…urges rebalancing of airwaves through new licences

PRIME MINISTER Moses Nagamootoo said he supported the revocation of radio licences that were granted illegally under the Bharrat Jagdeo administration, but at the same time is urging the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) to speed up the process of granting new licences to “rebalance the airwaves.” Nagamootoo’s comments come against the background of media reports which he said have misrepresented views he expressed at the commissioning of the National Communications Network Uplink Teleport Facility last Friday. The PM has been criticised by some persons for allegedly saying that he does not favour the revocation of licences – something which the Office of the Prime Minister has disputed and has also released a verbatim transcript of the relevant section of the PM’s speech.
“Where licences had been given out to those who never held a camera in their hands; where licences were given out to broadcast to those who had no track record in broadcasting and where we have not love and unity, but the putrid air and scent of hate and division and rancour, we can correct that, not by shutting down those who have been wrongly given licences, but opening the airwaves and allowing the window of fresh air to touch our broadcasting in Guyana. Not that we may not shut down or we should not. I am not saying that. It is not my job. That is for the broadcasting authority to do, but I am just saying that I would rather see more stations come on board, more people who have the wherewithal, should have the opportunity to do so via community stations or national reach, providing they pay the fees according to the zone in which they belong.”
The OPM explained that the point the Prime Minister sought to underscore was that there are several applications for broadcast licences, which were ignored and bypassed during the tenure of the previous government and that this ought to be corrected post haste. “It is for this reason that Prime Minister Nagamootoo, in a meeting with the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority, urged the authority to speed up the process of issuing broadcast licences. Specifically, Prime Minister Nagamootoo said, “[not that we may not shut down or we should not [shut down]. I am not saying that. It is not my job. That is for the broadcasting authority to do…”OPM said in its statement.
According to the OPM, the Broadcasting Act of 2011 does not vest powers of revocation of licences with the Minister of Information (as the Prime Minister holds portfolio for). “The Prime Minister was and remains more concerned about how to contain and correct what he described as “the putrid air” and “scent of hate and division and rancour” on pro-opposition radio and television channels. This, the Prime Minister said, could be achieved, in the short-term, by “opening the airwaves” and “allowing the windows of fresh air to touch our broadcasting” in Guyana.”
“In other words, the Prime Minister was emphasising the need to rebalance the airwaves until such time as the GNBA acts (with regard to licences previously granted) as it deems fit and proper based on legal advice and other relevant considerations. Prime Minister Nagamootoo has not deviated from the position of the APNU+AFC coalition during the election campaign. The Prime Minister is clear and consistent, that he favours the re-examination and reversal of all licences illegally granted but reiterates that such powers are not vested in the minister but rather with the GNBA.”
Additionally, the OPM said had the Prime Minister directed that the licences be revoked, he would have been, in all likelihood, attacked for “political interference” in the GNBA, a situation which the PM “was acutely aware of at the time of speaking,” OPM said. “That was the reason he stated that “[it is not my job. That is for the broadcasting authority to do. It therefore appears that what the Prime Minister did in fact say, with clarity and precision, is being distorted or misrepresented and the Office of the Prime Minister is concerned about same and implores for a cessation of same with immediate effect.”