Opposition leader, Robert Corbin has accused the National Communication Network (NCN) of shutting out the views of his party and other stakeholders on the Lusignan tragedy in its programming in the wake of the horrific slaughter.
Of particular concern to Corbin was a programme that aired during the interval of the Stanford Twenty/20 match on February 1 that was moderated by Kwame McKoy and featured Ministers Leslie Ramsammy and Clement Rohee, which he said, distorted the PNCR’s position.
But Chief Executive Officer of NCN Mohamed Sattaur said the television station was merely airing a programme produced by the Government Information Agency (GINA). He said NCN’s programming was distinct from the government’s, adding that the Opposition Leader needed to be cognisant of this fact.
Sattaur referred Stabroek News to an article this newspaper published in July 2006, which he said, clarified the issue of NCN/GINA programming. He said what is of importance is who produced the programme Corbin has made mention of, reiterating that NCN had nothing to do with its production.
In a letter that was sent to Sattaur on February 2 and published as a paid advertisement in the Kaieteur News on Saturday last, Corbin requested that a similar programme be promptly arranged during prime time to allow the PNCR’s position and perspective to be put to the Guyanese people.
Corbin said the discussion should have had the participation of representatives of the PNCR and other stakeholders, adding that many accusations were made against the PNCR by the moderator and the participants, which distorted the party’s position.
This, he said, required NCN to afford the party the opportunity to present answers to the accusations and to share its perspectives with the public.
“This is necessary if there is to be fairness and equitable access to the state-owned media which incidentally, is owned by the people of Guyana,” the Opposition Leader wrote.
Sattaur responded to Corbin’s letter shortly after receiving it but addressed his correspondence to General Secretary of the party, Oscar Clarke. NCN’s CEO merely acknowledged receipt of Corbin’s letter and offered no further information.
To date the party has heard nothing further on its request for airtime on NCN, which Clarke when contacted said, it had been pressing for, for sometime. He said that Sattaur’s letter came as a shock since he [Clarke] did not write to Sattaur.
In July 2006, Sattaur had told Stabroek News that NCN viewers have to make a distinction between GINA and PPP programmes.
He said GINA programming was different and was quoted as saying, “If a minister says something we have to cover it.”
At the time, he was responding to complaints by persons in Berbice that NCN had been airing an excessive amount of programmes and advertisements featuring the governing party. GINA programmes were said to have included coverage on matters such as nation-building, among other things.
