| …as Broadcast Legislation is tabled in House todayAlliance for Change Chairman, Khemraj Ramjattan, will today table a long-awaited Broadcasting Bill. In an invited comment, he said that there is an urgency for Guyana to have such legislation, with whatever modifications and amendments the larger Assembly will see fit to attach to it.According to Ramjattan the absence of such a Bill has been the pretext which has been used over the years to deny applicants for radio licences, and those who want to extend their TV services.“What is put together in this Broadcasting Bill of 2010 is substantially what was agreed to by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and certain members of Civil Society arising out of meetings held by the Committee on Radio Monopoly and Non-Partisan Boards during the period 2001/2002.”He explained that the PPP side was headed by Gail Teixeira and the PNC side, by the late Deryck Bernard and notable members of a non-political ilk, “as far as I could recall,Cheap Jerseys Store, who made inputs,Womens Nike Free Run, directly or indirectly, including Enrico Woolford, Ron Case, Hugh Cholomondeley, and Kit Nascimento.”Ramjattan said that the establishment of this framework of media governance in Guyana thus has support from the major parties and ought to be fully supported.“It would be extremely strange and unacceptable if this Bill is not allowed to be read a first time in Parliament tomorrow…Both the President and the Leader of the Opposition in May 2003 exhorted that legislation be laid in the National Assembly in that year.”If the PPP Government uses any plausible excuse not to support this Bill, it would reinforce the AFC’s position that the Government wants to continue its domination of especially the radio waves and its monopoly in that form of media, he said.Ramjattan stated that no action has been taken since 2003 when the bipartisan Committee came up with a draft. “It was simply shelved.”He noted that the Bill articulates the broad goals and principles of public policy in Guyana’s media sphere,NFL Jerseys Cheap Authentic, and outline the role and powers of an independent Broadcast Authority and its workings with those who it will relate to and those it will regulate.He explained that in the legislation there is a just balance in its provisions concerning media freedom and media accountability.“This is demanded from both private and public broadcasters.”Ramjattan explained that the point must be emphasized that indeed,Cheap Air Max Tn, “this may not be a perfect Bill….I don’t know what a perfect Broadcasting Bill looks like. However, this is as good a product as it can get.”The AFC Chairman said that further perfecting can come from a Select Committee which can advance it further through recommendations from members of the public and the PPP and PNC representatives in a time-lined Select Committee, that is, that it should be deliberated upon, fine-tuned and brought back to the larger National Assembly within 60 days.“There is a first hurdle, however, that has to be crossed…The whole purpose can be scuttled if the PPP and PNC fail to give support that leave be granted to the private member to read it a first time.”Ramjattan said that he will be asking the important players in both the PPP and PNC as to what they think and seek advice from his AFC colleagues as to how the Bill should be proceeded with, thereafterIts explanatory note reads,Cheap Jerseys, “This Bill seeks to make provision for the establishment of a Broadcasting Authority which will be an independent professional statutory entity with the purpose of licensing broadcasting agencies namely, radio stations and television stations.”The Bill further seeks to regulate the conditions for the grant, variation,Cheap Mens Jordan Sneakers, transfer and cancellation of such licences with provision also being made for penalties for breaches of conditions by licencees, and for consequential and related matters connected therewith. |
