President lifts Sharma suspension until December 1 – to avoid Opposition excuses for another defeat
Georgetown, GINA, October 9, 2011
Source - GINA
President Bharrat Jagdeo speaking to the crowd of supporters during a PPP/C elections campaign rally at the Kitty Market Square
Suspension of CN Sharma’s television station licence has been temporary lifted to avert what President Bharrat Jagdeo describes as excuses by the Opposition parties for another resounding defeat at the polls.
The announcement was made by the Head of State as he spoke to Party supporters at the Kitty Market Square for the second People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) elections campaign rally.
“What I decided to do is to allow Sharma to broadcast for the next two months and start the suspension on December 1 so that they don’t have any excuse for another defeat. I want to take away any excuse that they may have to create violence or enmity or to boycott the elections.” President Jagdeo said.
The Channel 6 television station owner was slapped with a four-month suspension that took effect from October 4, for a commentary aired on his station that was reprehensible to the broadcasting laws.
The ban came in the form of a ruling which President Jagdeo made on an Advisory Committee on Broadcasting (ACB) recommendation. It was announced to Mr. Sharma and his spouse at a meeting at the Office of the President.
President Jagdeo had told the media that the commentary presented the argument that there was a Hindu conspiracy to remove the airing of a Christian programme and a Pentecostal invasion of Guyana which the Catholic Bishop is treating with indifference.
Hours before the ban took effect Sharma mounted a candlelight vigil at his Robb Street station which continued for a few days receiving the support of Opposition parties which took a complaint to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).
The Guyana Trades Union Congress recently joined the bandwagon, calling on Opposition parties to boycott elections as the best retaliation.
But President Jagdeo believes that recent actions by the Opposition elements stem from their predictions about the outcome of the elections and rehashed his commitment to remove any excuse they may use to cry foul play.
“The others have seen a chance to back away from the elections. They have seen the writing on the wall that it’s going to be another overwhelming PPP/Civic victory so they are talking about boycott,” President Jagdeo said.
Early this year Chairman of GECOM Steve Surujbally was asked to resign from the position of Chairman for the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) Board after the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) had raised concerns over the appointment, calling it unconstitutional.
The Head of State who offered Dr Surujbally the position had explained that the rationale for requesting his resignation was to avoid any excuses to question the general elections process.
On the Sharma suspension, the ACB had recommended a minimum of six months for the “offensive” commentary. It was however reduced to four months after Sharma begged for amnesty and argued that his staff, whose livelihood depends on the station, would be affected.
President Jagdeo said it was Savitree Sharma who suggested four months of suspension and this was accepted.
Sharma was guilty on numerous occasions of similar offences and was also placed before the court on charges of paedophilia.
Georgetown, GINA, October 9, 2011
Source - GINA
President Bharrat Jagdeo speaking to the crowd of supporters during a PPP/C elections campaign rally at the Kitty Market SquareSuspension of CN Sharma’s television station licence has been temporary lifted to avert what President Bharrat Jagdeo describes as excuses by the Opposition parties for another resounding defeat at the polls.
The announcement was made by the Head of State as he spoke to Party supporters at the Kitty Market Square for the second People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) elections campaign rally.
“What I decided to do is to allow Sharma to broadcast for the next two months and start the suspension on December 1 so that they don’t have any excuse for another defeat. I want to take away any excuse that they may have to create violence or enmity or to boycott the elections.” President Jagdeo said.
The Channel 6 television station owner was slapped with a four-month suspension that took effect from October 4, for a commentary aired on his station that was reprehensible to the broadcasting laws.
The ban came in the form of a ruling which President Jagdeo made on an Advisory Committee on Broadcasting (ACB) recommendation. It was announced to Mr. Sharma and his spouse at a meeting at the Office of the President.
President Jagdeo had told the media that the commentary presented the argument that there was a Hindu conspiracy to remove the airing of a Christian programme and a Pentecostal invasion of Guyana which the Catholic Bishop is treating with indifference.
Hours before the ban took effect Sharma mounted a candlelight vigil at his Robb Street station which continued for a few days receiving the support of Opposition parties which took a complaint to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).
The Guyana Trades Union Congress recently joined the bandwagon, calling on Opposition parties to boycott elections as the best retaliation.
But President Jagdeo believes that recent actions by the Opposition elements stem from their predictions about the outcome of the elections and rehashed his commitment to remove any excuse they may use to cry foul play.
“The others have seen a chance to back away from the elections. They have seen the writing on the wall that it’s going to be another overwhelming PPP/Civic victory so they are talking about boycott,” President Jagdeo said.
Early this year Chairman of GECOM Steve Surujbally was asked to resign from the position of Chairman for the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) Board after the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) had raised concerns over the appointment, calling it unconstitutional.
The Head of State who offered Dr Surujbally the position had explained that the rationale for requesting his resignation was to avoid any excuses to question the general elections process.
On the Sharma suspension, the ACB had recommended a minimum of six months for the “offensive” commentary. It was however reduced to four months after Sharma begged for amnesty and argued that his staff, whose livelihood depends on the station, would be affected.
President Jagdeo said it was Savitree Sharma who suggested four months of suspension and this was accepted.
Sharma was guilty on numerous occasions of similar offences and was also placed before the court on charges of paedophilia.
