Dear Editor,
I am a freelance journalist buying airtime and am the anchor on contract of News Today for CNS channel six. I have no affiliation to any political party.
I have been following with keen interest the saga involving CNS TV 6 and the President. But let’s see exactly what transpired. First an infraction was purportedly committed by CN Sharma. The president moves in. The station is suspended for four months. Now all of this is equal to what? What is being achieved? Who loses and who gains? Let’s look at the equation.
First Mr Sharma loses financially whether deservingly or not by not being able to operate his station. Secondly, the staffers numbering more than thirty lose because of unemployment. Thirdly, the national coffers lose – according to Sharma some $700,000 is paid over in VAT monthly. Then of course income tax returns will suffer because Sharma and staff will not pay taxes for four months. We may wish to add among other things that the people will lose a vital service. So in the end no one gains financially. Let’s not get into the social aspect with staff (some single parents) not knowing where the next meal is coming from.
Questions: If an infraction was committed, who was the offender and why are so many other people being made to suffer? Do the rules allow for a financial penalty to be imposed instead, so the station and workers can go on with their jobs? By this, the staff and the treasury will gain and Sharma will be allowed to ply his trade. And what about sanctioning the offending programme and host, instead of every Tom Dick and Harry.
Make sense?
Yours faithfully,
Naim Chan
