Stabroek News
May 25, 2001

The move by the government to regulate the airwaves has met with mixed reactions from two television broadcasting stations and the PNC/R has described it as an act of bad faith.

One owner, Tony Vieira of VCT Channel 28, was very critical of the statement issued by Prime Minister Sam Hinds on Wednesday. He described it as an act of bad faith in the light of talks between President Bharrat Jagdeo and Opposition Leader Desmond Hoyte.

He mentioned that some members of the previous committee, which had been established to look at the matter were strongly in favour of an independent regulatory body. He also said that there was disagreement over the method of selection of members to be on that body.

Furthermore, it was felt that the government could not regulate the television stations without doing the same for the radio stations. The government exercises a monopoly on radio. Vieira, nevertheless, acknowledged that measures to regulate the airwaves were long overdue.

Max McKay of WHRM Channel Seven, preferred not to make any comment until after the proposed meeting with the Prime Minister next Monday but observed that the statement left a lot to be desired. Like Vieira, he agreed that measures to control the airwaves were long overdue.

A PNC REFORM (PNC/R) release issued yesterday, condemned the announcement by the government and said that it was a "clear example of duplicity, hypocrisy and bad faith."

The release went on to add that the PPP/Civic had agreed to hold talks with the PNC/R on matters related to broadcasting including regulation and the role of the state in broadcasting. It was referring to one of the committees agreed on between President Bharrat Jagdeo and PNC/R leader Desmond Hoyte in their talks.

"Whilst Mr Jagdeo has agreed to establish a joint committee to propose action to regulate these matters and his nominees have been uttering pious platitudes on the need to maintain freedom of the press and to have similar standards in state and private broadcasting, his henchmen have been doing all that they could to derail the talks and to intensify PPP abuse of the state media in this country", the party charged.

The move by the government to regulate the airwaves arose out of concerns, which have been expressed by the public over the abuse of freedom of speech by some media operators. In a statement issued by Prime Minister Hinds, all television broadcasters will now be required to apply for a licence before they can operate. The licence will include terms and conditions governing technical standards and the content of broadcast programming material.

A broad-based committee is also expected to advise on whether the content of programmes adhered to the guidelines of the Media Code of Conduct.

Owners of television broadcasting stations have been invited to a meeting with the Prime Minister on Monday to discuss the matter.

According to Prime Minister Hinds, the legislation, which is now being enforced, is the Post and Telegraph Act and Wireless Telegraphy Regulations. This legislation will remain in effect until the introduction of a new broadcasting law.

Under Paragraph 63 (5) of the act the "Minister may by regulations prescribe- (a) the form and manner in which applications for licences...shall be made; (b) the fees payable on the grant of any licences; (c) the terms and conditions under which the licences may be granted..."