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The recent brouhaha that has been escalating over the issuance of a number of radio licences by Former President Bharrat Jagdeo, has been dismissed by Head of State, Donald Ramotar, as ‘much ado about nothing.’ Ramotar yesterday met with media operatives at the Office of the President, where he lambasted sections of the press over what he called questionable reportage on the matter.
He said that sections of the media have created the impression that the former president doled out several radio licences.
Ramotar reminded that what had been issued were ‘frequencies’ to allow for the greater reach of the radio stations.
“Journalists don’t have carte blanch to do what they please,” chided Ramotar as he lamented the reportage.
He spoke of the fact that prior to 1992, when the current administration took office, WRHM Television had been issued two television licences despite the fact that it wasn’t registered as a company.
This he said was never reported in the media.
The president said that he did not believe that there was favouritism or anything irregular in the awarding of the radio licences by Jagdeo.
“That is not so; it was one licence given,” said Ramotar, and he explained that the move was a realisation of a commitment made by Jagdeo to break the monopoly that had been held by the state for decades.
President Ramotar said that had more than one frequency not been issued to the applicants that requested to broadcast over long distances, then it would have required the erection of unusually high towers.
“As far as I understand it, if those things were not done, you would have to be putting in some very, very high towers all over the place, and that might not be the best thing.”
In responding to the favouritism claims levelled against Jagdeo in the issuance of the radio licences, the president pointed to Rudy Grant, Maxwell Thom, Alfro Alphonso and Rawle Ferguson, among others, saying he does not believe the named individuals to be known supporters of the People’s Progressive Party, and they had also been issued radio licences.
“I don’t think it is favouritism…not in my view, if you look at the list there are other persons that I don’t know you can call them PPP people.”
On the matter of cable licence issued specifically to Vishok Persaud, a known associate of the ruling administration, the president said he sees nothing wrong with the issuance of such a licence, as long as the relevant processes had been adhered to.
He said that sections of the media have created the impression that the former president doled out several radio licences.
Ramotar reminded that what had been issued were ‘frequencies’ to allow for the greater reach of the radio stations.
“Journalists don’t have carte blanch to do what they please,” chided Ramotar as he lamented the reportage.
He spoke of the fact that prior to 1992, when the current administration took office, WRHM Television had been issued two television licences despite the fact that it wasn’t registered as a company.
This he said was never reported in the media.
The president said that he did not believe that there was favouritism or anything irregular in the awarding of the radio licences by Jagdeo.
“That is not so; it was one licence given,” said Ramotar, and he explained that the move was a realisation of a commitment made by Jagdeo to break the monopoly that had been held by the state for decades.
President Ramotar said that had more than one frequency not been issued to the applicants that requested to broadcast over long distances, then it would have required the erection of unusually high towers.
“As far as I understand it, if those things were not done, you would have to be putting in some very, very high towers all over the place, and that might not be the best thing.”
In responding to the favouritism claims levelled against Jagdeo in the issuance of the radio licences, the president pointed to Rudy Grant, Maxwell Thom, Alfro Alphonso and Rawle Ferguson, among others, saying he does not believe the named individuals to be known supporters of the People’s Progressive Party, and they had also been issued radio licences.
“I don’t think it is favouritism…not in my view, if you look at the list there are other persons that I don’t know you can call them PPP people.”
On the matter of cable licence issued specifically to Vishok Persaud, a known associate of the ruling administration, the president said he sees nothing wrong with the issuance of such a licence, as long as the relevant processes had been adhered to.
