Is Freedom of Speech being Suppressed or Infringed Upon? The dilemma between CN Sharma and the Guyanese government on the matter of offending “good taste”
April 10, 2008
The question I am asking is: where and when should freedom of speech be limited or restrained and where should the line should be drawn as what is considered “good taste” and more over what is considered good taste? This blog is in response to an article posted in Stabroek News dated 4/9/2008 in regards to a seemingly serious situation that has placed CN Sharma (Guyana’s channel six owner and host of “Voice of the People program” at the desk of President Bharrat Jagdeo and Dr. Roger Luncheon who is the Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS).
According to Stabroek News, CN Sharma entertained a caller on his show who basically said the following:
This incidence occurred on 02/21/2008 and as reported in Stabroek News.
Caller: “The President was out of the country. As soon as he got back he knew exactly who did the massacre at Bartica.”
Host: “How do you know he knew?”
Caller: “He made that statement yesterday on the air…the very people who did the act at Lusignan did that there. How can he prove that? What evidence does he have to prove that?”
Caller: “…and the next thing, Mr Sharma, Jagdeo have some expire ministers walking with him and them giving up a lot of new fire as far as I am concerned. Because look at these killings and nobody can’t give account for these people’s lives and Jagdeo going to take a high risk job by going and telling people to calm down; he’s going to bury the dead bodies. If anything is going to happen to my family, I am going to kill Jagdeo.”
Now according to the Advisory Committee on Broadcasting (ACB), the statements above infringes upon clause 23 A (b) of the station’s license as to basically promote distasteful communication. Specifically, according to the ACB the last statement by the caller infringed 23 A of the license since it offends against good taste, is offensive to public feeling and is an incitement to crime. However the board accepted CN Sharma’s apologies and decided to end the matter. What do you think readers?
What’s twisted about this whole situation is that CN Sharma aired the program three times without bleeping content like “I am going to kill Jagdeo” before being warned by written statement from the ACB to cease from airing the said program. CN Sharma in written reply said “Please note, the program in question was never re-aired after I received your initial letter dated February 26, 2008. In the instance when it was replayed prior to your letter, it was done without my knowledge by the person who books program, and I can assure you it was done with no intention of malice whatsoever.” Based on this communication the board accepted CN Sharma’s apologies and decided to end the matter.
What do you think readers? Was CN Sharma knowledgeable of the programs being repeated?
Moreover, The ACB sent copies of the communication to the Minister with responsibility for telecommunications, who is no other that Bharrat Jagdeo.
And in response to CN Sharma, the following was said,
“The Minister is of the opinion that your written responses to the ACB concerning the above mentioned alleged infringements of your License conditions are not adequate. Further, the Minister is of the opinion that the above mentioned alleged infringements are sufficiently grave to warrant cancellation or suspension of your License.” This the HPS said in the letter to Sharma. Now CN Sharma has to meet with Dr Luncheon for lunch tomorrow at the Office of the President to illustrate why his license shouldn’t be cancelled or suspended for assumed infringements on air.
What wrong with this situation? Why is Jagdeo the Minister with responsibility for communication and what does his responsibility include? Isn’t that a conflict of interest considering that he is the CEO and moreover, where does the system of checks and balances come into play? Based on that, it is now appropriate for me to ask if we are living in North Korea or next door Venezuela. It seems like Jagdeo is pissed off at CN Sharma for airing “a voice from the nation”? Nevertheless, I must admit that the content was distasteful to begin with and CN Sharma should be more responsible as a voice to the people. The fact is such content can generate momentum if heard without reason and ultimately develop in larger more problematic situations.
I will say this however, that CN Sharma was clearly knowledgeable of the implications and destructive connotations of such verbiage and was cognizant of the programming schedule of his station but refused to mute the distasteful communication on repeated airings since he is considered a voice of the people. On the first incidence, as is the case, a pass was granted but on 2 repeated occasions, his lack of knowledge is rightfully questionable.
As to the right of freedom to speak, CN Sharma should note that with all freedoms granted to man, responsibility to his fellow human beings is imbedded in that clause. I do not in any way empathize with the situation facing CN Sharma neither do I side with the Government of Guyana in response to the situation in question based on the fact that a conflict of interest presents itself as to the conflicting responsibility of Bharrat Jagdeo.
Andrew
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Comments
13 Responses to “Is Freedom of Speech being Suppressed or Infringed Upon? The dilemma between CN Sharma and the Guyanese government on the matter of offending “good taste””
Got something to say?
MR. Jagdeo has been trying for the longest while to shut down Mr Sharma television station. Mr Sharma is a plain speaker and i think that the public should have their rights to freedom of speech.Mr Sharma will continue to voice his opinion and do not care about the consequences and that is what i like about him. He knew exactly what the caller wanted to say and gave him the opportunity to do so on national television.
No one need to fear the President because when you lose some one you truly loved and all the President can say is that we will look into this matter; if i was given the opportunity then i might probably kill him myself.
Guyana population is about 800,000 and until today no one can apprehend “Fine Man”.What’s the use of choppers,radar guns,SWAT team and forensic labs?Crime will continue and no one can stop it so whatever it is that Mr Jagdeo is trying to do-he cannot hide the truth forever!!!
