ALP writes to commission on press freedom issue
Thursday February 02 2006
by Marabel Jacobs
The Antigua Labour Party (ALP) claims it has been denied access to the government broadcast media and has called for the intervention of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, an arm of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, to investigate the matter.
In the meantime, the party, according to political leader Lester Bird, will make a decision as to whether it will bring a case against the government for not broadcasting its New Year’s Day message.
Bird said the government’s actions fell in breach of the Treaty of Chapultepec and violated the Caricom Treaty on civil matters.
The former prime minister had written to the Commission last October calling for its assistance when it was denied the right to hold a march in the country’s capital.
Since then, the Commission wrote to Bird on 1 Nov., indicating it welcomed the correspondence in relation to potential violation of freedom of expression, especially around the time it was compiling reports of such violations against media practitioners and citizens within the hemisphere.
The letter signed by Dr. Eduardo Bertoni stated in part, “We will fully investigate the matter relating to your political party’s denial of a permit,” to stage a peaceful demonstration in your country’s capital, “We will continue to monitor the situation and ask you to keep us informed of any new development.”
In his response Bird acknowledged receipt of the correspondence and noted that as previously indicated, the ruling United Progressive Party (UPP) promised to allow “freedom of expression to flourish as contemplated by our constitution. However, the UPP regime has sought to stifle such freedom since taking office 22 months ago.”
The communiqué stated that in addition to the denial of a permit to stage a peaceful protest march, “the UPP regime continues to place the national radio and television broadcast services beyond the reach of the loyal opposition.
“This official government policy to disallow access to the Antigua & Barbuda Broadcast Services ABS TV and Radio by opposition voices while the New Year messages of the Prime Minister are broadcast with frequency during the first days of January 2005 and January 2006. Similar messages by leaders of the opposition political parties have not been broadcast by ABS.”
Bird concluded that “the stifling of freedom in our small island developing state is becoming suffocating.”
© SUN Printing & Publishing LTD 2003-2004. All Rights Reserved.
Thursday February 02 2006
by Marabel Jacobs
The Antigua Labour Party (ALP) claims it has been denied access to the government broadcast media and has called for the intervention of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, an arm of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, to investigate the matter.
In the meantime, the party, according to political leader Lester Bird, will make a decision as to whether it will bring a case against the government for not broadcasting its New Year’s Day message.
Bird said the government’s actions fell in breach of the Treaty of Chapultepec and violated the Caricom Treaty on civil matters.
The former prime minister had written to the Commission last October calling for its assistance when it was denied the right to hold a march in the country’s capital.
Since then, the Commission wrote to Bird on 1 Nov., indicating it welcomed the correspondence in relation to potential violation of freedom of expression, especially around the time it was compiling reports of such violations against media practitioners and citizens within the hemisphere.
The letter signed by Dr. Eduardo Bertoni stated in part, “We will fully investigate the matter relating to your political party’s denial of a permit,” to stage a peaceful demonstration in your country’s capital, “We will continue to monitor the situation and ask you to keep us informed of any new development.”
In his response Bird acknowledged receipt of the correspondence and noted that as previously indicated, the ruling United Progressive Party (UPP) promised to allow “freedom of expression to flourish as contemplated by our constitution. However, the UPP regime has sought to stifle such freedom since taking office 22 months ago.”
The communiqué stated that in addition to the denial of a permit to stage a peaceful protest march, “the UPP regime continues to place the national radio and television broadcast services beyond the reach of the loyal opposition.
“This official government policy to disallow access to the Antigua & Barbuda Broadcast Services ABS TV and Radio by opposition voices while the New Year messages of the Prime Minister are broadcast with frequency during the first days of January 2005 and January 2006. Similar messages by leaders of the opposition political parties have not been broadcast by ABS.”
Bird concluded that “the stifling of freedom in our small island developing state is becoming suffocating.”
© SUN Printing & Publishing LTD 2003-2004. All Rights Reserved.
