No media at Senate sitting
published: Sunday | May 28, 2006

LIGHTS, NO cameras! That's how Leader of Government Business in the Senate, A.J. Nicholson,op described the moment on Friday when Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Anthony Hylton took the Oath of Allegiance, completing the full slate of Government senators.

A clearly annoyed Nicholson said it was unfortunate that no member of the electronic media, particularly television, was at the sitting to capture the short ceremony on camera.

Senator Nicholson's counterpart, Anthony Johnson, in his remarks, castigated the State for not moving swiftly to introduce the Public Broadcasting Corporation, an entity whose remit should be to cover national and other major events, including the sittings of the Houses of Parliament.

He argued that while the private media had no obligation to cover parliamentary sittings, the State media had a responsibility to be there.

Responding to his colleagues' concerns, Information Minister, Colin Campbell, apologised for the absence of the Government medium and gave the assurance that future sittings would be adequately covered.