During his weekly press conference on Thursday, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo accused the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) of attacking Freedom Radio and other radio stations perceived to be sympathetic towards the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) but this has been denied by the GNBA.
“GNBA has been writing Freedom Radio and other stations where we place our ads…We’ve prepared a file [of letters] we’re sending it to every international organisation. We are briefing the international community about GNBA,” Jagdeo declared.
Claiming that the authority has sought to sanction the media houses for referring to President David Granger as ‘low energy’ and “a charlatan”, Jagdeo said that he believes the intention is to “suspend the stations or shut them down as we get close to elections”.
The GNBA however has refuted these claims.
According to the Department of Public Information, GNBA chair, Leslie Sobers said that the authority has “not sent out letters to his (Jagdeo’s) perceived sympathizers alone, we have sent out letters to several broadcasters who have committed certain infractions.”
According to Sobers, letters were sent to: MTV, WRHM, NTN, Hits and Jams, STVS, Scar Communications Incorporated, TVG Incorporated, Radio (RGI), Blackman and Sons, CN Sharma and Freedom Radio.
He further added “… we normally look at infractions on a quarterly basis and the Special Investigative Committee has recently looked at the infractions for the last quarter. The infractions for this quarter will be looked at (at) the appropriate time.”
The Special Investigation Committee, he explained, has no power to sanction or impose fines or penalties on these stations but will invite them in for discussions to point out to them where the infraction lies and prevent recurrences.
Sobers expressed the belief that the PPP/C leader “is trying to force the hand of GNBA to take action against Freedom Radio” which in the last quarter of 2019, committed 32 infractions – involving vulgarity, bad taste and disparaging remarks. These are all laid out as breaches in the Broadcasting Act.
“I want Mr. Jagdeo to understand that we will not be forced into action and he is fully aware of what is required as a broadcaster because he was once a Minister of Information and the Act was assented to by him,” Sobers declared.
As the Minister of Information, Jagdeo suspended on several occasions the operating licence of CN Sharma in what was believed to be a politically motivated attempt to silence his criticism of government.
According to DPI, Sobers contended that GNBA operates in full autonomy and is cognisant of the importance of freedom of expression.
He stressed that the head of the special investigative committee who Jagdeo identified as an AFC executive is part of a professional team.
“The Special Investigative Committee is not a one-man show. It is chaired by Joel Edmond and has other professionals and independent thinkers such as Attorney-at-law, Ms. Sadie Amin who is also a member of the People’s Progressive Party. These individuals are fully responsible for the review and determination of infractions,” he stressed, adding that broadcast licences are given with a degree of confidence, reposed in the broadcaster to act within the law and if breached, they can face the Special Investigative Committee for corrective discussion only.
It is when they are called before the Hearing Committee of GNBA that penalties result. The letters, Sobers noted will not be dealt with in the hearing committee.
