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Jagdeo practicing communist tactics with FOI, Broadcast Bills – Trotman

Sep 02, 2010 News

Leader of the Alliance For Change Raphael Trotman who himself has tabled a Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill in the National Assembly and subsequently put it on hold because of a lack of consensus, says that recent pronouncements by President Bharrat Jagdeo illustrates that he is practicing communist tactics.
In light of the fact that several deadlines have been set by the President himself and have been breached, Trotman said that, “Undoubtedly the president has any lost credibility when it comes to issues of transparency, issues of corruption and when it comes to FOI and broadcast bill
“What we are seeing now is the usual what I would call starve-me-feed-me method employed in communist states.”
Trotman explained that coming on to elections, “you would get some of these packages being rolled out, but too late to have any meaningful impact… at the same time, sufficient to say we have done it.”
Trotman said that if the President was genuinely interested in introducing the legislation for the benefit of Guyanese there would have been consultation.
“People would have seen the draft but they are not, so it’s obvious that this is just meant to placate and to keep people quiet.”
Trotman said that they will be paying attention to see what happens in terms of who get licences, keeping in mind the fact that there are many applications that have been filed for several years now.
President Bharrat Jagdeo committed to yet another timeline on Monday last.
“As soon as Parliament comes out of recess, the Freedom of Information Act and Broadcast legislation will be passed…will be passed in the next session,” Jagdeo told reporters at the Guyana International Convention Centre where he had scheduled a meeting with cable operators.
The Parliamentary recess will be over on October 10.
The Prime Minister’s Office was tasked with spearheading the crafting of Broadcast Legislation, while the Office of the President was dealing with the Freedom of Information (FOI) Legislation. President Jagdeo holds the portfolio of Minister of Information.
The Broadcasting Bill is seen as key to the issuance of TV licences and to break the monopoly on radio.
The government owns and controls the country’s lone radio station, National Communications Network, under whose operation the government-run TV station falls.
Jagdeo said recently that he did not see the need for another TV station, though he said he would be willing to consider an educational channel, free of political and other content.
With many complaining of difficulties to access information about government contracts and other similar matters, the FOI is a crucial bill that is expected to make it illegal to withhold information.

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