GECOM meets political parties on suspension of CNS 6 licence

THE Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), on Wednesday, met with representatives of A Partnership For National Unity (APNU), Alliance For Change (AFC) and The United Force (TUF) to discuss inter alia – the recent suspension of the broadcast licence of CNS 6.

The meeting was held at the GECOM Boardroom, High and Cowan Streets, Kingston, Georgetown, as a result of a letter dated October 4, 2011, and signed by Mr. David Granger, Presidential Candidate – APNU; Ms. Valerie Garrido-Lowe, Leader and Presidential Candidate – TUF; and Mr. David Patterson – AFC, requesting an audience with the Commission to discuss their stated concerns.

According to a statement from GECOM, representatives of the respective parties, at the meeting, “were collective in their condemnation of the suspension” of the broadcast licence of CNS 6. 

Participants at Wednesday’s meeting in the GECOM Boardroom. (photos courtesy GECOM)

Accordingly, they called upon the Commission to intervene in an expedient manner by making representation towards a deferral of the suspension of the broadcast licence of CNS 6 to some time after the upcoming General and Regional Elections.

GECOM said all of the Parties emphasized that the suspension has placed them at a great disadvantage, insofar as equal media access for all Political Parties contesting the Elections is concerned, and that the suspension has created an “uneven playing field”.

Dr. Steve Surujbally, Chairman of GECOM, assured  the parties that their concerns, as delineated in their above mentioned letter, had been discussed at the 341st Statutory Meeting of the Commission on Tuesday, and that several relevant opinions had been put forward for consideration.

The Commission said Dr. Surujbally expressed his preference, as he had done at the 341st Statutory Meeting, to seek legal guidance towards arriving at a determination on whether GECOM has jurisdiction to pronounce on the matter.

The parties’ representatives were given the assurance that the discussions on the matter would continue at the level of the Commission immediately after their departure from the meeting.  Accordingly, Dr.  Surujbally gave the further assurance that he would contact the parties as soon as GECOM would have reached a position on the matter.

The party representatives at the meeting were Mr. David Granger, Mr. Oscar Clarke, Mr. Joe Harmon and Dr. Rupert Roopnarine, all of the APNU; Ms. Valerie Garrido-Lowe – TUF; Mr. David Patterson and Mr. Dominic Gaskin of the AFC.

Dr. Surujbally was accompanied at the meeting by Commissioners Mr. V. Alexander, Mr. C. Corbin, Dr. K. Mangal, Mr. M. McDoom, Mr. M. Shaw, Mr. R. Williams; Chief Election Officer, Mr. G. Boodoo; Mr. V. Persaud, Public Relations Officer – GECOM; and Ms. Juanita Barker Archibald, Legal officer – GECOM.

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