PRIME MINISTER, Moses Nagamootoo, has congratulated the staff of Radio Lethem 95.1FM on the station celebrating three years of operation.
Full text of Prime Minister, Nagamootoo’s message is below -:
Exactly three years ago, on May 22, 2016, Guyana celebrated her Golden Jubilee – 50 years since we became an independent country.
On that date, the Office of the Prime Minister and the National Communications Network Inc. (NCN) established and commissioned the first community radio station in Guyana – Radio Lethem. I am afraid my voice has to compete with the sweet sounds from the parakeets on the mango trees in the Prime Minister’s yard. They too are celebrating with us today!
Since 2016, our Coalition Government has set up a countrywide regional radio network comprising Radio Lethem, and Radios at Mabaruma, Mahdia, Bartica, Orealla and Aishalton. This is the first time ever that such a communication network has been set up, that links the hinterland with our coastland. As a united Guyanese nation, the radio network has brought us closer together. Radio Lethem is intended to provide Lethem and the other villages in the Central Rupununi with access to national and developmental news and information, while promoting regional and community activities.
This was necessary because many interior communities in Guyana were unable to receive regular information or national news. To correct this, a satellite link with NCN in Georgetown allowed Radio Lethem to broadcast on a daily basis, programmes from NCN’s Voice of Guyana, including news, current affairs, national, cultural and social events, sports and entertainment. We have since transmitted live broadcasts from Parliament and of key national events as well as educational and health programmes produced by NCN and the Department of Public Information (DPI).
The first major broadcast on Radio Lethem 95.1 was the live coverage on the night of the Golden Jubilee celebrations. Do you remember that? But over the last three years the radio station has contributed to the success of the annual Rupununi Expo, the Rodeo and Lethem Town week activities by featuring regular updates, interviews and local trivia.
During Ministerial outreaches Ministers and agency heads were approached for live updates and comments. In addition, coverage and interviews were done on the Regional Toshaos Conference, Heritage Month activities and personality profiles were given of top NGSA performers and Rupununi athletes. Radio Lethem regularly features the regional officers and programme heads, village Toshaos and community updates. There is an on-going programme with officers from the Ministry of Social protection to deal with social issues like Domestic violence, child abuse, alcohol abuse and women’s empowerment. A few notable guests in recent times included the Chancellor the Judiciary, the Chief Justice and Chief Magistrate. Imagine, our hinterland communities getting to hear, live, the voices of our leading women in the legal system!
Lethem now receives both radio and television signals. However, we are experiencing technical problems with the satellite, but this is being addressed and normal transmission should be restored soon. Recently, during March, we had the first Regional Radio Conference by all regional broadcasters, and we launched the regional radio manual to guide our regional broadcasters. Now, they know what they have to do while on-air.
This is a great achievement for our government, to train and bring on board a new group of broadcasters, both young and not so young, from our indigenous communities.
I am told by Michella Abraham Ali, herself a broadcaster and radio icon from our indigenous communities, that next month there will be an intense training programme. This will be conducted by Communications Consultant Dr Rovin Deodat and NCN, after which recruitment will be done to increase local personnel and programming hours.
I therefore invite interested persons to listen out for audition calls and if you are genuinely interested in the development and growth of the people who live in Lethem, Central Rupununi and the Upper Takatu Upper Essequibo region in general, then we welcome you to attend the auditions. A good radio broadcaster is someone who is fluent in English and if you speak an indigenous language that would be an asset. I want to thank you Allison and others who have kept radio Lethem running. For our audience, I want you to continue listening to your favourite radio station. Continue to monitor the signals, and report on its quality; and to support your radio station.
To other communities that want additional radio stations, I repeat a Chinese saying, “it takes a spark to cause a prairie fire”. Radio Lethem is a start; and while we don’t want a fire in the vast Rupununi, but we want the voices of our people to resonate in the mountains, the hills and the savannahs.
For now, congratulation Radio Lethem. Happy 3rd birthday!
