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Sharma vows to continue work through internet
– asks people with free laptops to log on
CNS Channel Six owner Chandra Narine Sharma says that he will continue his work through his website and hopes that poor Guyanese families, to whom he has sought to give a voice, will log on once they get the free Government laptops.
Sharma has been ordered off the air from midnight tonight. His licence has been suspended for four months on the orders of President Bharrat Jagdeo owing to comments made on a programme broadcast on Channel Six on May 4.
Speaking on his last Voice of the People programme before the suspension takes effect, Sharma said that the suspension was timed with the elections, but that he will use his website to carry out his work. He wants persons with access to the internet to go online.
These would include people who will receive free Government laptops under the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) project and who will be afforded internet connectivity.
The government intends to begin distributing 27,000 laptops this month under the first phase of the OLPF.
CN Sharma
Sharma leads the Justice for All Party (JFAP) and has used the television station to spread his messages. The suspension is also damaging to other opposition political parties that have sought to capitalize on the reach of CNS 6 to get their messages out.
He has sought to extend the reach of his TV station to areas such as Linden, but has been denied the necessary Government permits for years now.
Presidential Candidate of the Alliance for Change (AFC), Khemraj Ramjattan, noted that Sharma has one of the widest reaches among television stations which the party can access, given that it has been denied air time on the state-owned NCN.
“This is obscene,” Ramjattan said, “and this describes the manner of the man our president is.”
Ramjattan said that the imposition of sanctions on Sharma was delayed to ensure that the station would be taken off the air during the elections season. General and regional elections are constitutionally due by December 28.
Sharma said that since news of the suspension spread he has received thousands of calls from both in Guyana and overseas. He hopes those persons who have expressed solidarity will be among those who will follow him on the internet.
On the very popular Voice of the People programme, Sharma said that his 30-off staff will be out of a job, and particularly in the run up to the Christmas season.
He described his station as being ‘like Parliament’ where the poor and ordinary people could have expressed their grievances.
The suspension came on the advice given to the President by the Advisory Committee on Broadcasting regarding a commentary by Anthony Vieira against Bishop Juan Edghill. Jagdeo had said that the comments by Vieira were intended to sow discord among Christian denominations when Vieira suggested that there were problems between Protestants and Catholics and the Bishop was doing nothing to safeguard Catholics.
The ACB had originally recommended an eight-month suspension, Sharma said, but Jagdeo said he was being “lenient” by cutting the recommended suspension time in half.
Sharma said the President told him and his wife that they were responsible for the suspension since they knew of the contents of the offending programme, but was only suspending the station’s license for a month given consideration to their financial obligations.
The government has contended that CNS, in airing the commentary, had contravened regulation 23 A, of the Guyana Postal and Telegraph Act, Chapter 47:01, laws of Guyana.
The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) said the decision by President Jagdeo to suspend Sharma is intended to silence this station in the run up to elections to contain its exposure of injustices and prevent the opposition from getting their messages out.
The GTUC said that it is no accident that President Jagdeo made himself Minister of Information.
“For he thinks he has immunity to violate the sacred right to freedom of expression by abusing Article 182 Constitution which grants the president protection from civil and criminal prosecution for acts committed during the stewardship in office when in fact he is violating his Oath of Office to serve the people, respect their rights and uphold the law without fear, favour or ill will,” the GTUC stated.
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This was done by the PPP to deprive the general public of the truth and fear of losing theelection,,this is callled polital stratgey,,which is of no use,,,too late ,,, too late shall be the cry,,,god bless Sharma.,,Benscho news,,Kaieuteur news and all those that are fighting for the rights and the benefits of the guyanese population.
we the people needs to make a change!!!!
What?
Is this for real? How can a person (The President) who swore to uphold the constitution and laws of our beautiful country of Guyana use this power that the Great Forbes Burnham thought out sadly so, use it to silent the fundamental right Guyanese to express themselves freely. But what is more damming is how he (They) are doing this without any real opposition from the opposition, trade union, civil society organizations, the legislation, the court, but most of all the people of Guyana (who giveth these few their power) taking it all sitting down! Guyanese can we all please stand up and fight regardless of race, religion or affiliation etc for our rights as citizen and for what other people are dying for in their country across the world even right now in truly democratic countries like the US and Britain also.
