Agreed ‘principles’ needed for media coverage of Parliament

By Stabroek News On In Guyana News |
Mark Mostovac (left) of the Canadian High Commission makes a point to resource persons including Assistant Director of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Shem Baldeosingh (centre) and Juliet Solomon (right) of the Commonwealth Secretariat at the CPA-sponsored parliament and media seminar yesterday at the Grand Coastal Inn. (Photo by Jules Gibson)
Mark Mostovac (left) of the Canadian High Commission makes a point to resource persons including Assistant Director of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Shem Baldeosingh (centre) and Juliet Solomon (right) of the Commonwealth Secretariat at the CPA-sponsored parliament and media seminar yesterday at the Grand Coastal Inn. (Photo by Jules Gibson)

-Speaker tells conference

Some government MPs at the opening of the parliament and media seminar at the Grand Coastal Inn yesterday. (Photo by Jules Gibson)By Miranda La Rose
There are no rules governing the media’s coverage of parliament at present but at some point in the future there would be need for a set of agreed “principles”, Speaker of the National Assembly Ralph Ramkarran said.

In opening remarks at a four-day workshop on parliament and the media at the Grand Coastal Inn at Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara yesterday, Ramkarran said that if the media are unable to accept such rules inevitably Parlia-ment would have to legislate to protect the rights, duties and responsibilities of parliamentarians.

While noting that parliament’s experience with the media has been fairly good, he pointed out that one of the recommendations made by a Commonwealth parliamentary expert for improving coverage was for a set of guidelines approved by a parliamentary select committee with equal numbers of government and opposition MPs. However, when put to the media this proposal was rejected.