Latest update April 28th, 2026 12:30 AM
GECOM, opposition parties discuss CNS 6 licence suspension
The suspension of the CNS 6 broadcast licence has created an “uneven playing field” as it relates to the upcoming general elections. This is the view of members of the opposition parties who recently met with officials of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM.
The meeting, which was held on Wednesday at the GECOM’s 41 High and Cowan Streets, Kingston, Georgetown, boardroom, saw the officials discussing the recent suspension of the broadcast licence.
The move came as a result of a letter dated October 4, 2011, which was signed by Mr David Granger, Presidential Candidate for A Partnership for National Unity (APNU); Ms Valerie Garrido-Lowe, Leader and Presidential Candidate of The United Force (TUF), and Mr David Patterson of the Alliance For Change (AFC), that requested an audience with the Commission to discuss their stated concerns.
The meeting in progress at GECOM headquarters
At the meeting, the Representatives of the respective Parties were collective in their condemnation of the suspension of the broadcast licence of CNS 6. Accordingly, they called upon the Commission to intervene in an expedient manner by making representation towards a deferral of the suspension of the broadcast licence to sometime after the upcoming General and Regional Elections.
All of the Parties emphasized that the suspension has placed them at a great disadvantage, insofar as equal media access for all Political Parties contesting the Elections is concerned.
Dr Steve Surujbally, Chairman of GECOM, assured the Parties that their concerns, as delineated in their letter, had been discussed at the 341st Statutory Meeting of the Commission which was held earlier the same day, and that several relevant opinions had been put forward for consideration.
He expressed his preference, as he had reportedly done at the Statutory Meeting, to seek legal guidance towards arriving at a determination on whether GECOM has jurisdiction to pronounce on the matter.
The Parties’ Representatives were given the assurance that the discussions on the matter would continue at the level of the Commission immediately after their departure from the meeting. Accordingly, Dr Surujbally gave further assurance that he would contact the Parties as soon as GECOM would have reached a position on the matter.
The Party Representatives at the Meeting were Mr David Granger, Mr Oscar Clarke, Mr Joseph Harmon and Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, all of the APNU, Ms Valerie Garrido-Lowe of TUF, Mr David Patterson and Mr Dominic Gaskin of the AFC.
Dr Surujbally was accompanied at the meeting by Commissioners Mr Vincent Alexander, Mr Charles Corbin, Dr Keshav Mangal, Mr Moen McDoom, Mr Mahmoud Shaw, Mr Robert Williams, Chief Election Officer, Mr Gocool Boodoo; GECOM’s Public Relations Officer Mr Vishnu Persaud and its Legal Officer Ms Juanita Barker-Archibald.
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