Political parties could receive more airtime than the formerly allotted five minutes per week on the state-owned radio and television stations following the intervention of the Guyana Elections Com-mission.
GECOM met with NCN yesterday to discuss this and other issues.
“The meeting with GECOM was an amicable one and ended with both parties agreeing to obtain approval for an increase in the amount of airtime allocated to political parties as well as the option of purchasing additional airtime on both radio and television” said a National Communications Network statement yesterday.
NCN also stated that its Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Sattaur along with other senior managers met with GECOM chairman Dr. Steve Surujbally to seek clarity and iron out issues pertaining to the broadcasting of political messages.
Further, NCN restated its pledge to ensure all political parties are allowed adequate airtime at a reasonable cost. “The management of NCN reiterated their efforts to accommodate all political parties and stakeholders including a sizeable reduction in the cost of advertising and programme time which has already been implemented” the release said.
Surujbally was also reminded of the offers of free airtime already proposed by NCN rooted in past interventions made by then GTV and GBC and which is incorporated into the media code of conduct.
The GECOM chairman had previously promised to intervene and garner additional time since his organization had recognized that five minutes per week was not effective to promote the policies and programmes of opposition political parties.
In addition the Alliance For Change and A Partnership for National Unity had formally met with the chairman to voice their concerns about the inadequate amount of airtime allocated to them which APNU had termed “disrespectful and grossly inadequate” as both parties prepared broadcast campaigning for the November 28th Regional and General Elections.
