Govt. will not force the review of illegally granted radio licences

– Broadcast board will be allowed to do its work without interference Despite promises to the contrary, the executive has decided that it will not have a hand in ensuring that all the illegally granted radio licences are reviewed. According to the Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, the onus is now on the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) to decide whether a review is fitting. That means that the Authority will get to decide if it should conduct a review, when it will conduct the review and how this review will be done. In 2011, outgoing President Bharrat Jagdeo granted permission to 11 persons and entities to run radio stations. Those granted licences include Jagdeo’s best friend Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, the Mirror Newspaper, which belongs to the former ruling party; and Telcor Cultural and Broadcasting Inc. The three received five frequencies each, giving them countrywide reach. The then opposition—A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change—had dubbed Jagdeo’s actions, just a few days before he demitted office, illegal. In fact, when the two parties campaigned as a coalition in the lead up to elections, promises were made to the effect that it will ensure that the wrongs the PPP committed will be corrected under the APNU+AFC government. But Harmon is now saying that the government will not interfere. At the most recent post Cabinet press briefing, Harmon was asked how soon it is likely that the nation will see a review of the radio licences. He said, “We have always said that these Boards must be independent and they must act in an independent way.” Further Harmon said, “We will not give any directions to the Board as to what they have to do. I believe that now it has been established it is really up to persons who are affected, the Guyanese public in general, to go the Board and say well this is what has happened and we ask that you review it. But the administration will not direct the work of the Board or give it any instructions as to whose licences should be taken or who should get a licence.” The Minister went on to say that interference was a feature of the PPP, one that the new government does not intend to perpetuate.

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo

Former Minister, Robert Persaud

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

He told the media that the PPP was able to say, “Give this one and the other and deny that one. We have appointed a Board and we will rely on the integrity and strength of the Board to do what is right by this country.” Harmon essentially blurred the difference between government mandating a review of that which is perceived illegal and directly interfering in the day to day operations of the Authority. In the past, Harmon was always vocal about the “unfair” distribution of radio licences by Jagdeo. In July, Harmon had stated that all licences will be reviewed. He made it clear that there will be absolutely no exceptions. He has also said that “very soon”, the government will ensure the return of the Telecommunications legislation that was taken to the National Assembly during the life of the Tenth Parliament. The Minister of State said that the Bill will help to correct many wrongs. Though the government called a sitting the very last day before the beginning of the parliamentary recess, the Bill was not, at the least, even tabled in the National Assembly. Local and international media bodies and local diplomats had all been applying pressure on the Donald Ramotar government to review and even recall the licences until a review is done on how they were issued in the first place. The details of the licences only came to light after the AFC demanded answers in the National Assembly. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, a former Minister of Information in the Cheddi Jagan administration, spoke on the campaign trail about the unfair distribution. He highlighted what the consequence has been to the nation, owing to the Government’s “misuse” of the state media. He had promised that should his government come to power, the state media would be liberated and that questionable frequency transactions would be investigated. He told supporters, “We have a plan. We will review all those television stations, and those radio stations that were given to friends. We will ensure that they are re-distributed to those who deserve to have and who are responsible.” Former Minister of Natural Resources, Robert Persaud, has relinquished ownership of iRadio 90.1 Love FM. Persaud recently concluded a deal that was long in the making with the Ansa McAl-owned Guardian Media Group. The licence for the bandwidth that iRadio uses was initially granted to Telecor and Cultural Broadcasting Inc. whose directors are listed as Persaud’s wife, Kamini Persaud, who is also the niece of former President Jagdeo, and Ruth Baljit of New York. Baljit is the sister of Robert Persaud and was at the time the sole owner of the company. She continues to reside in the United States.