A/HRC/10/11/Add.2 page 19 61. A frequently mentioned incident is the suspension of broadcasting of CNS Channel Six television for infringing its licence after an outside caller to the programme “Voice of the People” referred to killing the President. The suspension is considered by many in the Afro-Guyanese community as an example of excessive media censorship. In another incident, a journalist with the privately owned Capitol News was allegedly banned from access to the office of the President following his critical coverage of an event attended by the President. Stabroek News, an independent daily newspaper in Guyana, has claimed that the Government Information Agency (GINA) has withdrawn State advertising with the newspaper due to its often critical stance. The PNC has called for the enactment of broadcast legislation to end political control over the media and to establish an independent national broadcasting authority; equitable access by the parliamentary opposition parties to the State-owned media; and an end to the State monopoly on radio broadcasts. 62. The Government asserts that a free and independent media exists and is vocal in its criticism of the Government; 18 privately owned television stations operate across 7 of the 10 administrative regions.20 It states that the majority give no or limited coverage to the ruling parliamentary party, while State-owned media equally does not provide preferential coverage. The Government emphasizes that a number of television stations tailor their programme content to specific ethnic communities, without restriction. 63. The Government characterizes the media as “a potent source of racial incitement”21 and justifies some restrictions to media freedoms on these grounds. The Racial Hostility Act 1997 and its subsequent amendment in 2002 was a direct result of unbridled racial incitements surrounding the 1997 and 2001 national elections. Subsequently this led to the adoption of a Code of Conduct for the media houses and the establishment of the Media Monitoring Unit run by a team of Caribbean media observers leading up to and during the 2006 elections.22 The Government notes that when it attempts to enforce legitimate legal restrictions, it faces racial indignation and charges of discrimination. It rejects allegations that it unfairly allocates access to the media and points instead to the commercial nature of media transactions including coverage of political parties. 20 Of these the ethnic ownership of 14 are known; 7 are owned by Afro-Guyanese, 5 by Indo-Guyanese and 2 by Portuguese Guyanese. 21 22 CERD/C/472/Add.1. The Racial Hostility Act (1997), Chapter 23:01 makes provision for preventing conduct tending to excite hostility or ill-will against persons by reason of their race. The Racial Hostility Amendment Act No. 9 of 2002 provides for increased penalties for the commission of offences and evidential issues. In addition, the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act No. 1 of 2001 also states that it is a criminal offence for any person to make or publish or cause to be made or published any statement or take any action that results in or can result in racial or ethnic violence or hatred among people.