The last week of the election is upon us and most Barbadians would by now have heard something about the plans of both major parties for the future.
Our television station and the radio stations have been carrying the messages and it is clear that even in the presence of the huge crowds at nightly meetings, the electronic and print media are still relied on by politicians for the dissemination of the word according to the parties. Equality of access gives the public the chance to hear both sides.
We are therefore alarmed and disappointed that the governing party has announced the establishment of a radio station carrying the name DEMS Again 93.9 FM.
Democratic Labour Party (DLP) general secretary George Pilgrim is quoted as saying that for the last seven days of the campaign, the DEMS Again radio station would be launched and would be brought into use.
He added listeners would have another medium to tune into DLP meetings. He also said “it is really for the purpose of our meetings”.
As announced, this is an astonishing development. Has a licence been granted to the owners of this new station? And if so, when was that licence granted?
We find it surprising that a new station could have come into being without any public knowledge thereon until now and one wonders whether this entity is the creation of the party in power so that it might steal an advantage over the other parties; for if that is so, then there is a considerable risk to democracy if this new station facilitates broadcasts of a political nature for one party only.
As members of the media we are forever interested in the freedom of expression; but we are equally aware, especially in the political arena, of the potential for abuse of executive power which either expressly or by implication materially disadvantges any party legitimately contesting a general election.
Since this announcement was made by as high a functionary as the general secretary of the governing DLP, it is in the public interest that the situation be clarified.
Were the terms and conditions under which the licence was granted the same as those of other radio stations?
This country has an enviable record of free and fair elections, and we wonder how this new development will help us to maintain that reputation. Enhanced access to the meetings of one party only will give that party in the normal situation an unfair advantage over all the others, and will represent a blot on our otherwise pristine image of a clean electoral jurisdiction in which the fairness of the poll has never been in question.
We cannot say that such fairness has been maintained in the face of this new development, and we call upon the authorities to quickly deal with this matter in an effort to ensure that the playing field is level as far as opportunities for access is concerned.
The political broadcasts submitted to the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation have to be vetted. The Electoral and Boundaries Commission has a role to play in such matters. Are all these requirements with this new station being satisfied, and if not, why not? And, are similar licences available to the other political parties?
