APNU+AFC now suffering from Jagdeo’s unjust radio stations

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo’s controversial approval of radio licences to especially close friends and party members in 2011, is coming back to haunt the Opposition, big time.

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo

The first report of the elections watchdog body, the Media Monitoring Unit (MMU) of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), for the period of March 1 to March 31, 2015 is out.

Coverage by the new radio stations monitored, revealed that they were overwhelmingly in favour of the Government and the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

Four radio stations were monitored- NTN 89.1 FM owned by Anand Persaud; IRadio 90.1 Love FM owned by the sister of Minister Robert Persaud; 93.1 Real FM owned by Maxwell Thom and the Government-owned NCN 102.5FM.

MMU did not explain, in its report, why it did not monitor Radio Guyana Inc. (RGI) 89.5/87.5 FM, a radio station owned by Dr Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, and accused of being heavily biased in favor of Government.

The first three stations were the ones approved by Jagdeo.

According to the MMU report issued this week, NTN 89.1 radio news gave Government and the PPP/C more than 75 percent coverage with only a small portion going to the Opposition’s A Partnership For National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC). Its general programmes were 100 percent positive for Government during the period March 1- March 31.

With regards to IRadio 90.1FM, its general programming was 97 percent coverage for Government and PPP/C with three percent coverage, all

Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop

negative, for the APNU+AFC. That station while its newscasts gave Government and the PPP/C some 70 percent coverage, did allow some amount of positive for the Opposition – 10 percent. The talk shows/interviews were more positive to the Opposition, giving them 39 percent positive coverage and 26 percent negative. Government and the PPP/C received 19 percent coverage.

The general programming of Thom’s 93.1 FM gave Government full coverage, with nothing for the Opposition.

Its news gave Government 60 percent positive coverage with the Opposition the rest.

The state-owned 102.5 FM news saw Government and the PPP/C receiving 70 percentage of the coverage with APNU+AFC receiving 22 percent negative. The station’s talk shows and interviews did not include the Opposition. Only 14 percent of the content were deemed negative to Government. In term of 102.5 FM general programmes, some 88 percent of them concentrated on Government issues with 12 percent considered negative coverage for the Opposition.

The issue of new radio stations was an embarrassing one for the Donald Ramotar administration after revelations that Jagdeo bypassed a standing

Maxwell Thom

 

agreement with the Opposition and unilaterally granted several radio and cable licences to not only his friends but also to close party members and even to the ruling PPP newspaper, The Mirror. It was widely seen as part of a bigger plan by Jagdeo to gain control of the airwaves. Several prominent media houses were ignored by Jagdeo, leading to condemnation locally and internationally, and to protests.

Among those granted approvals for radio licences were Telcor & Cultural Broadcasting Inc, the former owner of IRadio 90.1 FM, the company closely linked to Minister Persaud.

Also granted five frequencies were Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, Jagdeo’s close buddy. He was allowed also to buy over a television Channel (28) from its former owner Tony Vieira under controversial circumstances.

The Mirror, owned by the PPP, was also granted five frequencies through Dharamkumar Seeraj, a senior member of the ruling party.

Single frequencies were granted to Thom, singer Rudy Grant, Hits and Jams, and NTN, among others.

Bibi Shadick, Chairperson of the Broadcasting Authority

The approvals came two months after signing the Broadcast Act in September 2011. It was not until months later that the regulatory Broadcast Authority was appointed and even then, it was lined with government MPs, and other party officials.

The granting of licences has been roundly condemned by media associations.

Several media houses like HBTV, Kaieteur News, Stabroek News, RBS Channel 13, CNS Channel 6, MBC Channel 46, WRHM Channel 7, GWTV 2 and Capitol News, were among those that complained about being sidelined by Jagdeo. The Opposition had expressed alarm over the licences, saying that the stations will be used as propaganda weapons against them.

Since those approvals by Jagdeo, Government has not issued any other radio licence, with the Broadcasting Authority continuously saying it is considering new applications.