NCN cancels presidential debate after opposition withdraws

The presidential candidates of the two main opposition parties contesting the upcoming general election have shunned a National Communications Network sponsored debate, urging the state entity to first address issues such as lack of access and bias. The state-owned NCN in a release on Monday expressed its disappointment at the lost opportunity, especially when some of the parties are claiming lack of access to the network.

“This claim is also not true since advertisements of all the parties are broadcast on the network,” NCN said in its release. The debate was scheduled for November 15 at 20:05h. According to NCN, it had sent out invitations to the four presidential candidates: David Granger, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU); Khemraj Ramjattan, Alliance For Change; Donald Ramotar, People’s Progressive Party (PPP); and Peter Persaud, The United Force. It said only the PPP confirmed its participation.

In his response dated November 7, Granger told NCN that APNU had been obliged to make formal complaints about lack of access to and the bias displayed by all the state-owned media, including NCN. “There has been no assurance from you that these matters – access and bias are being addressed. I wish to confirm my readiness to participate in the proposed debate once you demonstrate a willingness to address these issues.”

Ramjattan for his part told NCN that it has refused to air paid advertisements submitted by the AFC. In addition, he said NCN has still not had the courtesy to officially inform the party of the current policy which refused to air their advertisements.

“As a national television station, funded by the taxpayers of Guyana with a specific mandate at elections time to provide fair and equitable access to all contesting political parties, we find your actions totally unacceptable. Therefore, in all good conscience and given the events of the last week as stated above, we would be unable to participate and feel confident that your format would treat us and all participants fairly, unless you can give us satisfactory assurance that this debate will be conducted in an impartial manner.”

Ramjattan added that his party had committed several weeks ago to participate in the civil society/ Merundoi debate and felt that a civil society-driven debate can better provide a fair and objective platform in which to hold the debate.

NCN Programme Manager Martin Goolsarran, in his letter of invitation to the candidates, had told them that each would have been allowed to speak on policies and issues that their respective parties intend to take to the electorate.