The article published on Friday, 12 January 2024, by Demerara Waves news outlet, with a large photographic image of “Figueira” and what, to my mind, was the most deceitful and misleading headline, “Figueira admits Norton’s performance assessment correct; pledges support for Nima Flue-Best,” was crafted with the dubious aim of inducing alarm and mislead the population.
The only truth in that piece had to do with my commitment to work with and help my colleague MP Mrs Nima Flue-Bess.
I was initially caught off guard with the writer’s scheming tactics. However, I’ve come to learn that the writer is a close associate of (Opposition Leader Aubrey) Norton. The writer, no doubt, seized the opportunity presented by the trending nature of the Shadow Cabinet debacle and negative backlash Norton is receiving, to give credence to the party leader’s baseless, witless, inept and daft analysis of my performance and decisions on his pre-budget, pre-elections, political moves.
To play with words is an art that was surely on display in this colourful and deceptive piece published by Demerara Waves.
Editor, I put the following to you to reinforce my point.
1. A woman without her man is nothing?
2. A woman, without her man, is nothing.
3. A woman, without her, man is nothing.
The play of the identical words connote three different ideas.
My truthful ideas were not captured in this piece, intentionally so.
Editor, I do understand and can appreciate that in some instances, newspapers and social media platforms use sensational headlines to grab the attention of readers and entice them to buy or read their publications.
In today’s competitive media landscape, attention is a valuable commodity, and sensational headlines are a way for newspapers and other media entities to stand out from the crowd. Additionally, sensational headlines can generate buzz on social media and attract clicks to online articles and shares, which can drive traffic and increase advertising and sales revenue.
However, some journalistic ethics are expected. In this regard, I specifically wish to express umbrage to one of the country’s least read and circulated social media outlet in our country, ‘Demarara Waves’, for its deliberate and misleading headline and play of words, with the sole aim to invoke a certain response and feelings in the public domain. Hence, my delibrate sarcastic assertion ”Mr. Norton was right”, could not be further from the truth.
I can assure the editor that some of his intended purposes with such a headline and word play was achieved, to cause confusion, accusations, speculations and much gossip because most who rush to judge and made the wrong conclusion didn’t take time to read what was posited in the true positions of my articulations.
It is a sign of maturity when one can read not only what is on the lines but between the lines.
I will continue to speak truth to power for the betterment of our country and its people.
I will resolutely continue to offer ideas I believe can bring about positive change or spark the conversations that will lead to change and engender national unity and development for all Guyanese, knowing that some may not agree with me at times, and that is ok. In a democratic and civilised society, that is welcomed.
No unscrupulous actors with malicious and wicked intentions, nor interlopers wielding the pen of ‘semantic tyranny’ will deter me.
Yours truly,
Hon Jermaine Figueira.MP
