APNU wants urgent resolution of broadcast legislation issues
A PARTNERSHIP for National Unity (APNU) indicated yesterday that, among the issues it intends to raise for urgent resolution within the tripartite political talks with the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and Alliance for Change (AFC) are amendments to the broadcast legislation and the “continued domination of the State media by the PPP/C.” Speaking at a press conference in the Regent and Oronoque Streets, Georgetown headquarters, spokeswoman Malika Ramsay said, while APNU’s intention is to resolve the matter within the tripartite framework, the party believes that the management of the State media, if allowed to work free of party political control and influence, can immediately take steps to ensure that opposition parties, trade unions and other civil society stakeholders have fair access to the radio, television and print publications.
She said: “In particular, management of the State media can immediately increase coverage of views and activities of opposition parties and other stakeholders and provide access, by these entities, through such mechanisms as right of reply, regularly scheduled commentaries and interviews.
“Outside of this issue, we wish to inform the public that we intend to table in Parliament, amendments to the broadcast legislation to ensure it adheres to the letter and spirit of the report of the Hoyte/Jagdeo Committee on broadcasting, to international human rights and other conventions and to international best practices; propose that Parliament uses its authority to review all new television and radio licences granted over the last several years, especially those in the last year; demand a financial audit of NCN and the Guyana Chronicle, including income derived from political ads during the last elections,” Ramsay added.