–airing their own local content

LINDENERS will soon have the opportunity of seeing themselves on television as part of their very own television station’s programming, with the transition from the National Communication Network (NCN) to the Linden Broadcasting Network (LBN) nearing completion.

According to Secretary of the LBN Trust, Jermaine Figueira, both the legal process as well as a complete overhaul of the building which will house the station should be completed by mid-September. Presently, the building is undergoing extensive repairs so as to transform it into a modern broadcasting facility.

He said that in addition to the repairs, state-of-the-art equipment have already been purchased to ensure that both the quality and the quantity of the news and other broadcasting programmes will significantly improve. Currently, Lindeners are limited to a weekly newscast, due to limited resources. Figueira said that while a Trust is in place, the community will be the true owners of the station, which will afford them the opportunity of having better accessibility to promote local talent and local businesses.

“We are expecting that local artistes and local drama groups amongst others will be able to negotiate for air time to promote what is local and what is ours,” he said.

The station will, however, have to sustain itself, and to be managed as a business to stay ahead of its competitors. What this means, he said, is that the entire Linden community will have to contribute to the economic success of the station, and as such he is hoping that Linden residents will show their support for the plans that have been outlined to them for keeping the station it viable. “At the end of the day, it is still a business that has to pay for itself,” Figueira said, adding: “No matter how big or small, it has to contribute towards the local economy, and will be used as a tool to showcase what is ours. So residents will have greater access to the station in ensuring this process is successful.”

The NCN staff currently employed at the Linden branch will be automatically transferred to LBN. The Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) has issued a broadcasting licence to the trustees of LBN. Those trustees are: Regional Chairman, Renis Morian, who is the Board’s chairman; Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira, who is secretary; and the Mayor of Linden Waneka Arrindell, who is director.

LBN will have three frequencies, namely: The Learning Channel; a local channel; and NCN. These frequencies are expected to be relayed to neighbouring communities such as Ituni and Kwakwani.

The application for an independent television station in Linden was made after residents complained about the limited and biased content that they were subjected to during the PPP regime. This was one of the requests made in 2012, following the deadly protest which resulted in the death of three Lindeners. The government of the day had signed an agreement to grant the community a licence on August 21, 2012.