AFC criticizes radio licence award

May 06, 2014 News

Issuing to certain people alone is repugnant

The Alliance for Change (AFC) has extended commendations to United States Ambassador Brent Hardt over his recent pronouncements on the censorship of the media in Guyana by the government.
According to the Leader of the AFC, “We feel that it’s about time that the diplomatic community becomes fearless in its statement about how this country is applying the rules of governance in relation to matters that are important for democracy, like freedom of the press and freedom of expression.”
Ramjattan described the US Ambassador’s statements as being very “insightful”.
“All the statements made were very justified. They were supported by the evidence of the International Press Institute IPI, which he quoted from extensively, and also the statements by the local media as to what’s happening with the free press in Guyana.”
The Ambassador cautioned the government that rather than retaliating against the strong statements, to “consider and deliberate and give effect as to some of the recommendations that might solve this unpleasant situation with press freedom in Guyana.”
According to Ramjattan “There is no doubt that the issuing of radio licences and the spectrum to certain people alone is something that is unconstitutional and is repugnant to any true democracy.”
The US Ambassador had said that “it’s unthinkable that the licence applications for certain media have been delayed or ignored for nearly two decades”.
He said that in the state-owned and state-run media, which should hold themselves up to an even higher standard of balance by virtue of being funded by taxpayers, one hardly ever sees a letter to the editor or a column supportive of the opposition or critical of the government.
“In fact, the public reads about instructions being passed by the government to state-run television criticizing staff for airing statements by an opposition party directly after the government’s position was presented, and indicating that such presentations were only to be aired late at night when viewership was lowest,” the ambassador said.
According to Ramjattan, “Government must take the matters in good stead, especially coming from America, a powerful big brother around these parts. It would be in our interest geopolitically that we do not do anything damaging and disrespectful because it could be to Guyana’s detriment, ultimately.”
Ramjattan recalled his days within the ranks of the youth arm of the People’s Progressive Party when it was then the opposition and used to demand that the American Ambassador and the diplomatic corps denounce what the People’s National Congress used to do to it then.
On very many occasions the diplomatic community made strong statements. As such he does not feel the comments by Brent Hardt necessitated any change in Government.
“It was just a culture change in relation to the press freedom and so the government must not get too jumpy about criticisms within its sphere of activity.”
He added that other diplomatic community members must make other statements too. “I believe that it is something that is going to in essence influence the course of our democracy when those statements are made.”

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AFC criticizes radio licence award

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