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C.N. Sharma testifies in challenge to radio denial
CNS Channel Six owner, Chandra Narine Sharma, took the stand in the action brought against the Attorney General and the Elections Commission by Norman Chapman and Mortimer Yearwood as the matter continued on Wednesday before Chief Justice Ian Chang.
They are challenging the refusal of the government to liberalise radio in Guyana.
Chief Elections Officer, Gocool Boodoo, is scheduled to testify at the next hearing.
The action, which was filed in November 2005, seeks a declaration that the failure and or omission of the Attorney General to have radio broadcasts aired from radio stations other than the government-controlled radio stations operated by the National Communication Network (NCN) is a negation of free and fair elections, especially for the General and Regional Elections in 2006.
They are also seeking a declaration that the failure of the Attorney General to allow television channels, other than the Government controlled NCN 11, to broadcast in Region Ten was a hindrance to the enjoyment of the applicants’ freedom of expression and also the applicants’ freedom to receive ideas and information without interference especially for the General and Regional Elections in 2006 and is a contravention of the applicants’ fundamental rights guaranteed by Article 146 of the Constitution.
Thirdly, the motion is seeking a declaration that the failure by the Attorney General and the Elections Commission to enable Chapman and Yearwood to access information and ideas in Region Ten by television broadcasts other than from the government controlled station NCN is discriminatory and contravenes the applicants’ fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 149 of the Constitution.
The litigants are seeking an award of compensation to the applicants as redress for contravention of the applicants’ fundamental rights, such further or other orders as may be just, and costs.
The motion was filed on the grounds that the applicants, Chapman and Yearwood, have been denied the right to get information for the 2006 General and Regional Elections by radio and television stations other than those owned and controlled by NCN.
Secondly, that Yearwood and also C.N Sharma and several other applicants have sought to operate radio stations beamed to areas including Linden and to expand television coverage but have been refused by and at the instance of the Attorney General.
“That as voters of Region Ten, the applicants are being denied the right to information for the purpose of the General and Regional Elections of 2006 from any other radio station and television Channel other than the Government controlled radio and television stations.”
Under the grounds, it was also stated that several persons who have made applications for licences to operate radio stations and expand their television coverage have been refused the right to broadcast by the government.
The applicants are being represented by Attorney-at-Law Llewellyn John.
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