I hereby plead with all right thinking Guyanese regardless of where you live around the world, let’s please all come together to take back what is rightfully ours’, it was taken away from the PNC with the help of foreign powers (US & Britain) which should help play a major role in fighting the atrocity that Guyanese face at home.
Buddy I was agreeing with you until you said it was taken away from the PNC. When the PNC was in power they did noting for the people, they put money in the pockets of their friends and family, the PPP is doing the same thing the regular Guyanese people weather Indian or Black still continue to suffer. We are knocking about the world from pillar to post looking to find a place to call home. The current government still has an opportunity to clean up their act, get the crime under control. If the can do that Guyanese would start to come home we would not care if PPP or PNC were in control as long as we could live decently and not have to keep looking over our shoulders every day and night.
My freind if you feel the PNC was corrupt or stole from the people then this PPP government makes them look like saints. Enough said.
What you mean about how they doing this without any real opposition?
What is there to oppose?
The man Mita Charma broke the law with his foolishness and now he must pay.
WHAT!!! so are you willing to justify the government role in this matter? Where else in the world a government curtail an operator freedom to relate independent or different views of the other side? Do you think the American people would allow President Obama to shut down Fox news? No truly democratic country behave like how our government function except in fascism countries that what Guyana is looking more like with every passing day.
be careful Mr. Sharma……they might postpone the distribution of the laptops
be careful Mr. Sharma…… they might postpone distribution of the laptops
hmmmmm
This is a dark day in the lives of ordinary Guyanese when a government of the day assumes what is the right of the courts to interpret, assimilate and exercise the law.
The government has abdicated their conventional and, constitutional responsibility to govern in a manner consistent with the Rule of Law claiming that the callous state of affairs is someone else’s fault, however, hawkishly closes a section of the press with blatant disregard for the consequences.
The Peoples National Congress must not be forgotten for the destruction that it has meted out to the Guyanese people and the Peoples Progressive Party now sits on a pedestal of power all of their own.
Let it not be forgotten that those who act outside of the law against the ordinary man historically has always paid the price.
Courage writes Aristotle, several centuries ago, is that quality that defines every other quality.
Arise, my fellow countrymen, the time is upon us to protect what is rightfully yours, the voice of your thoughts or when you choose to speak, you may have no voice at all.
Arise?
I must say that this goverment was after this man for many of years and one way or the other they were going to get him if not for rape then for something else, but I must also say that Mr Sharma is doing the right thing but the PPP do not want the Guyana population to see what is going on.It is so sad to see a goverment trying its best to rob the people of guyana, from the land, laptops and god knows what else, by the time the PPP is finish with Guyana the people will be own by a different country, like china or Cuba if you look around thats where the country is heading.do the wrong path, but sooner than later the population is going o say enough is enought and takes matters into there own hands
This makes me so mad.I can’t even begin to describe how this makes me feel.This is why I choose to leave Guyana.They have taken away our voice and we on the other hand, just talk.We talk they act and we are never together.Guyana is for six races not one.We need a government that recognizes and respects that.In Guyana
when you stand you stand alone.
This government makes Sharma looks like a Genius!
Ramoutar will pick up where Jagdeo leave off.
Truly a dictatorship government!
The world is watching silently – Guyanese unite and bring this government down!
Bring these people to justice!
These PPP folks are so dumb – they never learn.
Take example from the Tunisian people!
Bring Guyana into the 21st century…
Sorry to say, but the ones you have to replace them with will do the same things again.
I beg to differ. This act by the PPP government would be very hard to duplicate.
The demotivated and disillisioned people of Guyana should not be distracted by this inept act of the president and his advisers.In the heads of the people they know what they should do but are so incohesive the desire to go out and do it diminishes.Guyana needs persons who live and suffer the the indignities of the oppressed, truly feel the pains and hear the cries and smell the odours of poverty and death and to rise like a phoenix from the ashes of the sufferers to lead a new beginning.The veneer of old politics wear thin and with a sustained push can smashed.Whom will those persons be?
You are beginning to sound like the guy who wrote a book, he was charged with treason and has since disappeared into oblivion.
The guy got a raw deal for fighting for the people. some ppl never associate, met or even see the guy face 2 face and they bad talk him and the ppl who done the most harm, they worship them. some ppl say he can`t speak proper english. the educated ppl who read the news on both tv and radio make mistake every single day. i’m embrass to even listen to them and thats all i have to say about that.
president JAGDEO need to be a and not get his self involve in thoes petty things we love watching Sharma when we comes to Guyana, come my to president focus on drugs and crime and poverty in Guyana.
