The Private Sector Commission (PSC) has asked President Donald Ramotar to urgently consider measures for equitable access by all contesting political parties to both state-owned and privately-run radio and television stations during the upcoming elections period.
Following a meeting with editors of the print and broadcast media yesterday, the PSC also called for transparency by media entities for spots and spaces that will be made available for political advertisements and for transparency in the pricing of such allocations.
For years, opposition parties have complained about being virtually shut-out from the state-run NCN, even for paid advertisements. The problem has also been raised by international and local observer missions during past elections. Equitable access to the media by all parties was also listed by the US, UK and Canada in January among recommended improvements for the electoral process.
The PSC wrote Ramotar, who is Minister of Information, with its recommendations on March 19th and Chairman Ramesh Persaud yesterday told Stabroek News that the letter was acknowledged by Office of the President, but there has been no response to the recommendations.
In the letter, which was copied to Chairperson of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority Bibi Shadick, the PSC noted that it is integrally involved in ensuring that the upcoming polls will be free and fair and it has been meeting with the United Nations agencies, Diplomatic Missions, the OAS and various other stakeholders involved in monitoring the elections.
“In all of our meetings, the issue of equitable access to radio and television, both state and privately operated for both political advertising and party election broadcast has been raised as a matter of priority to ensure a fair election,” it said, while adding that it has determined that it is necessary for there to be a clear and defined policy and requirements governing broadcast licensees.
To this end, the PSC requested that Ramotar “urgently address” the issue and suggested that he consider regulations of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa with respect to regulations governing party election broadcasts and political advertisements during the election period.
Under the Broadcasting Act, the Minister of Information is empowered to make subsidiary legislation, such as the recommended regulations, but Ramotar would be unable to do so in the absence of the Parliament, which has been dissolved.
The PSC informed Ramotar that the South African Broadcast Authority states that the purpose of the Regulations “is to prescribe the framework and guidelines under which Party Election Broadcast PEB (s) and Political Advertisements PA (s) shall be conducted and carried out by the Broadcasting Service Licensee (BSL) during the National and provisional election.”
Further, requirements for both state and private licensees with regard to their airing party election broadcast and distinguishes between PEB(s) and PA(s) are specifically defined. It further noted that the legislation deals specifically with the allocation of air time for party election broadcasts on the basis of a formula relating to political party representation in the Parliament as well as the regulation of political advertising on both state and private media.
The legislation deals with lodging of complaints with the Authority, the observance of the regulations and the penalties for violation, it further pointed out.
“We are of the view that these Regulations can be easily and readily adapted for implementation by the Guyana Broadcasting Authority under the Broadcasting Act and wish to recommend this course of action for your urgent consideration,” it said in the letter.
“We enclose a copy of the South Africa Regulations for your information and look forward to your favourable consideration of our recommendations,” it added.
Sources pointed out that though regulations cannot now be issued to address these matters, Ramotar as Minister of Information could seek to direct all broadcasters, state and private, to allocate time equitably under the terms of their broadcast licence.
Conviction
Meanwhile, the PSC, accompanied by representatives the United Nations Development Programme in Guyana, met with editors of the print and broadcast media yesterday.
In a statement afterward, the PSC said that it was during this engagement that it shared its “conviction” that all political parties contesting the upcoming polls “should be allowed fair and equitable access to all media entities” for paid political advertisements and party elections broadcasts. “In this regard, the Commission calls for transparency by the media entities of the spots and spaces that will be made available for political advertisements and for transparency in the pricing of such allocations,” it further said.
The Commonwealth Observer Group, in its final report on the November 28, 2011 general and regional elections, noted that lack of independence and impartiality of the media remained a problem and singled out state-owned television, radio and print media, which it said according to the Media Monitoring Unit showed overt bias in favour of the ruling party in its coverage and news reporting. “State-owned media was not alone in providing imbalanced reporting but bias by the state media was excessive,” the report said, while pointing out that state-owned media has a responsibility to serve the interests of all citizens, “particularly as in some parts of the country it is the only media available.”
The Commonwealth said that as a consequence of the media bias and the resources at the disposal of the incumbent, there was not a sufficiently level playing field for the campaign. “While the development of codes of conduct for parties and media is welcomed, it is not enough for them merely to be signed by stakeholders. They must also be adhered to,” the Commonwealth said in its report.
The PSC also said yesterday that it is concerned at reports of harassment, intimidation and threats to media operatives covering political events and it called upon all political parties and their supporters to accord due respect to all members of the media and to ensure the safety of such operatives at all times. It urged that all accredited members of the media be accorded free and unimpeded access to all public rallies and other political events.
The PSC also voiced its deep concern at the current “rhetoric” from political campaigners from their platforms and it condemned all language equivalent to incitement and breeding of hate amongst citizens. In this regard, the Commission also called upon all political parties to facilitate early adoption of the Political Parties Code of Conduct and comply with its tenets and intended philosophy.
