Constitution Reform, Broadcasting Amendment Bills laid in Parliament

DPI, Guyana, Thursday, July 27, 2017

The Constitution Reform Consultative Commission Bill 2017 and the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2017 were read for the first time in the House today.

The Bills were brought to the House by First Vice President and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo.

The Minister, in laying the Bills also explained that the Constitution Reform Bill is being sent to the Parliamentary Committee on Constitution Reform to benefit for the Committee’s input.

The Constitutional Reform Consultative Commission Bill 2017 provides for the establishment of the Constitutional Reform Consultative Commission. The Bill seeks to support the Government goals of reforming the Constitution to the point where it is more inclusive, democratic and transparent, removing all anomalies. In addition to the input from stakeholders, the Commissioners and having considered and evaluated the submissions from the people of Guyana and acquired the benefits resulting from public consultations.

The Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2017 amends the Broadcasting Act 2011 to introduce three classes of broadcast services namely, commercial, non-commercial and community classes; and three types of broadcasting zones, namely, primary, secondary and tertiary broadcasting zones.

The Bill provides for public service programmes, the prohibition of programmes containing hate speech. It addresses an international agreement for broadcasting any channel or programme as part of the local service.

 

By: Macalia Santos