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Special committee to review radio licence applications – Luncheon

Sep 30, 2011 News

 

 

– estimated 75 on file

Amidst growing pressure, government on Wednesday announced that it will establish a special committee to review radio licences, which have been in some cases lingering since the early ’90s.
During his weekly press briefing, Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon disclosed that the decision is a “commitment” made publicly by President Bharrat Jagdeo following the 2008 High Court ruling by Chief Justice (ag) Ian Chang.
Chang in that decision ordered the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) to speedily grant broadcast licences to those who want to broadcast in Linden and Region Ten.
Justice Chang ruled that the rights of citizens under Article 146 of the Constitution cannot be abridged based on an agreement made between President Jagdeo and Opposition Leader Robert Corbin.
Lindeners Norman Chapman and Mortimer Yearwood had moved to the High Court, prior to the 2006 general elections, claiming that their fundamental rights were being breached by their not being able to have radio or TV broadcasts other than from state-owned radio and TV.
Government has been holding off on the granting of more television and radio licences, citing the absence of relevant legislation as the key factor.
A few weeks ago, the Broadcasting Bill was passed in Parliament. Luncheon was unable to say whether the President had assented to that Bill.
At the moment, there are between 60-75 applications for radio licences. Some of the applications, as indicated earlier, date as far back as the 1990s. Currently Guyana has only one radio station, which is government-owned.
Luncheon also disclosed that the NFMU’s head, who is the Director of Telecommunications, would be part of the review committee.

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