There is an urgency in realizing for Guyana this Broadcasting Bill 2010, with whatever modifications and amendments the larger Assembly will see fit to attach to it. The absence of such a Bill has been the pretext which has been used all these years to deny applicants for radio licences, and those who want to extend their TV services, such licences.
What is put together in this Broadcasting Bill of 2010 is substantially what was agreed to by the PPP and PNC and certain members of Civil Society arising out of meetings held by the Committee on Radio Monopoly and Non-Partisan Boards during the period 2001/2002.
The PPP side was headed by Gail Texeira and the PNC side by Deryck Bernard. Notable members of a non-political ilk, as far as I could recall, who made inputs, directly or indirectly, included Enrico Woolford, Ron Case, Hugh Cholomondley, and Kit Nascimento.
The establishment of this framework of media governance in Guyana thus has support from the major parties and ought to be fully supported. It would be extremely strange and unacceptable if this Bill is not allowed to be read a first time in Parliament tomorrow. Both the President and the Leader of the Opposition in May, 2003 exhorted that legislation be laid in the National Assembly in that year.
If the PPP Government use some plausible excuse not to support this Bill, it would reinforce the AFC’s position that the Government wants to continue its domination of especially the radio waves and its monopoly in that form of media.
No action has been taken since 2003 when the bipartisan Committee came up with a draft substantially in terms with the Bill which is sought to be moved for a first reading tomorrow. It was simply shelved.
The Bill articulates the broad goals and principles of public policy in Guyana’s media sphere, and outline the role and powers of an independent Broadcast Authority and its workings with those who it will relate to and those it will regulate.
There is a just balance in its provisions concerning media freedom and media accountability. This is demanded from both private and public broadcasters.
The point must be emphasized that indeed this may not be a perfect Bill. I don’t know what a perfect Broadcasting Bill looks like. However, this is a good product as it can get. Further perfecting can come from a Select Committee which can advance it further through recommendations from members of the public and the PPP and PNC representatives in a time-lined Select Committee, that is, that it should be deliberated upon, fine-tuned and brought back to the larger National Assembly in sixty (60) days time.
There is a first hurdle, however, that has to be crossed. Tomorrow the whole purpose can be scuttled if the PPP and PNC fail to give support that leave be granted to the private member to read it a first time. I will be asking the important players in both the PPP and PNC as to what they think and will advise myself and seek advice from my AFC colleagues as to how the Bill should be proceeded with, thereafter
As its explanatory reads, this Bill seeks to make provision for the establishment of a Broadcasting Authority which will be an independent professional statutory entity with the purpose of licensing broadcasting agencies namely, radio stations and television stations. It further seeks to regulate the conditions for the grant, variation, transfer and cancellation of such licences with provision also being made for penalties for breaches of conditions by licencees, and for consequential and related matters connected therewith.
Khemraj Ramjattan
AFC Chairman
10th March 2010
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