Ultimatum issued to re-open CNS TV 6 by Monday

Oct 07, 2011 News

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…closure linked to denial of “free and fair elections”

A few hundred persons comprising members of A Partnership of National Unity, The United Force, the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), members of Civil Society as well as some religious leaders gathered for a rally at the Stabroek Market Square yesterday where a clarion call was issued to re-open CNS TV 6 by Monday.
The rally culminated with a vigil outside of State House where the stakeholders have promised to remain each evening until their ultimatum is met and have listed the final day as the self-imposed deadline by Head of State Bharrat Jagdeo to announce the date for election.
The president had said on Tuesday last that he would announce elections within a week, meaning that the final day for announcing same would be Monday.
The stakeholders who gathered last evening under the umbrella ‘Citizens in Defence of Human Rights and Free and Fair Elections’, have promised to keep up the pressure and have similar meetings countrywide.
The speakers last evening included Opposition Leader Robert Corbin, Working People’s Alliance Executive Member and APNU Representative Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, GTUC General Secretary Lincoln Lewis, Columnist/Lecturer/Activist Freddie Kissoon, Karen DeSouza of Red Thread, Valerie Garrido-Lowe of The United Force, Christopher Ram, Michael Carrington of the Alliance For Change and Jinnah Rahaman among others.
Lewis told those who had gathered at the Stabroek Square in the vicinity of the Mobile Police Outpost that the assembly and unity by those who sometimes disagree on various issues represent a yearning for change.
He said that the GTUC views the issues such as the suspension of CNS TV 6 to televise just before the election as bigger than the egos of politicians, and a fight for the rights of generations to come.
Lewis warned that there were no quick fixes to the ills of society perpetrated on Guyanese by the current administration and charged that, “the price of peace is justice.”
He further warned that, ‘we will march in the streets against them (administration) to achieve the goals”.
Lewis also called on the opposition to not enter into any election without a minimum set of standards being adhered to, with one such being the re-opening of CNS TV 6 as well as equal access to the state media namely, the National Communications Network (television and radio), the Guyana Chronicle and well as other basic tenets that will allow for free and fair elections in Guyana.
“Guyanese must not accept a denial of free and fair elections,” Lewis charged.
He said that Guyanese must not be fooled, and recognize that the timing of the closure of the television station is a deliberate and calculated act on the part of the administration, meant to deny the citizenry access to information from the likes of the Opposition parties.
Lewis urged that the “struggle” must not be stopped until there is a level playing field for the holding of the elections in Guyana this year.
“We will not sit idly by to see continued violations.”
Jinnah Rahaman, who was among the speakers, declared himself a former staunch People’s Progressive Party supporter but stated that he was now ashamed of the party that he traversed the country struggling for its due.
He opined that the current administration is ten times worse than the then loathsome PNC during its 28 years and as such he is now supporting the current crop of opposition to oust the administration in an effort to save the country.
Rahaman opined that Chandranarine Sharma has attracted the ire of the administration because he always allows the “truth’ to be disseminated among the populace and by way of suspension the aim is to stem this practice.
Christopher Ram, who also acted as chairperson of the proceedings, warned that the administration wants to have the elections held where they are the “umpires, grounds-men and everybody,” and he asked the gathering, “why vote in a farcical elections?”
Social activist Karen De Souza, who also came out in support of the call by the grouping, blasted what she described as the serial abuse of power and stressed that the administration must be stopped in this regard.
She warned that the closure of the television station is not just about Sharma and any infringement, but rather about the electorate and silencing opposing views, adding that it also represents a violation of the rights of all Guyanese, regardless of class, creed or race.
“We have surrendered our power to the unworthy for far too long…we have to take it back,” she cautioned.
Dr Roopnaraine who was among the premier speakers of the evening, asked the question, “Where else in the hemisphere would a president be so bold as to close down a television station this close to elections.”
He said that there are persons in sister Caribbean countries who are observing what is going on in Guyana with election this close and are wondering why Guyanese people are allowing these abuses.
At the close of the rally which was supposed to have preceded a march to State House, Corbin informed that no permission was granted by the police to conduct such a march, but he was going to walk to State House where he would light his candle to take part in a vigil.
At State House, those that gathered proceeded to sing songs with accompanying drumming and chants with a promise to show up each night at State House.

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