| …We have allowed the past government to behave as Gods and it has ruined the society morally, economically and politically — says Dr. David Hinds By Kiana WilburgHead of Transparency International Guyana Inc., Calvin Bernard, has said that the former Presidents of Guyana,cheap nfl jerseys, Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar, still have some unfinished business with the nation. He argued that as officials who held one of the highest offices in the land, they owe it to the people to come clean on a number of decisions they made while in office. Some of these seemed to reek of corruption.As for Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, Bernard told Kaieteur News that Jagdeo still owes it to the nation to provide “a truthful and clear explanation” on the radio licences granted before he left office in 2011.The former President had unilaterally granted several radio and cable licences to not only his friends but also to close party members and even to the PPP newspaper, The Mirror. It was widely seen as part of a bigger plan by Jagdeo to gain control of the airwaves.Several prominent media houses were ignored by Jagdeo, leading to condemnation locally and internationally, and to protests. Several media houses like HBTV, Kaieteur News, Stabroek News, RBS Channel 13, CNS Channel 6, MBC Channel 46, WRHM Channel 7, GWTV 2 and Capitol News, were among those that complained about being sidelined by Jagdeo.Among those granted approvals for radio licences were Telcor & Cultural Broadcasting Inc, the former owner of IRadio 90.1 FM and the company closely linked to former Minister Robert Persaud.Also granted five frequencies were Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, Jagdeo’s close buddy. He was allowed also to buy over a television Channel (28) from its former owner Tony Vieira under controversial circumstances.The Mirror,Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping, owned by the PPP, was also granted five frequencies through Dharamkumar Seeraj, a senior member of the then ruling party.Single frequencies were granted to Maxwell Thom, singer Rudy Grant, Hits and Jams, and NTN.The APNU+AFC which served in the opposition prior to the 2015 elections had feared that the “PPP-dominated” radio would have been used as a propaganda machine against them during the said elections. And what they feared actually became a reality.The first report of the elections watchdog body, the Media Monitoring Unit (MMU) of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), for the period March 1 to March 31, 2015 disclosed that coverage by the new radio stations monitored, was overwhelmingly in favour of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) during the 2015 elections.As for former President Ramotar, the TIGI Head stressed that he should explain his pardoning of convicted child killer, Ravindra Deo, just prior to leaving office. He believes that the motivation for that action needs to be made clear as it “currently suggests something corrupt.”Deo was just 19 when he kidnapped and killed eight-year-old Vishnu Bhim,Wholesale Jerseys China, as the Annandale,Soccer Jerseys From China, East Coast Demerara child was coming home from school. The kidnapper had reportedly demanded a $1M ransom.Prior to the kidnapping, Deo had allegedly gone to the child’s home and asked the victim’s father, Heerlall Bhim, for a job in the man’s carpentry shop.Deo was arrested a few days later in America Street, and on December 1, 1994, he led detectives and villagers to a La Bonne Intention backdam. There,Cheap NFL Jerseys, police found the eight-year-old boy’s bound, gagged and battered body. On December 6, 1994,Wholesale China Jerseys, Ravendra Deo appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, to answer a charge of murder. He was found guilty on December 4, 1995, and Justice Claudette Singh sentenced him to death.Political activist and University professor, Dr. David Hinds totally agrees with Mr Bernard’s position.In an invited comment, Dr. Hinds said that the conduct of the previous government has to be brought under the microscope not for purposes of witch-hunting but as a form of deterrence for future governments.He opined that Jagdeo and the PPP could well come back to power. “If we allow past misdeeds to be swept under the carpet then the party would be emboldened to repeat them.” The political activist said that, “Guyana has to develop a stronger culture of Government oversight even within government itself but crucially in Civil Society. We have allowed the past government to behave as Gods and it has ruined the society morally, economically and politically. The fact that PPP leaders behaved as if they have done no wrong is very discomforting.”Dr. Hinds said that he is against witch-hunting and victimization, but noted that this should not preclude the populace from pushing for transparency.“Mr. Jagdeo and Mr. Ramotar should at least acknowledge their mistakes if they want to continue as credible leaders,” the University professor asserted. As for the issue of the radio licence, Dr. Hinds said that it is a very important one for it has implications for personal enrichment, but remains an issue that also has larger political implications.The University professor asserted, “Who gets to be heard and what gets to be heard? Mass communication is a vital aspect of democracy. And if one group of people unjustly owns the means of communications, it is a clear violation of the civil rights of others. We should not encourage information tyranny.” |
