In a first for the Belizean press, a news station has effectively been cut off from access to communication with the government of the day, after Government accused it of violating the terms and conditions of its license and otherwise seeking to undermine the national interest.
A late afternoon press release from Belmopan on Tuesday announced that Government has, effective immediately, “suspended normal relations” with Great Belize Productions Limited, parent company of Great Belize Television (Channel 5), and with Channel 5 itself.
The listed reasons are alleged violations of the terms and conditions of Channel 5’s television license, with particular regard to the distinction between news reports and editorial/commentary and right of reply to any editorial comments or views considered uncomplimentary, detrimental or injurious to persons or bodies of interest being discussed.
According to Government, Channel 5 is the only local television station refusing to air Belmopan Weekly, a half-hour GOB-produced program, in violation of a regulation that orders licensees to provide to the government an hour’s worth of free broadcast time for public service messages and GOB-produced programming.
Further accusing Channel 5 of proceeding “down a deliberate path to systematically undermine, not just the government, but the interest of the entire nation and its people…”, and sacrificing “…the established principles of objectivity, fair play and balance in its news and other current affair programs,” the government states that it “sees no value, purpose or justification” in continuing to work with Channel 5, as it claims it has done with the rest of the press, and so bans any government representative of any ministry or department from giving official individual interviews or making appearances on the station until it is willing to get back in line.
The Broadcasting and Television Act, Chapter 227 of the Laws of Belize, prescribes court action for any contravention of the terms and conditions of a television license, and upon conviction in a summary trial, to a fine of $5,000 or imprisonment for twelve months, but there is no indication in the release of any plans for action by Government other than this unilateral suspension.
Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL), in which companies under the control of Lord Michael Ashcroft held majority shares at the time, had bought out Great Belize Productions in May of 2008 and owned it until BTL’s nationalization by the Government in August of 2009. Just before GOB took control, however, Great Belize Productions was transferred into the Ashcroft Group of Companies.
At the time, GOB had said it had no interest in the television station, apart from allegations of favorable treatment in contracts with BTL.
On Wednesday afternoon, Channel 5’s CEO and general manager and executive producer of its flagship news program, Amalia Mai, spoke with Amandala on the station’s reaction to the news and its plans on going forward.
Mai, a former Belize Times editor and ambassador and CEO in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the PUP, was put in charge of the station in May of 2008, on the departure of Stewart Krohn, who had helmed the station since its inception 19 years ago this month. She is also, as she reminded us during our interview, a known and active supporter of the Opposition People’s United Party (PUP).
Mai commented on long-held perceptions among the populace of Channel 5’s leanings toward the PUP. “Channel 5”, she said, is “an independent station. Our reporters will tell you that we have always sought a response from the other side for all our stories, and if that is not reflected in our stories, that is because either they did not want to be interviewed, or they were not available. In doing our work, it has never been about politics. I am satisfied that we have done our best to reflect the opinions of both sides.”
Mai said that several Ministers and other high officials have consistently declined interviews with the station; and according to her, Prime Minister Dean Barrow has had a standing invitation to appear on morning show Open Your Eyes, and is yet to respond despite “several reminders”.
Mai told us that as far as she is aware, the sole complaint from Government about the station’s alleged conduct came last week Wednesday by letter, concerning an episode of Belmopan Weekly that did not air in the slot requested by GOB on Sunday, November 21. She says she has been assured that the program was aired elsewhere on the schedule, due to “prior commitments.”
She pointed out that GOB neglected to mention in its release that according to the revised schedule of terms and conditions for an on-air television license according to the Broadcasting and Television Regulations (and not the Act as the release claims), the allocation of broadcast time to GOB is “determined in consultation with the licensee,” which she claims never happened with Channel 5.
Mai concluded that Channel 5will continue to pursue its options, including the assistance of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) and Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC), of which it is a member, and warned that this action sets Belize “on a very slippery slope” with regard to the freedom of the press and general freedom of expression as guaranteed by the Constitution.
Belize Broadcasting Authority chairman, Louis Leslie, told Amandala today, Thursday, that he does not wish to comment on the matter, because what has transpired was a Cabinet decision.