The main opposition, APNU today said that the allocation of channels 27/78 to China Central TV by the National Communications Network is not above board and the arrangement should be suspended.
In its first detailed statement on the allocation to CCTV, APNU linked the transaction to concerns about a series of irregularities at NCN.
APNU noted that in a press statement on February 18, Prime Minister Sam Hinds had said that the assigning of channels to CCTV was a business arrangement with NCN.
Pointing out that there have been irregularities plaguing NCN and an investigation had been commissioned as a result, APNU asked how could the Nation accept that NCN would enter a business arrangement with a foreign entity when its agreements with local personnel have been tainted with illegalities.
APNU stated that the irregularities at NCN are still to be addressed by President Donald Ramotar who holds the information portfolio. The opposition coalition says it had written to the Office of the President requesting a complete copy of the report into the NCN investigation and has had no positive response pertaining to the recommendations in the report.
It added that the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority should in the meanwhile invoke Sections 28 and 29 of the Act to address the matter and that until NCN could put itself in order, the operation of CCTV on channel 27/78 should be suspended.
Initially it was thought that CCTV had been granted a licence to broadcast and this was soundly condemned by several stakeholders as evidence of discrimination against local broadcasters. Weeks later, the government said that no licence had been provided but that NCN was merely relaying the CCTV signal and owned the transmitting equipment.
The APNU press release also addressed matters surrounding the operations of the GNBA. The APNU press release said:
“On Tuesday, 19 February 2013, the Guyana National Broadcast Authority (GNBA) made certain decisions, at its meeting, among which were:
(1) It will await an application from NCN (with accompanying plans etc) before it can address the propriety of the CCTV arrangement. A March deadline for submission was set.
(2) The Advisory Committee on Broadcasting (ACB) will no longer communicate with stations during the transition period to absorb it within the GNBA.
(3) GNBA can only proceed with the Linden TV matter when an application is received from the Regional Democratic Council.
It is important that the GNBA is taking steps to assert its authority since, even in the midst of some imperfections in the Broadcast Act No 17 of 2011, it still represents a positive step in the direction of regulating, supervising and developing the National Broadcast System.
