Case challenging legality of Broadcasting Authority must be heard
Dear Editor,
On 8th of October I read in the local newspapers that PPP-aligned radio and TV stations have challenged the legality of the broadcast authority board. I again have to remind the public, the authorities and the persons pretending to function in a Broadcast Authority that it is under legal challenge. Exactly one year ago on 7th October 2019, I wrote the following which was published in the daily newspapers, “there is a case pending, in the legal maize we Guyanese call a judicial system, the case challenges the legality of the Broadcast Authority, and since the matter is sub judice, unless it is heard, there can be no functioning Broadcast Authority. Pretending that the appeal doesn’t exist, is unlawful which apparently has become the norm in Guyana today”.
The Rambarran Case Civil Appeal No.q 1 of 2014 has been brought by Jacob Rambarran and Rambarran Broadcasting systems
Limited, a company registered under the Companies Act Chapter 89:01 and continued under the Companies Act 1991 and by Jacob Rambarran. Since 2014 the writ was filed challenging the legality of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority, since it is claimed that the authority was formed in violation of Articles 8, 146, 149 D (1) and 153 of the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.
This case must be heard, it is an important case for this country. I am not doing this to be mischievous, or with any agenda whatsoever, this is an important case and I want it heard as must all Guyanese. If the Broadcast Authority continues to act as if this challenge to its existence does not exist, we will seek legal redress to stop it from functioning unlawfully. In the meantime, it cannot legally sanction any broadcaster.
Well, according to the article I saw yesterday, the broadcast authority again is acting unlawfully since a new board has not been named but it continues to act. The Rambarran matter goes much further and challenges the way the authority was brought into effect since 2012.
Yours faithfully,
Tony Vieira