Private Sector Commission should look into gov’t refusal to allow extension of CNS TV signal

Dear Editor,

Firstly, I am in agreement with the step that government has taken to withdraw advertising from the Kaieteur News by advertising on a website. The fact is that this newspaper has overdone and continues to overdo its attacks on the Government of Guyana and the Head of State. It is my opinion that President Jagdeo is doing a commendable job of running the country. Never mind that the programmes don’t work and the projects collapse after a time. The man is trying hard, but some senior ministers of the government let him down.

Secondly, I want to issue a strong call to the Private Sector Commission to look into the issue that faces my business. My family, myself and my members of staff have worked hard over the years to build a thriving business. But whenever I seek to expand and extend this business, I am prevented from doing so and no suitable explanation is given. At first I was
prevented by the Prime Minister, under whose portfolio my business fell. This portfolio was taken away from the PM and is now held by the Head of State himself.

What I am questioning is the fact the PSC and the Government of Guyana are constantly urging and encouraging persons at home and abroad to invest in Guyana. I have done so, and for fifteen years I have not been allowed to expand as is my right in a democratic society. Must I take the government to court to ensure my rights?

Other privately owned as well as the state-owned television stations have been permitted to expand their signals or have been granted additional channels. I am not asking to be given another channel; all I am asking is for the extension of my signal by relay.

Another thing is that the National Communications Network is owned by the people of Guyana who should be allowed airtime when they request it. There are sections of Guyanese who did not vote for the ruling party at elections, but voted elsewhere, and their representatives have gained seats in the National Assembly. These opposition parliamentarians and politicians have a duty and responsibility towards the persons who voted for them. The state media has a responsibility to these people also, to ensure that their representatives are given air time to address them. But this is not the case. Even though NCN is obliged to do so, and even though opposition politicians offer to pay for the air time, it is only granted at the whims and fancies of the government controlled management of NCN, and opposition politicians only appear on NCN about once a year. This should not be.

On the other hand, my television station grants free air time to all political parties, including the PPP/C should they request it.  So far only the PNCR and the AFC have taken advantage of this free service.

I think it is totally unfair that with national elections getting closer, I am not being granted the permission to extend my business so that other politicians can address persons who voted for them.

What I would like to know is what the heads of the Chamber of Commerce and the Private Sector Commission have to say on the issue.  I am awaiting a response from these two highly respected intellectual gentlemen.

Yours faithfully,
C N  Sharma

Editor’s note:

Leaving aside the fundamental contradiction contained in this letter as it relates to the right of freedom of expression, we would like to say that this newspaper does not accept Mr Sharma’s position that the administration is justified in withdrawing advertising from the Kaieteur News because it has been overly critical of the Government of Guyana and the President.  We would like to advert Mr Sharma’s attention to the principles of the Declaration of Chapúltepec, to which Stabroek News subscribes, and which President Bharrat Jagdeo endorsed on May 24, 2002. Principles 6 and 7 read as follows:

“6. The media and journalists should neither be discriminated against nor favoured because of what they write or say.

“7. Tariff and exchange policies, licences for the importation of paper or news-gathering equipment, the assigning of radio and television frequencies and the granting or withdrawal of government advertising may not be used to reward or punish the media or individual journalists.