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TVG “ain’t gon see a licence for 2016″- GNBA
By Abena Rockcliffe- Campbell
Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop’s constant refusal to furnish the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) with the audited financial statements of his television station—Television Guyana Inc.—will most likely see him off air. This was made clear by GNBA’s Director, Anthony Vieira.
GNBA Board of Directors, From Left: Vic Insanally, Anthony Vieira, Jocelyn Josiah, Leonard Craig (Chairman), Abiola Wong-Inniss and Ameena Gafoor.
The problem between TVG and GNBA is months old but never made the press.
GNBA recently held its first press conference. At that forum, Kaieteur News asked if the matter was resolved. The Board responded in the negative.
Director, Anthony Vieira said, “To the best of my knowledge (Ramroop) still has not presented his accounts…He ain’t gon see a licence for 2016″
Dr. Ramroop had taken GNBA to court over the Authority’s decision not to furnish it with its yearly broadcasting licence certificate. The writ was filed since October 4, last.
Kaieteur News understands that the matter was set to come up in the Chief Justice’s court in the matter of days when Ramroop’s lawyers informed the Authority that the case will be withdrawn.
Currently, Television Guyana Inc. (TVG) —Channel 28—is on air without the lawful requirement of being a broadcasting licence.
Kaieteur News understands that the Authority refused to make the licence certificate available as a result of Television Guyana Inc.’s sustained reluctance to provide the Authority with financial statements of the company’s profits for the years 2013 and 2014.
Broadcasters were mandated to pay an annual licensing fee of $2.5M or 3.5 per cent of the company’s earnings. The requirement was to pay whichever is greater.
Television Guyana Inc. paid the $2.5M, but the Authority requested the company’s financial statements in order to make sure that it was not being shortchanged. GNBA wanted to evaluate the company’s financial statements to ensure that $2.5M is a larger sum than 3.5 per cent of the stations’ earnings.
Therefore, the Authority took a stand that it would not give Television Guyana Inc. a licence until such time as the required statements were provided.
Instead of providing the financials Television Guyana Inc. petitioned the court for the Authority to issue it with broadcasting licences for the years 2014 and 2015 on the grounds that the decision to refuse to do so, was unlawful and ultra vires (beyond the Authority’s power).
GNBA is the regulatory body tasked with overseeing the operations of radio and television stations in Guyana. It has the Authority to order a delinquent station to go off air. However, Craig said that while it is true that Television Guyana Inc. is operating in violation of the law, the Board did not meet to decide whether it would have ordered the station to go off air, or whether it would have gone ahead with prosecution.
Dr. Ramroop is the best friend of former President Bharrat Jagdeo. Under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration, Dr. Ramroop was able to buy his TV station. He was given several radio frequencies and he established a daily newspaper.
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