The Region 10 Administra-tion yesterday said it is convinced that Government is out to frustrate the people of Linden and Region 10 by its stance towards its commitment to the August 21, 2012 agreement which ended a bitter protest.
At the most recent meeting held last week Tuesday, Government and the Region also put forward names for the technical and economic committees. However a meeting slated for January 4 will consider the names that were put forward.
At an earlier meeting on December 7, the parties agreed to clear the slate of all the proposed chairpersons that both sides had suggested and start the process afresh with names of people that will find favour with both parties.
Acting Cabinet Secretary Gail Teixeira at a post-Cabinet press briefing on Friday said that a number of issues were raised with regard to the Region’s application for a TV licence. “They seem to expect that the government by the wave of a wand, will grant them approval; sidestepping what are the legal requirements and technical requirements under the National Frequency Manage-ment Unit (NFMU) regulations and the Broadcasting Act,” she said. “We have assured them that we cannot do that, but we will facilitate as far as possible, their application in accordance with the law,” Teixeira said.
Solomon in a statement from the Region yesterday said that in keeping with the Agreement, it immediately delivered its application to the Government to ensure that they could facilitate the granting of the licence in keeping with the law.
“The Region has been doing what is required at the site of the dish as it prepares to give the people of Region 10 their desire – the establishment of their own television, ending the bombardment of government propaganda,” Solomon said.
He added that in the negotiations leading up to the agreement, the region had objected to any reference to the Broadcasting Authority and had stated that it was engaging with the government on this matter since there was no authority in place and that the government had previously issued television licences. This is a crucial area of disagreement as the government is saying that the Region has to apply to the Guyana National Broad- casting Authority (GNBA) for the licence. Critics have seen the government’s posture as a move to gain support via the backdoor for the GNBA which the opposition has had serious reservations about.
“The Region has mobilised the resources and is ready to broadcast except that the government has failed to honour the Agreement and return the transmitter to the people of Linden,” he said, noting that the patience of the people of Linden has been overtaxed. “It is time for the government to come good on its promise,” he said.
He said that the people of Region 10 remain mobilised to ensure that this agreement is implemented. “The Region believes that good sense must prevail and the Government must deliver on its commitment and honour the August 21, 2012 Agreement,” he said. The region had expected to have the TV licence and broadcasting facilities four months ago.
With regard to the technical committee established as part of the agreement, the two parties to the Agreement have been unable to agree to a new chairperson.
This committee is to address the vexed issue of electricity tariffs which is what had sparked the protest that led to the killings on July 18. The committee was to look at the historic basis of the tariffs and what was reasonable among a host of other matters. The former Chair-man Narvon Persaud resigned several weeks into the process without explanation.
“The Region placed the names of a number of competent and well respected Guyanese for consideration. The list includes Emily Dodson, Lincoln Lewis and more recently Earl John. The Region hopes that we can advance the process and agree on a chairperson in the New Year,” Solomon said.
He said that the Economic Committee has been unable to commence its work, since the parties have been unable to find agreement on the names suggested for Chairperson. He said that the Region has tabled the names of Desiree Field-Ridley, Joycelyn Williams, Christopher Ram and Professor Clive Thomas.
“No honest person would deny the level of commitment, competence, discipline and fearlessness the individuals recommended will bring to the task once agreement is reached.
The Region will continue to advocate for a professional and competent chairperson who will be fair and is without fear of the Government. The region will not cave in to the Government’s pressure to appoint one who they could easily compromise,” he said.
Solomon added that the Region will be guided by the principles of competence, fair play and justice “and will never agree to compromise these principles and appoint persons who are loyal to the government.” This committee is to look at the economic prospects of the region among other things.
Land selection
With regards to the Land Selection Committee, Solomon said that this Committee has been established and membership, in direct proportion to the seats won in the 2011 Regional Elections, was given to APNU, AFC and PPP/C.
“Unfortunately, the PPP representatives did not support this motion when it was put to a vote at a statutory [meeting]; also they are yet to attend meetings,” he said.
He noted that the establishment of the Committee is a significant step in realising the constitutional right of the Region to development and to determine its own destiny.
“It is useful to recall that this right was taken away from Region 10 and it was the Office of the President who determined the members of the Committee and who was entitled to be allocated land. While this was done in Region 10, the same was not the case in Regions controlled by the PPP,” he said. “The Region calls on the Government to respect the wishes of the people of Region 10 and cooperate with the Leadership of Region 10 in ensuring the success of the new Land Selection Committee,” he said. Solomon pointed out that when the agreement was signed on August 21, the region had said “We have now reached another critical phase in the struggle-implementation.
Notwithstanding…the many warnings of concerned citizens about the PPP’s infamous record track record on implementing agreements, we are prepared to trust our national leaders. We will trust this regime to implement the Agreement…”
Solomon added that the region believes that good sense must prevail and the government must deliver on its commitment.
