Drafting of broadcast legislation concludes, circulated to Opposition Leader, stakeholders – To be presented to Parliament after recess

The Government of Guyana, through the Attorney General Chamber has completed the draft legislation for broadcasting in Guyana.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon at his weekly post-Cabinet Media briefing held at the Office of the President this morning, said that the preparations for the Broadcasting Bill have been done and copies are being circulated to the various stakeholders, including the Leader of the Opposition.

This achievement is in keeping with the commitment made by President Bharrat Jagdeo and Leader of the Opposition Robert Corbin in the Joint Communiqué signed on May 6 as well as the Follow-Up Agreement of June 18 on the implementation of the decisions of the Bipartisan Committees agreed to in the Jagdeo-Hoyte dialogue process.

In the Communiqué it was stated that in accordance with the guidelines agreed to by the Joint Committee in its final report, the appointment of non-partisan Boards of Directors of the State-owned media and the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) was approved and would be implemented within four months.

As indicated in the Communiqué, the Broadcasting Bill would provide for:

1). The creation of a National Broadcasting Authority, which would be ready for consultation with in two months and be laid in the National Assembly within four months from 1st May 2003.
2). Equitable access (based on Parliamentary representation) to the State-owned media by all Parliamentary Parties (as distinct from Government) would be instituted without undue delay.
3). The independent National Broadcasting Authority would be the licence issuing authority for all “commercial” frequencies for radio and television.
4). The NFMU would be responsible for providing technical advice to the NBA for the granting of commercial frequency licences.
5). The Interim Broadcasting Committee would be disbanded immediately when the NBA comes into existence.
6). Taking into consideration the options presented in the final report of the Joint Committee, the relationship between the NFMU and the NBA will be determined after the consultation on the draft broadcasting legislation.
7). A freeze on the granting of all new commercial frequencies for television and radio by NFMU until such time as the new broadcasting legislation comes into effect.

Both leaders agreed that priority would be given by the NBA to the granting of commercial radio licences using the statute enshrined criteria which emphasize high standards of broadcasting and serious penalties for their infringement.
Dr. Luncheon noted that extensive consultations would be done on the draft legislation, which will be publicized nationally. The draft copy will also be posted on the Government Information Agency’s website at www.gina.gov.gy

“After the planned consultative period and at the end of the process the Bill will be introduced in Parliament by Prime Minister Hinds subject of course, to the amendments that resulted from the consultative process,” Dr. Luncheon said.
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