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…says all must have equal access to State mediaAs the Guyanese electorate gets ready to move to the polls in a few weeks, the issue of fair campaigning has been a front burner issue for many of the opposition politicians and one particular complaint that they have,Wholesale Authentic Jerseys, seems to have resonated with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).For some time now the opposition have scoffed at and chided a proposal by the State-owned National Communications Network (NCN) to offer each party a five-minute per week,China Jerseys Cheap, time-slot to air an audio or audio/video feed.One of the conditions of the five-minute offer is that it must be provided to the NCN administration at least 48 hours prior to its possible airing, and also, the five-minute time-slot may be utilised on either television or radio.This has been described in some circles as ‘eye-pass’ and even ‘the height of hypocrisy’ and GECOM’s Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally has come out and stated that the five-minute offer is unreasonable.Dr Surujbally told media operatives this past week that it is not good enough, and opined that it would not be impacting for any of the stakeholders.The GECOM head did point out,NFL Jerseys Cheap, though,Brad Richards Red Wings Jersey, that unrealistic requests by the opposition would also be ludicrous, reminding that there are some 32 parties that have expressed an interest in contesting the election.A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) had during the past week met with GECOM asking it to use whatever clout/sway it may have in order to address the issue of unfair access to the State media.Dr Surujbally told media operatives, “I can assure that the Commission was unanimous that we can use some authority that we have and convince those who we have to speak to.”The GECOM Chairman has committed to setting up a forum with NCN and the other relevant stakeholders in a bid to resolving the issue in an amicable way.Dr Surujbally was adamant that whatever one party gets, all other parties must receive also in terms of airtime on the State media for campaigning purposes.The GECOM chairman did emphasise that he did not want it to be perceived that he was taking any sides in the campaign in terms of ensuring that all are granted equal access to the State media.“We do know that some parties’ coffers are deep and other perhaps not so much,” said Dr Surujbally, but he equally lambasted those that seem not to have raised the required amount for their unsubsidised campaigns.A recent picketing exercise outside NCN on Homestretch Avenue protesting unequal access to the State media“After an election you start preparing for the next election,” said Dr Surujbally, who noted that they had five years to deepen their coffers to adequately prepare for the elections campaign.“But five minutes a week is not good enough…we see this, we recognize this and the commission will be very clear in making this appeal,” Dr Surujbally promised.He said that there is no way that five minutes can have an impact on the fairness of the electoral process.“We do not agree that five minutes is good enough.”He said that they will discuss whatever methodologies they will utilize, but will meet with the stakeholders to find alternative possibilities to improve the situation.The opposition parties are contending that they should have equal access to the State-owned television and radio stations while arguing that the PPP/C Government abuses the medium to their own advantage.APNU Spokesman Lance Carberry recently told this publication that the State-owned media, “NCN (Radio/TV) and the Guyana Chronicle” are being used on a daily basis by the PPP/C Government to “peddle its propaganda and the opposition has no right to reply as there is no guarantee that it will be aired”.“This is the media owned by people of Guyana,Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping,” he said, adding that its management” has the temerity to tell opposition parties that they will get five minutes air-time as if to demonstrate some fairness in its access”.Desmond Trotman, also of APNU, urged that it must be recognised that the actions being perpetuated by the administration such as the edict on CNS TV 6 and the five-minute offer by NCN, is beginning to, “threaten the possibility of a free and fair election and an election that is free from fear.”According to Trotman, the offer is an insult to the political opposition and must be seen as a foundation being put in place to ensure that there is no free and fair election.“NCN’s administration is only trying to make it look even-handed with five minutes,Cheap Jerseys From China,” he said, adding that on a daily basis the PPP, through the Government, has access to the NCN.