Guyana broadcast bill said to threaten press freedom
(World News Austria)

The government of Guyana should address serious concerns raised by local media groups over pending amendments to the country`s broadcast law, the International Press Institute (IPI) said today. Local critics say the amendments, passed on Friday by Guyana`s National Assembly and now awaiting the signature of President David A. Granger, grant the state `unwarranted` power to manage the programming of radio and television stations by allocating time slots for public service programming dictated by the government. In a joint statement last week before the bill was passed, a group of private Guyanese broadcasters called for debate to be deferred, describing the planned public service programme...