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…Civil society organises vigilScores of Guyanese, among them political party leaders, civil society and rights activists turned up at the operation of CNS TV Channel Six to show solidarity as Presidential four-month ban switched the station off air.Station owner C.N. Sharma was told Friday at a meeting with President Bharrat Jagdeo that he would go off air at midnight, but the directive he received yesterday demanded that he close at 18:00 hours for the next four months or he would have his licence revoked.Sharma complied, hosting a programme to countdown then switched off on the dot of 18:00 hours.His wife, Savitri, along with staff members joined him on the programme. Mrs Sharma said that there was no freedom of speech left in Guyana, and that the station was receiving “double” punishment.CNS TV was suspended for comments made by Anthony Vieira in a commentary aired on the station on May 4 which were offensive to Bishop Juan Edghill. The Bishop has taken the station to court, so faced with that and the Jagdeo ban, Mrs Sharma said, represents the “double” assault on press freedom.Mr Sharma will continue his work through his website and hopes that poor Guyanese families, to whom he has sought to give a voice, will log on once they get the free Government laptops.A grouping of civil society launched a vigil last evening and said it was part of a series of activities to get Sharma back on the air, and at a minimum ensure that the state-owned NCN 11 give equal access to all opposition parties in the run up to national elections which are due by December 28.Chandranarine Sharma speaks at a vigil outside his Robb Street operations where scores turned out to show solidarity. Sharma's wife, Savitri, and Mayor Hamilton Green are also in photo.Sharma leads the Justice for All Party (JFAP) and has used the television station to spread his messages.The suspension is also damaging to other opposition political parties that have sought to capitalize on the reach of CNS 6 to get their messages out. Among those speaking at the vigil last evening were Rupert Roopnaraine, a leading member of the opposition coalition, APNU; Gerhard Ramsaroop, an executive member of the Alliance for Change; Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Green; politician and businessman Peter Ramsaroop; and columnist Stella Ramsaroop.Roopnaraine said that the move to close down Sharma is an affront to all Guyanese, denying them their right to receive information.The CNS suspension came on the advice given to the President by the Advisory Committee on Broadcasting.The government has contended that CNS, in airing the commentary, had contravened regulation 23 A,Cheap World Cup Jerseys, of the Guyana Postal and Telegraph Act, Chapter 47:01, laws of Guyana.CNS has called on its supporters to continue to support its business. The station’s airing of death announcement, which has been a mainstay over the years, will be transferred to RBS 13.Other businesses such as the taking of passport size photos, photocopying, and video production services will continue. |
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