Dear Editor,
An opinion survey conducted in mid-July by the North American Caribbean Teachers Association (NACTA) has found that most respondents miss watching Sharma’s TV station which was suspended for a broadcasting infringement, and TV viewers eagerly look forward to the resumption of programming. Even government officials say they miss the station, especially the popular ‘Voice of the People,’ which has made CN Sharma a household name. He has become one of the most popular personalities in the country. People of all backgrounds and political persuasions disagreed with the severe penalty imposed on the TV station for its infringement of the broadcasting code. And most people interviewed expressed disappointment that the court had not ruled urgently on the challenge to the Minister of Information’s (President Bharrat Jagdeo) four-month suspension before it expired in mid-August. People expressed the hope that President Jagdeo or the court would intercede and revoke the suspension soon so they could watch their favourite programmes on CNS TV 6. On a similar issue, a large majority of the people did not feel that the government was harassing the independent media.
NACTA is a New York-based polling group that has been conducting polls regularly in the Caribbean on social and political issues. The latest survey was conducted in mid-July to find out peoples’ views on a host of current issues. The survey interviewed 602 individuals (272 Indians, 186 Africans, 84 Mixed, 60 others) representing the diversity of the population. It was co-ordinated by Vishnu Bisram, a political scientist, educator and newspaper columnist in New York.
Asked if they felt the court should have granted Sharma’s request to resume broadcasting while the court addressed the legal issues relating to the suspension, 76% said yes, 8% said no and 16% were not sure. Almost everyone who had access to the signal of Sharma’s TV felt the court or the President should give him relief and let him back on the air. Those who felt Sharma should not get a break from the suspension pointed out that Sharma liked to “mind” other people’s business and that he was too harsh on the government. “Is good for he,” was how some of them put it.
In general, most people agreed with President Jagdeo that Sharma’s station did infringe the broadcasting code in re-broadcasting a threat to the President and that Sharma should have known better. However, they felt the four-month suspension was too harsh a punishment and that the President should be forgiving. Also, some people said Sharma was not given “due process” in being “tried” by the President who they said was an aggrieved party to the controversy.
NACTA’s earlier surveys on the media had found that Sharma’s TV station was the most popular in the country with his ‘Death Announcements’ and ‘Voice of the People’ (VOTP) attracting the largest shares of TV audiences, wherever they could be seen. Almost everyone, regardless of race, used to watch Sharma’s TV for death announcements. In the latest poll, with the station now off the air, people pointed out that the broadcast of death announcements was segregated, with one channel airing almost only African/Mixed deaths while another station aired mostly Indian deaths.
With regards to VOTP, people of all political affiliations said they missed Sharma’s investigations into the alleged wrongdoings of officials and learning about other grievances people had. People said they found the programme informative and entertaining and could relate to it. They also noted that VOTP helped people to find solutions to their grievances as well as highlight their plight for governmental action. Almost everyone pointed out that VOTP put the government on its toes holding officials accountable for their actions. Since the closure of Sharma’s TV, people said they were not getting “the scoop” on the latest scandals and the alleged wrongdoings of public figures.
People also expressed their fondness for the station’s other variety programmes, such as the religious and entertainment segments, especially Bollywood’s songs and dances. Since Sharma TV was suspended in mid-April, people said they watched less TV. Many people told interviewers they felt like they had been in mourning. “It is like experiencing the loss of a family member,” is how one of them put it. Not surprisingly, people said they couldn’t wait for TV 6 to be back on the air.
On another media matter, asked if they thought the independent media was being harassed by the government, only 14% said yes with 64% saying no and 22% not sure. In general, people felt the government should not pursue policies to intimidate the free press and they welcomed the addition of the Guyana Times as a regular daily. People also welcomed the resumption of government ads to Stabroek News and felt the government should not have cut off ads to SN because it gave the perception that the government wanted to stifle the independent views of the paper, rated as the most respected in the country.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram