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Neutrality of GBC and integrity of Referendum questioned by GSLP
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The GSLP have issued the following statement:On Thursday of last week GBC called a meeting of all the political parties and representative bodies that had taken a public position over the Referendum with a view to offering radio and television airtime to all of these positions in the run up to this Thursday's vote.
The majority of those present at this meeting, that is everyone present except the representative of the GSD, were of the opinion that there were three positions being advocated, those campaigning for the "NO" vote, those campaigning for "YES" vote and those urging people to vote without making a recommendation on how to vote. The majority view was that if each of these positions was given two five minute broadcasts each, this would constitute fair and equal airtime.
GBC said it would consider what had been said at the meeting and would be making its own proposals to each interested group.
That same afternoon an e-mail was received from GBC. Although the reasoning behind the offer was different, the effect was that each position at this referendum would have two broadcasts, and therefore equal airtime.
The GSLP informed GBC that it was not happy that the invitations to the programmes were being directed to the Government and Opposition, since it considered that it was the political parties that should be conducting their respective campaigns.
On Friday at 16:00 the GSLP was invited to the draw for the slots for each broadcast with the results of the draw communicated to the GSLP by e-mail that same evening (see attachment). We were also informed that since our broadcast was on Monday that we should be ready to tape it on Monday at 10:30.
Last Sunday the GSLP was informed by the General Manager of GBC that there was an unforeseen delay and that the taping of the broadcast would now take place at 12:30 on Monday.
At 11:30 on Monday the GSLP contacted GBC to see whether there were any further delays, or whether the broadcast could be taped as scheduled. The General Manager of GBC then informed us that the broadcast was being withdrawn and that now, only the "YES" campaign and the "NO" campaign would be allowed to air their views on the Referendum. When asked why this sudden change had taken place, we were informed that the Board of GBC had met and revoked the earlier decision of the Corporation.
The Leader of the Opposition objected strongly to this new decision and asked for a meeting with the Board. The General Manager of GBC went back to consult and later telephoned to offer the Leader of the Opposition a meeting with the Chairman. Mr Bossano said he wanted to meet with those that had revoked the previous decision of the Corporation. Mr Valarino again went back to consult and subsequently telephoned to say that it was impractical for the Board of GBC to be reconvened because it had already met once.
The GSLP considers that this situation is unprecedented in the history of GBC, compromises its neutrality as a public corporation financed by taxpayers and undermines the integrity of the referendum campaign in that it is tantamount to censorship. The party is perfectly entitled to take a different view from the other participants in the campaign in urging people to exercise their right to self determination without recommending how they should vote. This right was first recognised by GBC and subsequently withdrawn by its Board.
This afternoon an hour long meeting with the Chairman of the Board was held at which Joe Bossano put in the strongest possible terms that the decision by the Board deprived the Party of its legitimate right to put its views to the public. The Chairman agreed to reconvene the Board and transmit these views so that the matter could be looked at again.
In the meantime, pending a decision from the Board of GBC, and given the little time left before the vote takes place, we have decided to make the issue public.
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