too.

Police torture involving people as young as 14 - absolutely wrong too but look around on DU for that thread on "extrajudicial justice" (also called street justice). The number of kids under 18 killed on the street by cops for such amazing crimes as reaching into their pockets, appearing threatening, leaning in a threatening way (and other high crimes against the state)...that number is huge. I don't condone torture but let's be fair, it's still one rung up the "horrific-shit that can happen to you" list that getting shot dead in the street by a cop because you reached for your pez candy dispenser. (by the way - doesn't seem to be a problem for the rich kids in the suburbs, ya know what I mean).

My point was not to absolve Guyana or elevate them to sainthood and the things you describe are not ok in any society.

My point was that we, in the good ole US of A, should spend a lot less time calling out everyone else on their petty chit and a lot more time calling ourselves out...and then doing something about it. Before we go out preaching the moral high ground on human rights, maybe we ought first to find it for ourselves. Rather then preaching to the world through reports about radio towers, we should exemplify for the world through our actions.

Anyway - rant mode off - I just didn't want to leave this with the idea that what your describing is acceptable anywhere.

[malaise]

5. Bushco also allowed the concentration of media ownership

by the corporations - they are all guilty.

[KharmaTrain]

6. Sadly That Was A Clinton "Gift"...

...media dereg started under Raygun but it really took steam with Telcom '96 pushed by the Clinton administration. By the time Dubya showed up the machinery was all in place...

[malaise]

7. Valid point

but media concentration among ideological and economic friends is very present in America as well.
The entire fabric of so called liberal democracies has been torn asunder and lots of pots are calling kettles black.