Georgetown : After word spread of the 6pm closure of CNS TV 6, hundreds of persons turned up in front of the TV station in solidarity of the move by President Bharrat Jagdeo to suspend the licence of the "people’s station" CNS.
Among the gathering were APNU presidential candidate David Granger, civil rights activist Christopher Ram, Trade unionist Lincoln Lewis, executive members of the Alliance For Change, Mayor of Georgetown Hamilton Green, opposition leader Robert Corbin and politicians Dr. Cheddi Jagan Jr. and Peter Ramsaroop.
Granger in his brief remarks said the closure of CNS 6 is a blatant breach of Article 146 of the constitution and the President delayed his move for four months so as to take the voice of the opposition off the air at a time just a few weeks from an election date. He pointed out that APNU is going into an election on an unlevel playing field since they are now off the airwaves and cannot get air time on the state own media NCN while the ruling party has full control of NCN and several other media houses across the country.
Executive member of the AFC Mr. Gerald said “ the closure of Sharma station in a critical period preceding to 2011 general election is calculated to silence all voices of dissent.The AFC stands in solidarity with the management and staff of CNS in this certainly dark night for press freedom and democracy in Guyana.”
Opposition leader Robert Corbin challenge the crowd to take the streets of Georgetown to send a strong message to the ruling regime that this act of depriving freedom of speech will not be tolerated until CNS TV is back on air.
CNS TV was suspended this afternoon by President bharrat Jagdeo after being advise by the Advisory Committee on Broadcasting . The ACB move cameafter they found the station breached its licince on May 4th, 2011 following a commentary done by former PNC Member of Parliament, Anthony Vieira.
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