The meeting between Channel Six owner CN Sharma and Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon that was set up to address on-air violations by the television station owner was stalled following a move to the High Court yesterday by counsel for Sharma.
Acting Chief Justice Ian Chang granted an order shortly before the meeting asking Luncheon to show cause why he should not be prohibited from hearing the alleged infringement committed by Sharma. In the application filed by attorney-at-law, Nigel Hughes, Sharma challenged Luncheon on him being delegated the authority to write him on the matter.
He said further that Luncheon has no power to summon him to a meeting to determine whether his licence should be cancelled or suspended.
Yesterday, President Bharrat Jagdeo who is the Minister designated under the Post and Telegraph Act, Chapter 47:01 wrote Sharma following the High Court order inviting him to a meeting later today to discuss the issue of his licence.
The contents of the President’s letter restated what the Head of the Presidential Secretariat had said in his correspondence.
A caller to Sharma’s Voice of the People programme made explosive comments during an airing on February 21, 2008, leading to the Advisory Committee on Broadcasting (ACB) subsequently writing Sharma. The ACB later accepted Sharma’s explanations.
