Dear Editor,
I wish to refer to President Jagdeo’s statement that he prefers to settle in court, the issue of the suspension for four months of Channel 6 TV station’s operating licence, rather than respond to a request for a further meeting on the matter, emanating from the owner of Channel 6 TV, CN Sharma.
A caller’s threat to take the life of the President and its repeated airing form the core reason for the suspension of Channel 6 TV’s operating licence. However, it is contrary to democratic norms for the victim to be judge and jury. Also Mr Jagdeo is head of state, and therefore the ultimate boss of the government’s TV station, Channel 11, which is in direct competition with Mr Sharma’s Channel 6. It is clearly not fair then for President Jagdeo to order Channel 6 TV off the air for four months. Any determination as to the appropriate action to be taken, after careful consideration of the circumstances, should be made by a neutral, third-party regulatory body.
Moreover, Mr Sharma is a leader of a political party, a presidential candidate in the last general elections held in 2006 and deserves a hearing. In a bitterly divided nation, it behoves the President to choose a pathway of dialogue rather than one of confrontation with political foes.
Many persons, some of whom can be regarded as persons of conscience, have publicly expressed the view that the penalty imposed on Mr Sharma for his alleged infringement of broadcasting rules, is excessive. Channel 6 TV station has already been closed down for over seven weeks, and a judgment on whether there is a court case or not, does not seem to be forthcoming in the immediate future.
On Independence eve, President Jagdeo said, “We must continue the struggle against injustice.” Yes, Mr President, it would be an injustice to continue the closure of Channel 6 TV for a further two months. While the President has shown that he is no ‘Solomon,’ we expect him to exhibit the higher qualities associated with occupancy of the exalted office he holds, and to bring to an end immediately the suspension of Channel 6 TV’s licence.
Yours faithfully,
Geoffrey Sankies
