Let’s have a variety of radio stations in Guyana

Oct 24, 2009 Letters

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Dear Editor,
With a land-breaking decision recently on the radio monopoly in Guyana still fresh in everyone’s minds, it might still be a while before private radio stations come on the scene in Guyana.
Until then, many of our veteran broadcasters, who are still around in Guyana, (sadly) doing other jobs, might then, be encouraged to go back on the air. Their voices are missed.
Many persons commented about my previous letter by asking the question who listens to radio these days? They do have a point.
With the advent and advancement of television and computers also cell phones, who’s got time to switch on the radio right?
I believe the art form of ‘listening’ has been wasted away and dying in our society.
That is why many of our children cannot do well in school and success in the various spheres of learning and life in general.
Listening is a very important skill which everyone can become involved in — radio can be a tool to do just that. Sadly, though, our youths today are ‘listening’ to other voices and other things.
Other than the entire management of the National Frequency and Management Unit (NFMU) being fired forthwith, I would like to see some progression in the parliament to once and for all address the broadcast legislation.
Poor Mr. Vieira, only after he has left our shores, (after selling out his station) and years after he was literally forced off the airwaves, has finally received justice.
That being said I still write that justice delayed is justice denied. Delaying all radio licence applicants over the years and the suspension of receiving more applications at this time is a slap in the face of freedom of the press.
The ruling should’ve sought the resignations of those implicated in the injustice to the silencing of our airwaves and the greed resulting in preventing private individuals from utilising the electro-magnetic spectrum.
The thick smokescreen being put up by Government about not enough framework available for the establishment and granting of more radio licences is just that — a poor and sorry excuse! The radio station applicants, I am sure, are willing to privately fund their own ventures; they’re not depending on funds from neither Government nor NFMU.
Just imagine a small island like Trinidad having over 18 radio stations. The radio spectrum is a free entity that is regulated by Government.
They lease the spectrum to potential individuals wishing to operate radio stations. The spectrum is big enough for 60 radio stations. Just look at other countries.
Let us have a variety of radio stations in Guyana. Yes, of course licences wouldn’t be granted willy- nilly; however, the 60 applications pending currently at the NFMU is an expression of the noose which has been tied tight on the necks of Guyanese wishing to establish private radio entities. Now that noose has slackened a bit.
In the meanwhile though, we still have to put up with NCN Radio. They are really trying. But more work should be done to allow all Guyanese to access the radio station especially on their website which keeps going on and off, sometimes for days long.
Whether the telephone company or NCN is to be blamed for the radio streaming problem, I couldn’t care less. Just satisfy your first and foremost criteria of a radio station: to be heard by all people at all times of the day. Please rectify the problem on your website NCN.
Guyanese and other people should not be forced to pay money to listen to VOG and 98.1 FM on JumpTV’s website. Right now I am listening to ‘Monday Moods’ on 98.1 and two things are ticking me off: the deejay is talking too much and the music is ‘skipping’ (the NCN website’s fault).
I don’t have a problem with promoting businesses on radio but 98.1 FM hosts and deejays in general need to revamp the way they play commercials and also talk more than the songs being played.
It’s unfair to listeners especially if they talk through an entire song. On some evening programmes on both VOG and 98.1 FM, the hosts are doing on-air advertising of companies and also reading out prices for products.
Come on, this shouldn’t be happening on the air. More music and less talk please.
And please, Monday Moods host, it is not radio-like to have your cell phone ringing on the air or beeping like it needs charging. Some of the DJ’ing and music (dub ‘watchamacallit’ trash) leaves so much to be desired.
As my father told me the other day, many persons are turning to the classics and oldies music for their listening pleasure more and more everyday. He is right.
So, has radio suffered a further death in the past years since NCN came on the scene? With the loss of numerous veteran broadcasters and much-loved programmes, the answer might very well be yes.
Radio in Guyana has been diluted, stripped bare of all that was good and loving and entertaining about its operation and impact on the lives of Guyanese prior to its “destruction” and advancement of television.
I will conclude my series on that thesis in a subsequent correspondence.
The details might surprise and, I am sure, will bring back evocative memories to many.
And finally, when will NCN bring back the Shortwave signals so that our brothers and sisters in the Interior locations can have radio signals where they live?
I was informed that this service ended about two years ago due to a problem with the SW transmitter.
I was also informed that Dr Jagan was the person who brought Shortwave signals to radio in Guyana. He loved to listen to Shortwave.
Please, NCN, focus your resources once more (as in the days of GBC) on radio. (NCN) Television has been getting the bigger slice of the cake for too long now.
Leon Jameson Suseran

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