NCN CEO Mohammed Sattaur protesting the APNU/AFC proposed subsidy cut on Tuesday
The government of Guyana is now contemplating its next move after the combined opposition voted against close to Gy$ 300 million in budgetary allocations for the state- run, National Communications Network and the Government Information Agency (GINA) and instead handed them Gy$ 1 each in an historic session in the National Assembly on Wednesday.
Scores of workers from both agencies are facing the prospect of being out of a job and the administration condemned the move as reckless.
The Alliance for Change (AFC) and the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) voted in favour of reducing the subventions that were allocated to these agencies from Gy$ 81.2 million and $ 130.4 million respectively to Gy$ 1 per agency. The capital expenditures budgeted for both NCN and GINA, which were Gy$ 65 million and Gy$ 15 million respectively were also reduced to zero. This accounts for more than Gy$ 291 million in cuts for both entities.
APNU parliamentarian Carl Greenidge, in whose name the motion was tabled, explained that the combined opposition was “unhappy” and “dissatisfied” with the quality of reporting and coverage given by the two entities, more particularly NCN, to the AFC and the APNU.
“We are unhappy with the reporting arrangements and it (the motion) seeks to deny the allocations because they (the entities) have a national responsibility… and these two agencies have from time immemorial refused to deliver professional services and balanced news reporting to the people of this country,” Greenidge said amid loud applause from his opposition colleagues.
The matter was put to a vote which resulted in the 33 opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) supporting the motion and amendment as tabled to the estimates, with the 32 government MPs opposing.
Impact
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds expressed his disappointment over the move taken by the APNU/ AFC parliamentarians. He urged them to let the public know that they are responsible for snatching international cricket matches, popular shows, and radio broadcasts, which are disseminated by NCN in particular, from the air.
He said that it was most unfortunate that the parties would seek to take such a position, which would have adverse effects on the citizenry first.
AFC MP Catharine Hughes opposed the sentiments expressed by the PM, stating that she was sure that “private sector entities” would take up the challenge to fund the broadcast of the international cricket and other events as they did in the past under the then VCT 28 and WRHM Channel 7.
GINA staff members, including Director Neaz Subhan, hold a candlelight vigil outside Parliament Building on Wednesday
Before the move to reduce the subventions, Junior Finance Minister Juan Edghill had answered a barrage of questions ranging from programme-related issues and revenues of NCN to the functionality of GINA and the need for subventions and contract staff. Edghill had tried at length to sway the minds of the opposition MPs, citing the importance of the entities as he referred to NCN as “a national asset” and GINA as “the central body” for disseminating information about government’s work.
The junior minister argued that programmes which had benefited from the subsidy will now be adversely affected. “NCN provides services at reduced rates to “GuySuCo Round Up”, “Feel the Beat”… “GRA In Focus”… “Law enforcement and You”… “In the Miners World”…”Sports Magazine”, Edghill explained.
He said too that denying the subventions is to deny Guyanese freedom of information.
He said the government stood to lose out since almost four per cent to five per cent of the airtime of NCN was dedicated to its programmes produced by GINA, free of cost.
Corrective measures
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, speaking with Guyana Times International after the cuts were approved, expressed his disappointment over the behaviour of the opposition and its continued posture. “I want to condemn the move in the strongest possible terms… I am extremely disappointed that they voted the way they did,” Dr Singh said, adding that there was no attempt to compromise on the issue.
He said while he was not surprised at the move, the opposition was practising double standards as the move seeks to cut the information received by the populace about the work and policies of the government of Guyana and President Donald Ramotar.
“You cannot, on one hand, speak about access to government information… being informed of what is being done in government agencies and about government policies…. activities of the president…. argue in favour of a well-informed citizen and then, on the other hand, seek to demobilise and bring into nonexistence an entity such as GINA”, he fumed in the halls of Parliament.
Staffers of the National Communications Network and the Government Information Agency protest outside Parliament against proposed cuts to their subsidies
Arguing GINA’s case first, the finance minister said that it is common practice regionally and internationally that government constitutes information agencies like GINA that would disseminate and communicate the work of the government to the people.
He cited a long tradition in Guyana, from before independence, of various entities of this nature benefitting from government support and subsidy.
“They did not even vote to reduce the subvention, so that minimal work and operations can continue,” Dr Singh argued, stating that if the opposition were so concerned about reform of the entity, dialogue could have continued in the interim until some satisfactory solution could be met.
He said that it was clear that the move was intended at grandstanding and depriving workers of their job.
He highlighted that the case of NCN could have also benefited from compromise had the subventions being granted and talks continued between the government and the opposition on the issue of necessary reforms as there was a continued divergence of views. “We will now have to contemplate the next steps…We need to reflect how best to do this,” the finance minister said with confidence, noting “there are real people that will be affected”.
Distrust
Dr Singh has also gone on record stating that while government has remained optimistic and open about dialogue with the opposition, and has compromised on several issues ranging from pensions to the situation at Linden, the opposition still remains “unmoved” and “uncaring” in its postures. “No reciprocal behaviour has been demonstrated” on the part of the opposition and this is a cause for concern, the minister noted, arguing that “the tyranny of one” was seeking to derail development, affect the overall progress of the economy, and create a state of crisis and panic by cutting the well thought-out budget.
Protest and vigil
Meanwhile, last night as the MPs deliberated, staffers of NCN and GINA held vigils outside Parliament, holding candles and chanting. The Independent Media Workers Association of Guyana (IMWAG) has also issued a statement condemning the move by the combined opposition in Parliament and decrying the continued attacks on state media personnel. It said that it planned to meet with all affected workers to decide on a way forward shortly.
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