By Vanessa Braithwaite
A SLOTHFUL response by some stakeholders is stalling the work of Region 10 Broadcasting Incorporated, the company overseeing the setting up of a TV station in Linden, and Secretary to the Board, Sharma Solomon, is denying claims that he wants to take full control. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, during a recent meeting with the five-member board, had urged the inclusion of other stakeholders, but they have been slow in responding.
“The board immediately held a meeting with all five members and agreed to facilitate and have that bone of contention dealt with and settled by having all those members at the stakeholders’ meeting to be a part of the board,” Solomon stated.
These stakeholders include a wider cross-section of interests in the community, namely the Regional Democratic Council, the Mayor & Town Council, Neighbourhood Democratic Council, labour, business, youth, religion, and women.
Solomon revealed that a “reasonable amount” of responses were received and the board now has 13 members who will be legally included.
The stakeholders who have not responded to the request as yet include the RDC, the Town Council and the NDC and this sluggish behaviour, the secretary said, is hindering the station from turning the switch on.
He said the slothfulness in response is contradictory, since representatives from these stakeholder groups were rallying for the board to be extended. Now that mechanisms were put in place to have this dealt with at the earliest, the board cannot complete the other requirements in a timely manner.
“If a licence is placed in our hands this minute, we are prepared to turn on the station the next minute.
“We are waiting on the people in Region 10, who seem to have concerns which we are addressing about being included in the board, so as to expand it in numbers.
“Region 10 is holding back Region 10 from getting this matter right.”
Solomon is hoping that all stakeholders who have not responded, do so by the next week as the board is looking to have their first extended board meeting on April 8.
“If they don’t, they will have to explain to the Linden people and the people of Guyana whether they want to be involved or in charge.
“It is unfortunate that we are about to flip the switch on and we are causing that in Region 10 from not happening,” he declared.
The board members revealed that it was through their struggle that the television station has been returned to the people after signing the agreement with the PPP-led government in 2012. “The current situation with the Linden television station is one that resulted out of an agreement with the PPP/C-led government on 21st August 2012, following a long, hard and brutal struggle that culminated in the loss of lives of Shemroy Bouyea, Allan Lewis and Ron Somerset, and injuries to scores,” stated the board. The three men were killed at the start of protests against electricity rate hikes in the town.
The members find it strange that while the struggle was being fought, those now concerned about management and the benefits to the people of Linden were silent.
“When we would have asked before for support with voices and energy so that we could have gotten it faster, it was the board that fetched this right down to where it is right now.”
The board members have refuted claims that the board is under the control of Solomon, the former Regional Chairman.
Solomon revealed that his designation is only that of a secretary and a chairman will be appointed upon extension of its members.
Pastor Morris McKinnon, representative of the religious community on the board said that he is disappointed in what is being portrayed about the ulterior motives of the board and its secretary.
He disputed the opinion of some that the TV station is “a one-man show and the secretary wants to manipulate and gain control of the TV station for some ulterior motive.”
Region 10 Broadcasting Incorporated was formed after an application was made to the Guyana Broadcasting Authority for a broadcasting licence. Being cognizant that same cannot be granted to the RDC, a company was created to achieve that purpose.
The company, at establishment, comprised four Directors, namely, Sharma Solomon, Sandra Vantull, Morris McKinnon and the late Mr. Haslyn Parris.
The board is requesting that the stakeholders work in unity with the members rather than stymie its efforts.
“If we the people of Linden/Region 10 engage in acts of short-sightedness, not being able to separate the trees from the forest, then we stymie the little progress that we have made with the television station.
“Continued unnecessary infighting has resulted in this current regime withholding the granting of a licence.”