I read your (Trinidad Express) rather shrill editorial of October 18, 2011,  pertaining to the four-month suspension of the broadcast licence of CNS Channel 6 in Guyana with great concern. Your editorial tells only one side of the story.

The owner of CNS Channel 6, Chandra Narine Sharma, is a colourful and controversial figure in Guyana not known for responsible journalism. His television licence was suspended on three previous occasions for various forms of irresponsible conduct, including permitting a caller to threaten the life of the President on the air. One would think that after three suspensions Sharma would be more circumspect of what he broadcasts.

In the instant matter, in May of this year, he permitted an opposition politician to promote religious discord in Guyana in a television commentary. The politician attacked Bishop Juan Edghill, the head of the independent Ethnic Relations Commission for being a government sycophant and for not doing enough for Catholics. Bishop Edghill, a Protestant, is a highly-respected religious leader. Bishop Edghill has since sued the politician and Sharma for defamation.

In a separate course of action, the independent Advisory Committee on Broadcasting (ACB) staffed by Chairman Evan Persaud, opposition party representative Ron Case, and Private Sector Representative Norman McLean, investigated the matter. Mr. Sharma admitted that the commentary was indeed slanderous and tended to undermine religious harmony in Guyana. The ACB recommended to President Jagdeo, in his capacity as Information Minister, to immediately suspend the licence of CNS Channel 6  for eight months.

Rather than simply act on the ACB’s recommendation, President Jagdeo invited Mr. Sharma and his wife, the station’s general manager, to discuss the ACB’s findings. At the meeting, Mrs. Sharma requested a four-month suspension, which the President acceded to. With the announcement of general elections on November 28, President Jagdeo postponed the suspension until after the election. Clearly, these are not the actions of a despot, as you imply. On the contrary, it would be irresponsible of President Jagdeo to ignore the ACB’s recommendation. Given Mr. Sharma’s track record there is a good case for punishment as a deterrent to future transgressions.

Democracy is alive and well in Guyana. The Land of Six Peoples strives for ethnic harmony and religious tolerance. We will not permit racists and bigots to undermine these cherished values in the name of press freedom. As the cliché goes, with freedom comes responsibility.