The public need to hear the raw truth and that is from Mr Sharma himself.The President tried for a long while to ’shut-down’ Channel Six stating that Mr Sharma is giving out misleading information to the public and even got him imprisoned for a few days. Why is the president scared or even cared about what Mr Sharma said/televised unless he has something to hide? If the President dont have respect for his nation,then no one will have respect for him and that is exactly why the viewers are venting their frustrations.Besides all the false promises-nothing has been done or will ever be done for the betterment of Guyanese.LET THEM TALK………….
May be then, jagdeo has it out for CN Sharma….I kind of got the feeling that it was a personal attack on CN Sharma. What is Jagdeo trying to prove. If anything at all..this incidence should be an opportunity to stimulate him to chnange popular opinion by finding a means to resolution. But I guess it doesn’t matter to jagdeo..after all his term ends in 2010
this is what charma is getting in trouble for:
Caller: “The President was out of the country. As soon as he got back he knew exactly who did the massacre at Bartica.”
Host: “How do you know he knew?”
Caller: “He made that statement yesterday on the air…the very people who did the act at Lusignan did that there. How can he prove that? What evidence does he have to prove that?”
yall get that? a caller rings the show and says Jagdeo has no proof or evidence for what he is talking about! and charma might loose his license for that lol
and jagdeo is just talking off the top of his head. if he ‘knew’ how come there is no wanted list with the people he know to be involved?
the persons would’ve been arrested if him and his friends know as much as they lie about all the time. he said 25 people shoot up the place and they pick up one man and charge him with all the killings like they did the kid for Lusignan…well that makes me wonder if is 20 people what will the other 19 get charge with if they ever get caught?
I don’t think it is so much as what was said but more so that it was repeated on air multiple times without bleeping the statements in question…Just have to wait and see what happens today,,
It seems a more appropriate fine for breach of broadcasting practice / regulation is more in order than a revocation of the Channel 6 license. The media has a huge responsibility in Guyana, they are the 1st to provide the public with information on any event. If they are going to air programs like these that someone is willing to commit a capital offense of killing the head of the country, President Jagdeo then it is only fair the ACB should bring their attention to type of broadcasting they are doing. Sharma should have stopped the first time and the fact that he did it 3 times is what is a serious violation. Yes we are all entitled to freedom of speech, but freedom of speech does not mean instigating violence. Are the words uttered by the called for the benefit of anyone? Yes the caller was expressing his distrust in the administration to bring to justice the culprits for the 2 massacre but we need to have certain restraint in our actions.
I agree Mr. Shiva B!
The first time CN Sharma was cited by ACB..he noted that the program aired on the 2 additional occasions prior to him receiving the letter from ACB..but come on man…use your ethical judgement.. You are in national broadcasting Mr Sharma ..You out of all people should be aware of the power of the media,..
I would understand your single broadcast but stating that you were unaware of the 2 additional airing makes me question your honesty,,,and frankly, you loose much earned respect among your peers..
so a citizen of the country is only allowed to question the president’s facts once?
if you watch govt tv or listen to the radio govt folks and their friends lie a lot i don’t see them scrambling to shut down channel 11
shiva what on earth are you talking about here? ‘If they are going to air programs like these that someone is willing to commit a capital offense of killing the head of the country’
you guys are sounding more and more like the Chinese or Russians ‘we need to have certain restraint in our actions’ - how does one restrain oneself pointing out that an elected official is making statements with no basis in fact or reality? [Jagdeo was missing in action for two days after Lusignan massacre and was not in the country when the Bartica massacre occurred. charma was live on tv in Lusignan saying that he was on the line with the president and convincing him to come be with 'his people' then he informed the masses that the prez said he was on his way. similarly the prez was not in Guyana after Bartica so it's hard to believe anything he has to say on that as well as he's produced zero evidence to back up his statements. those are real facts...and remember this guy controls the Police so he could have anyone arrested and charged if he has evidence]
Kim, society cannot actively perform efficiently unless it adheres to rules that have been laid out to protect them. The rules of the ACB were not initially designed in the best interest of President Jagdeo however it was designed so that the media can work with professionalism. Sharma failed to adhere to these rules.
On you other comment about the President’s comments without facts is untrue about both massacres. There was forensic evidence that weapons used in the first massacre was used in the second one. Another fact, there has been 2 arrest for the murders and continued investigation.
Shiva, what proof do you have on the two arrests made?Where are the culprits now? Seems to me like you are a PPP supporter- you have all the answers to cover-up for Bharrat wrong doings.
shiva don’t come on here making stuff up pal…please post the link and info for your evidence. are you telling the folks here jagdeo had forensic evidence two days after bartica? he was not in the country when it occurred and surfaced two days later. please don’t peddle lies to the people
yes there has been two arrests and in both cases they’ve both been charged with ALL the murders which does not make any sense
and if you’re talking about rules and jagdeo in the same sentence, you’re reaching deep into the world of comedy. the president of guyana picks and chooses which rules and laws need enforcement and then there’s enforcement where there are no laws
well done, bro