Edghill has lost the support of the christian community he chose to live with the oppressors he knows what he is doing is wrong the gov and its minsters live like kings while the poor struggle to survive they pay high taxes for nothing in return protection health school and the list continues what happen to love your enemy do good to those who hate you if some one strike you on the right cheek turn the left christ was tortured abused and sacrifice and he said to forgave them for they know not what they did someone just say things about you and they will the wrath of the oppressors you reminds of the high priest more concern about their well being than anything else maybe your bible was written by the ppp
Bharrat Jagdeo GIVE US A BREAK!!!!! what advise from the ABC? You are the one who HAS TO HAVE THE LAST WORD. Burn-Ham and his PNC did it for 28yrs, I hope the home-Based and other voters do not YOU Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramutar and the PPP/C to continue further with what Burn-Ham started.
The ABC? or ACB, as I understand it, that body has no legal standing, so the foolish act to suspend CNSTV6 must be viewed as a brutal dictatorial decision.
Let’s vote them out, reverse that law then lock them up… we have to ensure we get a majority a parliament too.
Read before slashing Mr. Moderator and try to figure out what it is that I am suggesting: You, Mr. Sharma and all of the other opposition politicians should get together and try to figure out that Jagdeo has played you all into the same trap. He has orchestrated things in such a way that most, or all of you, will be distracted by suspensions, court battles and other means of preventing you from getting your messages out to the public. Some may regard the man as a fool when in fact he is an astute political strategist intent on his party winning the elections at all costs.
Sorry CN I beleive you are being used as a pawn. But you make money out of it eh!
this is reallya stupid for a government to do such a thing like this, MR SHARMA is a hard working citizen like any one who pay his taxes ,the P.P.P says it is a free country ,so y can any body speak what they want , who is the man that say he is a bishop and talking about GOD if he had a heart of peace and LOVE he will never let that station close , again is he GOD MR SHARMA just keep praying , GOD does not sleep he is a fear and just GOD the same GOD yesterday ,today and forever. how can persons sit and listen the earthly BISHOP preaching to them telling them lies .we will miss your programs. GOD IS LOVE , BE STRONG, IN YOUR FAITH . Iam in sympathy with those workers who hav their bills and commitments just a few weeks from now is CHRISTMAS ,[Which means CHRIST in yur heart]
A hear all the PPP people saying this is Democratic, let them point to a Democratic country that has acted like this.
USA, Britain, France, Barbados, Jamaica, South Africa, Zimbabwe, India, Israel…………..Should I go on?
Justice For All….CH 6 Mr Sharma if I could remember some time in 1992/93 after the PPP to Office your CH 6 was offering full services to the Adm…….you lobbied an lobbied with the ADM…………you got what you bargin for…..now today the table has turned on you so many times…this is not Justice for all ……..a tal….take your programmes to other Stations an continue until the 4 months is up…..
Freedom to speak and write is a myth in Guyana:
1. the Presee can suspend your right of free speech by virtue of the rights vested
in him ( by his choice!)
2. he can sue anyone (but cannot be sued!),….a lopsided position
There seems to be a clear conflict of interest with this Bishop Juan Edghill.
He gets offended and uses his position to influence decisions in his favour.
Peter will have a lots of questions to ask him at the Pearly Gates…..later!
It is now confirm that President Bharrat Jagdeo had intended to close CNS Channel 6 for one year but his attempts was foiled by the mysterious document being inadvertently send to CN Sharma with the invitation to meet with the President.
This therefore, prove that the President is a ideological compulsive liar. He even lied when he said that CN Sharma efforts are futile since the he (Bharrat Jagdeo) had been in possession of the recommendation by the ACB before the ex-parte injunction was sought in June , 2011 in relation to reports by Chairman of the Ethnic Relations Commission Bishop Juan Edghil of allegations of infringement, libel and character assassination by Anthony Vieira and CN Sharma., which was aired on the station on May 4, 2011.
