He also took a strong stand against piracy by local TV stations as he and Prime Minister Sam Hinds signed an agreement for a CDN$100,000 contribution to the ACB.

At the signing, Mr. Hinds said the recently established bipartisan committee will no doubt face a "very stiff test" in how it handles the issue of the controversial videotape by a wanted criminal that was aired last Thursday night on two local television newscasts.

"No doubt they face a very stiff test, immediately, in how they handle the recent presentation on the TV of a programme by someone who is involved in the death of one of our prison officers," the Prime Minister said.

The videotape contains a statement by notorious criminal Andrew Douglas, dressed in army wear and holding an AK 47 rifle.

Douglas is one of the five armed and very dangerous criminals who escaped from the Georgetown Prison on February 23, last.

According to Mr. Hinds, "one can even wonder about the nature of the presentation (since) it does show to some people a very sophisticated use of equipment and people in the creation of that document".

"There is also the issue of the rightness of projecting it," he said.

The Prime Minister also pointed out that the two television stations - VCT Channel 28 and WRHM Channel 7 - aired the tape "even before consultation with the Police to see what was involved".

It is understood that the ACB is reviewing the videotape and will shortly be advising the Prime Minister on what course of action should be taken.

Mr. Hinds said he and the public at large would like to know what the ACB will be doing about it.

"I would also like to know and the public out there would also like to know. It is putting them (the ACB) to a severe test but I am pretty sure that when you look at their background and their recommendations, I figure that they will find a way out," he said.

Mr. Hinds said the ACB will be faced with the problem of deciding on the "conflict between perceived rights" of whether or not the tape should have been aired.

The Government Information Agency (GINA) last Friday issued a statement in which the Prime Minister inferred that the matter was in the hands of the ACB and saying that revoking the licences of the media houses in question could be a possible course of disciplinary action.

On Friday too, the ACB issued a statement saying it had received telephone calls that day in connection with the broadcast by two television licencees of a tape purporting to have been recorded by a man sought by the Police.

The ACB said it wishes to remind the public that the law is clear, not merely in Guyana but worldwide, that any information about a person declared 'wanted' by the Police must be communicated to the authorities as soon as possible.

The same goes for any contact, which might have been made with the wanted person, whether or not the wanted person initiated the contact, the committee said.

The three-man committee is chaired by Mr. Patrick Dial, nominated by President Bharrat Jagdeo; Mr. Ronald Case, nominated by Opposition Leader, Mr. Desmond Hoyte and Mr. Carlton James, nominated by the Private Sector.

The ACB, established to push the structured development of television broadcasting in Guyana, was formally introduced last month. Its tenure extends until the establishment of a Broadcasting Authority.

At the ceremony Marcoux said, "The Canadian Government, through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), is pleased to make a contribution of CDN$100,000 to support the operations of the Advisory Committee on Broadcasting over the next 12 months."

He noted that the primary purpose and function of the committee is to support the Prime Minister in administering the Post and Telegraph Act and Wireless Telegraphy Regulations as an interim measure pending new broadcasting legislation.

Marcoux lauded the Government for taking a step in the right direction in completing the licensing of all television stations currently broadcasting in Guyana.

"The agreement we are signing today is the logical follow up to this first move: the advisory board will closely monitor and analyse the programming of licenced television broadcasts to make sure that their content, while respecting the freedom of speech of the journalists and editorial staff, also respects the dignity and liberty of other members of society", the Canadian envoy said.

He called on the committee to devote a substantial part of its work to reporting the numerous cases of infringements of intellectual property.

"Too often we see on different channels, pirated video cassettes, or programmes simply rebroadcast from different satellites without the permission of their rightful owners.

"Authors, composers, and legitimate diffusers have an inherent right to their intellectual property. Let us not forget that these people are human beings who must earn a decent living for themselves and their family out of their work", Marcoux said.

He declared that it was "high time that this form of theft, as defined by all countries having adhered to the international copyright convention, comes to an end."

The High Commissioner said he also hoped that the ACB "will be vigilant towards all those who use the television media to foster hate and violence."

The Prime Minister thanked Marcoux and his Government for the assistance, saying it will be put to good use by the ACB.

Also at the signing ceremony yesterday were two members of the ACB - Mr. Dial and Mr. Case; and Mr. Muary Kam, Head of the Aid Section of the Canadian High Commission.