The Special Investigation Committee (SIC) of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) is being headed by Joel Edmond, a former candidate on the Coalition’s list of candidates for the May, 2015, General and Regional Elections. The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), is of the belief that this is a cause for concern, as it questions the credibility of the authority in dealing with the party’s radio station- Freedom Radio, which is now being taken to task for allegedly committing over 30 infractions.
The party’s leader, Bharrat Jagdeo is accusing the GNBA of being an instrument of the Coalition government to silence the radio station. He said today that the party has already initiated the process of bringing to the international community’s attention, what he believes is an operation by the GNBA to shut down the station in the lead up to the March 2 elections.
But, the GNBA’s Chairman, Leslie Sobers, says that the agency has no intention of doing so, nor does he see a potential conflict of interest, even if the SIC head is the husband of a current Coalition candidate, former Magistrate Geeta Chandan-Edmond.
Sobers told the Guyana Standard at this office this afternoon: “That has nothing to do with his role on GNBA’s SIC. As the Chairman of the SIC, that does not give him authority to sanction or impose any infraction. As a matter of fact, he’s heading the committee that works with broadcasters. So, when Freedom Radio or any of the others are called in, Mr. Edmond and his team try to work with them and see how best they can avoid the mistakes.”
Sobers clarified that when it comes to sanctioning and the imposition of fines, it is the Hearing Committee that makes that decision. Sobers is the Chairman of that committee, Guyana Standard confirmed.
The Chairman said that when a station is called in, its owners are free to walk with their lawyers. It is only after that engagement, that a decision is taken.
Sobers clarified that Joel Edmond, as the Chairman of the SIC, cannot sit on the full Hearing Committee; he is debarred from doing so.