It was reported in June, 2011 that Advisory Committee on Broadcasting has recommended that the television license of CN Sharma owner of Channel 6 be suspended for 6 months. However, the President Bharrat Jagdeo lied again when he related to CN Sharma on Friday that the ACB had originally recommended an eight-month suspension but he (Jagdeo) was being “lenient” by cutting the recommended suspension time in half.
Everybody, even his closest friend that cross swords with President Bharrat Jagdeo knows that he (Bharrat Jagdeo) would ruin them by bring about financial demise.
Therefore, the people of Guyana especially the present and future leaders (religious, political, business, professional and social) in our society should not allow Bharrat Jagdeo to abuse the powers of the high office of the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to continue these dastardly acts for his own amusement and self-gratification against everybody that dares to oppose him and are critical in any way shape or form to his Regime.
Today October 2, 2011 should be the day when one and all should stand alongside CN Sharma and his staff in solidarity and proclaim this day the Dawning of Democracy in Guyana. The late President Hugh Desmond Hoyte would have never let such a thing happen. He always stand against injustice and was on CN Sharma side a number of times.
This recent action of President Bharrat Jagdeo to violate the sacred right to freedom of expression should not be treated with quiet diplomacy but instead of confrontation with the Government because there is no Parliament.
The Politicians, Guyana Press Association and the Labour Unions and member of the civil society should come out in their numbers and show publicly their dissatisfaction to President Bharrat Jagdeo decision. They should be peaceful protest and street marches boycotting of work and nonpayment of revenues and utilities bills during this period and the unions should be willing to raised strike relief as the workers faithful efforts empty the treasury.
The Diplomatic Community are watching but if the people are passive and not willing to take a stand for their rights against this oppressive and corrupt Government want do we expect the Diplomatic Community to do.
After all President Bharrat Jagdeo and the PPP/C have painted a picture to the Diplomatic Community of racial hater age among the two major races in the Country and if the Government do not exercise stringent control over the media that there is going to be chaos and mayhem in the Guyana society and now President Bharrat Jagdeo imposed this sanction because he fears that the Anthony Vieira commentary, which was aired on CN Sharma., station on May 4, 2011 would cause a holy war.
We need to ask ourselves, what next? Here you have the President censoring information and in this case suspending TV license. He said he is taking advice on this but in the end he has the final say. We as Guyanese should not tolerate this. We need to fight to maintain Freedom and Democracy. What next will he tell us we can’t do? It is frightening! Is Guyana becoming a Communist country? I sure hope not.
Mr Sharma’s television programmes highlight a lot of stories that would otherwise go untold. You sure won’t read these stories in the Chronicle. We cannot allow the President to regulate the press. The press must be regulated by an independent body.
could anyone please tell me what is sharma online address to get his tv programs
Guyanese for too long has known what is right but continue to be influenced by race. It is time we honour our motto and live up to the ideals of ‘ONE PEOPLE, ONE NATION, ONE DESTINY!!!!!!!’ Don’t vote race, vote RIGHT. THAT WAY WE MAY GET A GOVERNMENT THAT WILL PLACE NATION ABOVE SELF.
Sorry to hear about this Mr. Sharma. You made a mistake, you apologized, what more this regime wants you to do?? how many errors and mistake have they made? several thousands!! I can start naming them, but would not have enough pages and place to list them. We all know Bha-rat and the others wants to silence you during the upcoming elections. How appropriate to suspend you from broadcasting just before the elections?. However, we the people have read and seen how this party is one sided, a matter fact they all should be suspended from parliament for mis-appropriations of the treasury. We will vote appropriately, and hope they don’t “rig” the elections,. We will continue to support you, Mr. Sharma, stay the course.
Look here!! Listen up!! Something wrong here. Sharma is going tooooooo quietly into the night. Has he made a deal with his excellency the HBIC?? Remember he is supposed to be a defender of the people, why isn’t he fighting to stay on the air? By not fighting to stay on the air he lets the Government control an opposition outlet/voice. Internet?? The majority of the people use this for entertainment. With TV, you just click the remote and you’re on.
The PPP people who are saying that this action is Democratic are saying so because they are profiting from this corrupt system,but when the people meet their breaking point this country is going to explode.Somebody or Organisation should set a date for a full scale strike/march that should continue until voting day with the help of the social network,this has gone too far.Mr Sharma please post your Online Address.
This suspension order is generating lots of international exposure. “A knock down is not a knock out”! Shake it off and stick go the script. GL