ABEC Warns Media Against Violations Ahead of St. Peter By-Election
The Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC) has issued a stern warning to media houses ahead of the St. Peter by-election, reminding them of strict regulations to ensure fair and unbiased election coverage.
The by-election is set for January 14, 2025, and ABEC has outlined specific rules governing how political parties and candidates should be represented in the media.
Under the guidelines, all media outlets—radio, television, and print—are prohibited from blocking or distorting campaign material meant to promote any candidate.
Additionally, ABEC has ordered that standard advertising rates must apply, cautioning media organizations against inflating costs for political advertisements.
These rules aim to prevent unfair practices that could hinder any candidate’s ability to communicate their platform to voters.
ABEC has also warned that violations will carry heavy penalties, including fines of up to $10,000 or imprisonment for up to one year.
The commission’s move comes as election preparations intensify, with candidates ramping up efforts to secure support in the constituency.
ABEC’s guidelines are designed to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process and ensure a level playing field.
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Abec loose them marble, they go tell ALP what to do? It’s not the Baldwin Spencer administration.
They must not listen to rum shop radio
UPP should quickly go down to Point FM and asked to placed some scorching ads. Let’s see if the commission locks up Browne and Browne.
ABEC I did not know that the laws allow you so much teeth all along. To me it sounds like you are playing politics. Since I am sure you don’t live on Mars and must be aware that ABS radio and Television, owned and operated by the government- tax payers money pay the bill. Do not give equal opportunity to the opposition candidate, party and MP under this government. I don’t think that the opposition has a chance to win this by-election. So is it because you feel the same way and knowing it will not make a difference now talking about freedom of the media. When we talk about freedom of the media we are to begin with the state owned media.
HEADLINE OF SENSATIONALISM: …ABEC’S NOTICE OF ELECTORAL TERRORISM…?
Three things appear obvious in this ‘ANR’ news story:
(i) ‘…A Headline that speaks to ‘…SENSATIONALISM’ BY ‘…JAIL TIME:
(ii) …An ‘ABEC NOTICE OF TERRORISM: and
(iii) …Impactful ‘…PENALTIES.’
***
UNDISPUTED FACTS
The ‘…Representation of the People (AMENDMENT) Act’ allows for ‘…ABEC’ to make ‘…Statutory Rules and Orders (SR&O).
LANGUAGE OF LAW:
This can be discerned from the ‘…LANGUAGE OF LAW.’
It states: ‘…The Commission,’ upon issuing the ‘…Writ’ for an ‘…Election,’ ‘…SHALL CONSULT’ with:
(i) ‘…All Electronic Media: and
(ii) …Print Media operating in ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA: and
(iii) …Draw up a ‘…TIMETABLE’ for:
(a) …Public Education Programmes for Voters:
(b) …Political Broadcasts:
(c) …Access by Political Parties: and
(d) …CANDIDATES’ to:
(i) ‘…Promote their ‘…VIEWS through the ‘…Electronic Media: and
(ii) …To have their ‘…MESSAGES printed in the newspapers circulated in ‘…Antigua and Barbuda.’
POWERS: SR&O RULES:
The ‘…Statutory Rules and Orders,’ so empowered to make, includes:
‘(a) ‘…Those governing the procedure for the ‘…Electronic and Print Media:
(b) …Requiring ‘…ALL OWNERS’ to provide ‘…EQUITABLE ALLOCATION’ of time and space in a ‘…Non-Discriminatory Manner: and
(c) …Penalties for non-compliance with the ‘…STATUTORY RULES AND ORDERS’ [ Section 36: Subsections 1-3: No: 17 of 2001].
ABEC’S ATTORNEYS -LEGAL EFFECT
The ‘…ABEC’S ATTORNEYS’ shall all know that in giving ‘…LEGAL EFFECT’ to these, and any other ‘…STATUTORY RULES and ORDERS,’ the Law requires the ‘…COMMISSION’ to:
(a) ‘…CONSULT with the ‘…MEDIA OWNERS:
(b) …PROVIDE each with the ‘…DRAWN-UP TIMETABLE and SPACE: and
(c) …HAVE these duly published in a ‘…GOVERNMENT EXTRAORDINARY GAZETTE.’
***
NO RETAINER’S FEE: …UNSOLICITED SUGGESTION
There are ‘…No RETAINER’S FEE.’
This ‘…UNSOLICITED SUGGESTION,’ is absolutely ‘…GRATIS.’
***
My friend Rawlston Pompey you are absolutely correct with the view you expressed that it is the duty of ABEC to determine with the media a timetable for the publicizing of the candidates campaign information. It looks as if ABEC has forgotten that part of their statutory mandate.