Coalition rejects “disrespectful” NCN’s 10 minutes airtime offer

May 08, 2015 News

The Opposition coalition yesterday said that it rejects outright a disrespectful offer by the state-owned National Communications Network (NCN) for a mere 10 minutes of airtime.

File Photo: Protests in front of the NCN studios last month to demand equitable airtime for the Opposition.

The Opposition has been complaining about the access and coverage given by NCN 11, its radio channels along with Guyana Chronicle Newspaper.
A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition, the country’s largest Opposition, said that on Wednesday, April 29, it received a letter, informing the grouping that in keeping with the company’s mandate, NCN was providing 10 minutes for “free political” broadcast to be aired on television.
“The letter further stated that any additional time for other broadcast would be treated as a commercial arrangement.”
An upset coalition in its statement, yesterday, said that over the last three months, the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) was able to use the immense reach of NCN to “out- message” the opposition.
“The APNU+AFC was not given equal time and because of the unfair distribution of broadcasting licenses, citizens continue to be inundated with pro-PPP/C messaging. APNU+AFC has been reliably informed that NCN plans to air live, the PPPC’s final rally at Lusignan this Saturday May 9, 2015.”
Overseas observers in past elections in their reports, have noted their unfair use of state media by the PPP/C and recommended steps taken to correct the situation, especially during elections time.
“After the 2011 Elections, observers from the Organization of American States (OAS) cited the disparity and lack of access to the state controlled media as an area of deep concern and one that had to be corrected if there were to be free and fair elections in Guyana,” the coalition said yesterday.
“APNU +AFC feels strongly that for there to be free and fair elections, political parties must have equal access to the media, especially the state media. NCN as currently configured is a Government-entity that is funded by the Guyanese taxpayers and tasked with a mission to disseminate information to the people of Guyana.”
However, APNU+AFC said, what has happened is that the PPP/C has used the government airwaves as a propaganda arm of the party.
“Guyanese taxpayer dollars are being used to maintain a network that is biased in its coverage of the news. The National Communications Network has been unbalanced in its reporting of current events and it has given the PPP/C an unfair advantage and unlimited access to the public airwaves.”
The coalition said that as the largest political grouping in the country, APNU+AFC sees this allotment of 10 minutes, as totally disrespectful and a continuation of NCN’s policy of unfair and unbalanced reporting.
“We therefore reject the offer and register in the strongest possible manner our disappointment in the management and operation of the National Communications Network Inc.”
There have been protests in front NCN’s studios in recent times.