Georgetown : Government last night rejected the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2014 – Bill No. 13 of 2014 tabled by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament (MP) Joseph Harmon.
The initial Bill, tabled on February 28, aimed at amending the Broadcasting Act
was withdrawn last month when Harmon indicated that there were mistakes in the Bill.
Government’s Chief Whip Gail Teixeira stated that the current Bill was even more problematic than the previous one. She pointed to several sections which were removed from the principal act to which Government objected. Ms. Teixeira pointed to the removal of the Broadcasting Board, the Minister, the President, and the inserting of the appointment of the Board by the National Assembly. She refused to support the removal of the role of the Executive and replacing it with Parliament.
She noted that there were also areas which were completely removed from the Bill in relation to broadcasting issues in Guyana among those relating to public broadcasting.
Teixeira pointed out too that her offer to sit with Harmon to assist with the crafting of the Bill was refused. The Government’s Chief Whip reiterated Government’s rejection of the Bill.
APNU has also proposed that Parliament uses its authority to review all new TV and radio licences granted over the last several years.
Government on July 28, 2011 passed the broadcast legislation despite an opposition walk out, saves for one member. The passage of the bill paved the way for the establishment of a broadcast authority which will regulate radio and television stations, and issue licences. It was the third draft of a broadcast bill.
According to the explanatory memorandum, the bill provides for the establishment of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) which will be responsible for the regulation, supervision and development of the National Broadcasting Authority, provides for its functions, and provides for the licensing of broadcasting agencies and the encouragement of production and broadcasting of television and radio programmes having relevance generally to life and culture of the Guyanese people.
The amendments to the Bill seek to reduce the overarching influence of the Minister responsible for broadcast in the appointment of the GNBA, as well as to give effect to the report of the 2001 Hoyte/Jagdeo Committee on Broadcast and State Media- the recommendations of which were ignored in the Act- have reached the House.
Harmon in tabling the initial Bill had said that the proposed amendments are informed by the provisions of the Constitution which guarantee freedom of expression and freedom to receive and disseminate information.
He reminded that in 2001 the Joint Committee was established to investigate report and make recommendations on radio monopoly, non partisan boards and broadcast legislation.
You must be logged in to post a comment.