…new board to go after money
…aggressively fast track regulations for sector

The new board of directors of the reconstituted Guyana National Broadcasting Authority will be moving swiftly to complete the formulation of regulations to guide the sector as well as aggressively pursuing those who have large sums of outstanding fees for the body.

In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle Chairman of GNBA, Attorney-at-law Leslie Sobers, said that the directors met and are in agreement on what should be their priorities. He said immediately they will be looking to complete the formulation of regulations- something which Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, had complained about. Sobers said once the regulations which would be guided by the Broadcasting Act, are in place they will be able to move forward to other areas of interest. Stressing that the regulations will have the full force of law, Sobers warned that those who violate them would face the consequences.

Nagamootoo had slammed the previous board headed by Leonard Craig for what he described as dragging out the refining of regulations that would guide licensing of radio and television operators. “The regulation should be tabled in Parliament and passed, so that all broadcasters will have to comply with defined standards,” the PM had told this newspaper back in September last year. He said then, once the regulations were in place it would allow for the review of licences granted by the Bharrat Jagdeo Administration which appeared to be irregular. The PM had told the Guyana Chronicle then that draft regulations were sent to him by Chairman of the GNBA, and those regulations were reviewed and dispatched to the Attorney General’s Office for further examination. He explained that, through the Chief Parliamentary Counsel, the AG’s Chambers would have sent the draft regulations back to the GNBA, but no further action was taken by the then board.

“I am surprised that it has been there languishing in the bosom of the board, or at a sub-committee of the board, and has not been forwarded to me again, so I can pass it through cabinet and then table those regulations in Parliament,” the PM told the Guyana Chronicle.
He noted that it is important that the process of reviewing, revoking, and issuing of licences begins; noting that the APNU-AFC Coalition Government has made several promises to the people and it intends to fulfil those promises. “Guyanese people deserve better…the spectrum belongs to the people of Guyana, it is a national resource; it is not something that belongs to any private person, and one cannot simply arrogate to one’s self the right to broadcast in a select area. I would like to see television and radio cover in all parts of Guyana. Every citizen of this country has a right to know what is taking place in this country,” the Prime Minister had told the Guyana Chronicle.

Meanwhile, asked about the issuance of new licenses, Sobers said his board will not hasten do this in an environment that is chaotic. “The first thing that we are concentrating on is putting in place the regulatory framework for broadcasters then we will turn our attention to revenue collection and other matters.”
Outstanding fees
Touching on the issue of outstanding fees, Sobers said that although he has not seen the entire financial report, the board was informed that many operators have not been honouring their commitment. He said this state of affairs will be addressed in the coming months. Asked what message he would send to broadcasters who have been delinquent in paying their fees, Sobers said: “We have a limited resource- spectrum…only a certain number…it’s a reusable resource which makes its renewable…so if operators don’t honour their obligation then we have options…”

In 2013, the then PPP government had set the annual licence fee for all broadcasters, radio, TV and Cable at 3.5 % of their gross income or $2.5M yearly. However, when the government changed the Leonard Craig-led board had proposed that broadcasting agencies operating in the primary zone, which includes the Mahaica/Mahaicony district, parts of the Essequibo Island and parts of the Linden Highway, pay an annual fee of $1.2M. In the Secondary Zone, which takes in New Amsterdam, Corriverton, parts of the Essequibo Coast, Charity and the Pomeroon, it is proposed that broadcasting agencies pay an annual fee of $0.6M and in the tertiary zone, which includes Parika, Linden and Lethem, the sum of $0.3M. The proposal was never implemented.

Additionally, Sobers said the board will also in the coming months look into applications for extension of signals among other things. “What we will be doing in particular is we will be moving ahead. A number of things are to be addressed, technology is growing rapidly and broadcasting has evolved far beyond what it used to be so we have to do other things…” he said.
On Tuesday this week Sobers and the five board members were sworn in by the Prime Minister Nagamootoo at his Official Residence on Main Street. The Board members are Dr Rovin Deodat, Scheherazade Ishoof -Khan, Jocelyn Josiah, Aretha Nichola Campbell and Joel Edmond. One other member is to be named by the Opposition Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) and will be sworn in at a later date. During brief remarks, Nagamootoo congratulated and thanked the members for accepting to serve on such an important state board.

He explained that the previous board developed some difficulties along the way and as such this matter was discussed extensively at Cabinet. Prime Minister Nagamootoo charged the members of the board to ensure all standards are met and not to only issue licenses but also to review both future and current license holders to ensure they are compliant with all regulations.