The National Communi-cations Network (NCN) yesterday expressed deep concern and disappointment at the characterization of the network as the “national criminal network” by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) at its Vreed-en-Hoop meeting.
In a release yesterday, NCN Production Manager Martin Goolsarran said the attack was not just against the network but also against its employees.
“The latest attack came from [APNU’s] prime ministerial candidate Dr Rupert Roopnaraine at the party’s Vreed-en-Hoop meeting [Thursday] evening,” Goolsarran said. “This was followed through with a bold headline in today’s Kaieteur News. It is also not the first time such description of the network was used by the leadership of APNU. NCN believes that such actions will not contribute to a peaceful and successful conduct of the elections,” Goolsarran said.
The network said all Guyanese must be concerned that such statements are coming on the eve of the elections and they do have the potential of being violent in nature against NCN personnel who will be required to perform their duties as reporters, producers, announcers, camerapersons, technicians etc. “Indeed, several of our staff members have already been subjected to threats and harassment,” Goolsarran said in the statement.
“The majority of the staff are young people of various background, ethnicity and persuasions and to be subject to this sort of labelling is not only unfair but damaging to their professionalism and reputation. Moreover, their physical safety is compromised,” Goolsarran said.
According to him, APNU’s main bone of contention appears to be the number of advertisements aired for the PPP/C. “I want to assure all that with reference to the political programming and advertising, these are done on a commercial basis. There is evidence to verify this,” he said.
“In addition, instead of taking up the free airtime offer and reduced advertising rates, APNU chooses to inject a lot of red herrings and launch these attacks. It should be noted that the other three parties contesting the elections are making full use of the offers and are not complaining,” he said.
Goolsarran called or the APNU to apologise for its characterization of NCN and said it has brought the matter to the attention of the law enforcement authorities and has asked that the elections observer missions take note.
Speaking to Stabroek News in response to NCN’s concerns, Roopnaraine said that he never meant for any harm or threats to be directed to NCN staff. He said they are simply making a living “peddling the lies of the administration.”
He said that should the APNU win the elections, it would ensure that NCN disseminates the news in an unadulterated way. He said the workers do not decide the policy of the entity and that he was on their side.
