The recently tabled Broadcasting Bill has not yet spent a week in the public view and it has already garnered strong criticism.“This Bill is even more dangerous than what we have now …” said Christopher Ram at a press conference called to examine the impact that the decision of CN Sharma, owner of Channel Six made to pull the television programme “Keeping Them Honest” from his regular programming.Here the owner of the station admitted that he took the decision after a “discussion with the relevant authorities” but under the new legislation there is clause after clause dictating conditions, breach of which could lead to the withdrawal of an entity’s broadcasting license.Ram and Ramon Gaskin issued a joint statement at the press conference yesterday in which it was said that “This arrogant and lawless group of rulers which has always sought to control everything in Guyana has long wanted to extend its tentacles to the private media and media practitioners who are not sympathetic to the ruling party.Their armoury includes threats,Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping, pressure,NFL Jerseys China, intimidation and the Advisory Committee on Broadcasting (ACB) whose servility is now being entrenched in the Broadcasting Bill # 13 of 2011.Under this Bill, the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority holds dominion over the entire broadcasting spectrum. And that Authority is governed by its board that shall comprise of no less than four and no more than seven members, one of whom is to be Chairman.The Bill states that the President shall appoint the Chairman and all members of the board while the opposition parties may only nominate a single member who may or may not be appointed.This was one of the issues to which Christopher Ram was referring yesterday afternoon when he stated that the Bill was even more dangerous than the current arrangement which sees the Advisory Committee on Broadcasting (ACB), advising the President on matters relating to the broadcasting media. This bill he claims would give de facto control of the media to the Government in both private and public broadcasting media.There are several clauses under Part Three, Clause 32 of the Bill which outlines the guidelines that have to be met by licensees to ensure that they are not penalized under the Bill.These include “fair and balanced” programme content with accuracy that is founded on “a commitment to check,China Jerseys, cross-check and double check and wherever possible,Cheap Jerseys Store, to gather first hand information from credible documentation, or official spokespersons or fully attributable eye-witnessed sources.”Stabroek News in an editorial published yesterday contained commentary on this particular clause which states,Jerseys NFL China, “While all broadcast houses would aspire to the foregoing, the reality is quite different and results in something very often less than this much vaunted ideal.”That clause of the Bill goes on to examine other considerations in the next few sub clauses. These include requirements for programmes dealing with “controversial public policy or matters of political or industrial controversy”, “the reporting of news” in matters of “controversy” as well as the privacy of individuals, a clause which makes special provisions for the children of public officials.Ram also highlighted the fact that the Bill “creates a separate space for the state media”. He was at the time referring to Clause 19, Sub-clause (c) of the Bill which states that “It is hereby declared as the broadcasting policy for Guyana that –”,”while recognizing the special role of state-owned media, the broadcast industry is plural and open to fair competition.”As one executive member of the Guyana Press Association put it,Cheap Soccer Jerseys, this clause is simply a repeat of the Orwellian Animal Farm edict that stated “All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.”

By Leon Susaran“When they link up with the Military and come into your homes and start kicking the doors down and when?they come after you, who is going to be there…?”-Bharrat JagdeoPPP frontman in the election campaign, Bharrat Jagdeo told yesterday’s Albion rally of the ruling People’s Progressive Party that the opposition alliance with former military personnel is something to be feared.“When they link up with the Military and come into your homes and start kicking the doors down and when? they come after you, who is going to be there…?” he questioned.He said that APNU has its entire Executive being dominated by ex-army ranks and officers. “There can be no professionalism as was done in the past.”? He said Berbicians should feel fearful about that thought.The presence of the former military people who have pledged their support to leader of the opposition coalition is being used to scare voters, APNU retorted.A section of the Albion crowdOne opposition leader said that people are not fools. If the former military people or today’s soldiers were to kick in people’s doors there is nothing to stop them from doing that today.Instead, the army had been going after the criminals who have tormented the nation.He said that Jagdeo is going to be reported to the commission and there is the possibility of criminal charges being laid against him for incitement and for creating tension.Thousands converged at Albion Estate Road, Corentyne yesterday afternoon for a Grand Rally of the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C). Much of those who attended were brought into the Ancient County, while others were trucked from far- away places such as Skeldon,China Jerseys Cheap, East Bank Berbice and West Coast Berbice.All of the speakers stressed how important it was for the PPP/C to regain the majority of votes in Berbice and pleaded with the electorate to give them back that majority taken by the Alliance For Change (AFC) during the last elections.That situation in Berbice led Dr. Veerasammy Ramayya of the AFC to win a seat for Berbice in Parliament, leaving the PPP with just two seats from Berbice.Trucking? Several supporters were reportedly trucked from far and near to attend yesterday’s Albion rallyMotorcades departed Crabwood Creek, East Canje and East and West Berbice in the afternoon hours as supporters waving the party flags and dressed in the party t- shirts, traveled through to Albion.As usual, the main political figures of the combined Opposition parties, David Granger and Moses Nagamootoo came in for a good tongue lashing.Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee during his address, surveying the crowd, said that he had a feeling that Guyana has returned to the 1992 era when the PPP was elected to office, while the crowds roared.“This was the energy that existed in 1992…in 1997 and in 2001, from thereon to ensure that this juggernaut called the PPP can never be stopped!”He said the PPP is a party of tremendous influence, “and has always stood on the side of the working class people of this country.”He also told the gathering that the party has always stood by the side of working people especially women and the youths. “That is precisely why the people have always showed us confidence in every election!”Rohee said that the PPP learnt its lesson after the 2011 elections when it lost the Parliamentary majority, “that we must never be complacent—we must never, ever take anything for granted.”He said the past three years have been a “bitter experience” and that the party has learnt from the experience of 2011, “and the people—the workers,Wholesale Jerseys China, the farmers supporting the PPP have followed this party over the three years and they have seen and learnt their lessons.”He cautioned the party faithful of possible opposition plans to not accept the election results and warned supporters to be vigilant. Those plans he said would not succeed. “Already, they are talking about a revolution and calling on their supporters to continue to do certain things, comrades!”Rohee said that the PPP is prepared for any eventuality, “and we want to warn them not to invade any polling station or to hijack any ballot boxes because we will resist!”He said that the PPP will not allow votes to be stolen or padded ballot boxes. Should that happen, Rohee said that “big trouble is ahead for them.”Rohee said that the PPP won approximately 32,000 votes in Berbice in 2011 while the opposition won approximately 22,000 votes. “We have to win back a number of votes on different fronts,” he stressed. Firstly, he said, the party has to maintain the 32,000 votes they won and next, they have to win back the 9,Cheap Jerseys Wholesale,000 votes they lost, “and thirdly we have to win over the 13,000 new votes that have been added to the (Official) List.The job the party has to do i