Members of the public could now contact the Advisory Committee on Broadcasting (ACB) to lodge complaints on the content of local television programmes which, if found to be offensive, could result in the television station's licence being revoked.

The members of the ACB were introduced to the media yesterday at the committee's offices located at 93 Duke Street, Kingston, by Prime Minister Sam Hinds.

ACB's chairman is Pat Dial, designated by the government; member Ronald Case, nominated by Opposition Leader Desmond Hoyte; and member Carlton James, nominated by the Private Sector Commission.

"It is the committee's task to receive and investigate any complaint from the public with regard to compliance with the broadcast regulations governing programme standards, i.e. content not technical standards, as well as initiate investigations and conduct public opinion surveys regarding television programme standards," Hinds said.

ACB is also tasked with maintaining a working relationship with broadcasters and any organisation which is representative of the broadcasting industry.

The National Frequency Management Unit remains responsible for advising the Prime Minister on the allocation of radio spectrum frequencies and the management and regulation of frequency standards under the law.

Hinds stated that, increasingly over the last few years, people of all races, religion and political affiliation have been offended by the content of some local television programmes. He said persons have called for regulation to limit excesses in the programmes.

"We need to curb the extreme assaults which threaten our nation's cohesion and integrity, if not, one day we would not have a nation," he said. Hinds invited all to write to the ACB with complaints whenever something upsetting was seen on local television.

The introduction of television exemplified the initiative and ingenuity of the people of Guyana, he said, but it was done in an informal and disorderly manner. He said Guyana now had the experience to deal with the regulation of content.

"I want to urge all members of the public that if from here on you see anything really offending on the TV, write the ACB. Our three committee members with their varying backgrounds bring a wealth of experience that should ensure both purposeful and balanced action," Hinds said. "I am pleased to repeat that since being retained on the first of January they have been working together well as a team and, as I have to written them, their work may well turn out to be a very important contribution to the development of cohesion and the maintenance of the integrity of our nation."

Touching on the law, Hinds said the Post and Telegraph Act and Wireless Telegraphy Regulations were old and did not address the content of television programmes.

He recalled that government published subsidiary legislation amending the Wireless Telegraphy Regulation on June 27, 2001, to introduce limited conditions governing programme content for the licensing of television broadcasting stations.

"The Post and Telegraph Act is an interim measure under the present law until such time as a new comprehensive legislation would have been drafted and presented to the national assembly," he pointed out.

The Prime Minister noted that Hoyte had accepted that the amended regulations were in keeping with the broadcast policy which the joint committee established by President Bharrat Jagdeo and Hoyte had already examined and agreed to.

The regulations were based on a code of conduct that the media had developed during the run-up to the 2001 elections but which was regularly flouted by TV stations.

Among the subsections of the regulations are:

* The licensee shall ensure that nothing is included in programmes which offends against good taste or decency or is likely to encourage or incite racial hatred or incite crime or lead to public disorder or to be offensive to public feeling.

* The licensee, acting reasonably and in good faith, shall ensure that any news given in the programmes of the licensee is presented with due accuracy and impartiality.

* The licensee shall ensure that due impartiality is preserved by the person providing the service in regard to matters of political or industrial controversy or relating to public policy.

* The licensee shall ensure that due responsibility is exercised with respect to the content of any religious programme of the licensee and that, in particular, any such programme does not involve any abusive or derogatory treatment of the religious views and beliefs of persons belonging to a particular religion or religious denomination.

* The programmes broadcast by the licensee shall be of the highest possible standard.

* The licensee shall provide a reasonable opportunity for the public to be exposed to the expression of differing views on matters of public interest.

The Prime Minister stated that the licensee is responsible for all that is transmitted on his/her station and the licence could be cancelled for violations on the station.

Hinds disclosed that the joint committee on broadcasting submitted its final report to President Jagdeo and Hoyte last December.

The report was sent to the Attorney-General's chambers for the drafting of new legislation in accordance with the committee's recommendations.

Hinds said one major concern raised by persons, including the opposition leader, was that the minister responsible for the sector (Hinds) would be imposing judgement on the content of the programmes which, in their view, would be the partisan judgement of the minister's political party in such matters.

But he said a way out of this potential impasse was crafted in the dialogue process between President Jagdeo and Hoyte.

He recalled that the two leaders entered into a memorandum of understanding which accepted "the spirit and intent of the recommendations for amendment to the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations."

It was also agreed that the minister would act in accordance with the advice tendered by the ACB.

The ACB advises the Prime Minister on the issuance, suspension and/or termination of television station broadcasting licences. It monitors the adherence to or breach of broadcast standards relating to the content by licensees. The ACB receives and investigates public opinion or complaints on broadcast standards. It maintains a working relationship with bodies established by the industry to enforce broadcast standards.

The ACB was established on November 15, 2001 as a semi-autonomous body.