Chief Justice (ag) Ian ChangChief Justice (ag) Ian Chang yesterday ordered that the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) speedily grant broadcast licenses to those who want to broadcast in Linden and Region Ten. But this is a decision that the Government plans to appeal.Chang ruled that the rights of citizens under Article 146 of the Constitution cannot be abridged based on an agreement made between President Bharrat Jagdeo and the Leader of the Opposition, Robert Corbin. The two had agreed that no new licence would be granted unless broadcast legislation is enacted.Lindeners Norman Chapman and Mortimer Yearwood had moved to the High Court, prior to the 2006 general elections, claiming that their fundamental rights were being breached by their not being able to have radio or TV broadcasts other than from state-owned radio and TV.Yearwood had applied to the NFMU for a TV and radio licence because of the obvious need in Linden for an extension in electronic media services.However, in response to his application, the Managing Director of the NFMU, Valmiki Singh, informed him that his application would be placed on file and would come up for consideration at such point as sufficient progress had been made with respect to the enactment of broadcast legislation and in the area of the reform and modernisation of the telecommunications sector.Singh said both the legislation and the telecommunications modernisation project would set out guidelines for the granting of licences,Wholesale Hockey Jerseys China, including details such as frequencies and channels to be assigned, geographical locations, power of transmitters,Wholesale Authentic Jerseys Outlet, and the broadcasting standards to be used. Singh said that failure to resolve these matters before the issue of new licenses could result in serious technical difficulties and inefficient usage of the electromagnetic spectrum.Chapman had claimed that Chandra Narine Sharma’s TV 6 had applied for TV and radio licenses to operate in Linden,Wholesale NBA Jerseys, but Singh said the NFMU had no records of such applications.The Chief Justice ruled that to deny the granting of new licenses under the claims by the NFMU was a violation of Article 146 of the Constitution, which states that “No person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of expression, that is to say,Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys, freedom to hold opinions without interference, freedom to receive ideas and information without interference,NFL Jerseys Cheap Authentic, freedom to communicate ideas and information without interference, and freedom from interference with his correspondence.”It was only recently that the Government side of the National Assembly defeated a motion by Alliance For Change Vice Chair Sheila Holder, which sought to have private television station owners relay their signals into the mining town of Linden.Leader of the main opposition party, the PNCR’s Robert Corbin, who signed a communiqu? freezing the issuance of licenses in May 2003, said the legislation should have come four months after.PNCR Member of Parliament and Linden representative, Vanessa Kissoon, presented an emotional appeal in the National Assembly for the people of Linden to have access to alternatives to NCN. “We are fed up with what we have to watch….We feel restricted,Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic, restrained and in prison.”