[www.inewsguyana.com] – The Attorney General Chambers says that a front page headline in one of the local newspapers captioned “Radio Licence court case…Govt. asks for more time to file defence” is misleading.
State Counsel in the AG’s Chambers, Arriane Mc Lean debunked the claim that the government side asked for more time to prepare.
According to Mc Lean, “The matters were called before the Honourable Chief Justice yesterday (October 28) and I appeared for the Attorney General on behalf… I never made an application to the Court asking for more time to ‘file a defence’ on behalf of the Government. Both proceedings were brought by way of Notice of Motion, therefore the question of a Defence does not arise. Nevertheless, Affidavits in Answer to both matters were filed on behalf of the Government since 14th June, 2013, and 20th August, 2013. ”
She added, “In fact, the Attorney-at-Law holding for Mr. Mc Kay, S.C., asked the Court for more time to file an Affidavit in reply to the Government’s Affidavit in Answer, which was filed in excess of 4 months now. All of this can be verified upon perusal of the Judge’s minute book, which will reflect same.”
The release of 11 radio licences to privately owned entities and organisations by former President Bharrat Jagdeo in late 2011 was met with condescending reactions from those whose applications were shelved.
The newly licenced radio operators are Matthews Ridge Community Council; Little Rock Television Station; Alfro Alphonso and Sons Enterprise; New Guyana Company Limited; National Television Network (NTN); Hits and Jams Entertainment; Wireless Connections; Rudy Grant; Telcor and Cultural Broadcasting Inc.; Linden Wireless Communication Network; and Television Guyana (TVG) Channel 28 were the organisations granted licences.
The case which remains before the chief justice is to now determine whether the licences were lawfully or unlawfully granted. The matter has been adjourned to a date in November.
According to court documents signed by the publisher of Kaieteur News, Glenn Lall, and filed by his lawyer, Roysdale Forde, the licences were issued under the old Post and Telegraph Act and done in bad faith, are discriminatory and not legal.
