Prime Minister opened the debate pertaining to the Government's lack of interest in parliament but other members of parliament did not get a chance to contribute. There was a back and forth between the Speaker of the House and Mr E. K. Powell of North East St Catherine. The debate was however deferred till the new year.

Published Wednesday, December 18, 1985

Govt’ to give up its 25% of JBC entities

Prime Minister Edward Seaga announced in Parliament yesterday that the Government would not be interested in retaining 25 per cent ownership in the entities under the proposed ownership structure of the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC).

Mr Seaga had told Parliament in September when he unveiled elements of the Government's media policy that the administration would retain 25 per cent ownership as equity in the entities that would be leased to the private sector.

Mr Seaga's opening of the debate was followed by attempts by Mr E. K. Powell (North East St Catherine) to make a contribution but further debate was deferred.

Mr Powell rose for recognition by the Speaker, the Hon. Alva Ross, as Mr Seaga said that the bill was a model legislation which would enable “justice and fair play” to be guaranteed and to allow the media to operate fearlessly and accurately.

But the Speaker recognised Mr Smith, who rose after Mr Powell, saying that it was not proposed to debate the motion any further at that stage. Mr Powell protested to the Speaker as he said that he (Mr Powell) had caught the Speaker's eyes first. Mr Powell said that Mr Ross had then asked him to yield to Mr Smith.

Mr Ross told Mr Powell that no further debate would be entertained on the motion until next year as Mr Smith had requested.

“I want it to be established clearly that I caught your eye first,” Mr Powell said.

Mr Neville Murray (West Central St. Mary), also rose to speak, but the Speaker said he could not speak at that stage. Mr Murray pressed on: “Either we have a democracy or we don't. I'm here to speak for the people I represent.” It turned out, however, that Mr Murray did not want to speak on the media policy but an increase in the price of copra, which he had suggested previously.

In opening the debate, the Prime Minister said that because of the contention by a “vested interest party” that the Government's 25 per cent ownership in the media would give it control, that 25 per cent would be divested by the Government as well.

All the existing entities except television and radio which would be used for public broadcasting would be divested. If the operators of the entities proved successful, they would be an "inside track" in the television, Mr Seaga said. However, he told Parliament that what was intended was not to divest to the highest monetary bidder. The JBC was currently working out the charges for the use of its facilities which would become a fixed component with every bid, he said.

The Broadcasting Commission, which the Bill seeks to establish, will be advising on the terms and conditions for the award of the licenses, one of its first functions when it is set up. The criteria for granting licenses were being worked on and an announcement would be made shortly.

Mr Seaga repeated that in the ownership of media by the private sector, the Government would not consider the licensing of any entity owned by another station in the broadcast media, a regulation that existed in the United States of America under the Federal Communications Commission.

The bill aims to foster impartiality and accuracy with the right of reply in the electronic media.

For feedback: contact the Editorial Department at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com.