Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Dec 05, 2008 News
Leader of the main opposition party, Robert Corbin, yesterday expressed his alarm and concern at the comments made by Presidential Advisor and Member of Parliament, Gail Teixeira, that the government was prepared to now start issuing TV and radio licences.
His concern was with the fact that government would now seek to distance itself from the Communiqué signed between Corbin and President Bharrat Jagdeo in 2003, which froze the issuance of licences until legislation was put in place.
Corbin yesterday said that to be able to issue licences ‘as is’ is exactly what the government wanted.
The Communiqué, according to Corbin, sought to assure that there was no political consideration before issuing licences.
“That is why there was a restriction…We wanted to remove political discussion in the issuance of licences.”
According to Corbin, the freeze on issuance of licence was supposed to have been for four months, within which the broadcast legislation would have been effected.
He emphasised that he insisted on the four-month freeze to ensure that the government did not use the period to issue numerous licences to those it preferred, hence transforming the Broadcast authority into “a rubber stamp”. “They will get their supporters and those who will carry the political line…to grant licences to.”
On Wednesday last Teixeira announced in the National Assembly that the government was now prepared issue new licences for television and radio operations.
The House had met to consider a motion by Alliance for Change Vice Chairman, Sheila Holder, to have the National Assembly allow private television stations to beam its signal into Linden as an alternative to the State owned television, National Communications Network (NCN).
According to Teixeira, what had stymied the entire process of issuing licence in the first place was the Communiqué signed between President Bharrat Jagdeo and Corbin, which ordered a freeze on the issuance of licence until a Broadcast legislation could be implemented.
Holder, who presented the motion that was defeated by a 31 to 24 vote, said that by refusing to support the motion the government had failed the people of Linden.
According to Holder, all the motion was seeking was a simple request to not discriminate against the people of Linden and allow them to have access to different views.
Please share this to every Guyanese including your house cats.
Apr 19, 2024
SportsMax – West Indies Women’s captain Hayley Matthews delivered a stellar all-round performance to lead her team to a commanding 113-run victory over Pakistan Women in the first One Day...Kaieteur News – For years, the disciples of Bharrat Jagdeo have woven a narrative of economic success during his tenure... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]