THE Alliance for Change (AFC) party has reiterated its condemnation of what it refers to as government’s policy of refusing the Parliamentary Opposition parties access to the state media.

This was expressed in a statement read by AFC prime ministerial candidate, Ms. Sheila Holder, at a press conference hosted by the party at its Fourth Street, Campbellville headquarters yesterday.

Said Holder: “The AFC wishes to express disapproval of the adopted policy of the administration having unlimited and unabridged access to NCN, but only providing paid access to the Opposition three months prior to the election.”

Convinced that this was a pattern, she cited a recent case where an AFC Councillor, Mr. Michael Carrington, was denied the right to place an ad on NCN. And presidential candidate, Mr. Kemraj Ramjattan, alluded to a case in which he made advance payments to have a story aired for his party, but it was never aired. He recalled that he had to use valuable time and energy trekking back and forth before he was able to get a refund.

Incensed over this situation, Holder added, “The AFC believes that such discriminatory practices are undemocratic.  Government’s domination of the state media in the absence of equitable Freedom of Information (FOI) and Broadcasting Legislation, is usually noted in all political science texts as a characteristic of a totalitarian regime.”