City businesses slam Govt. over CCTV appearance

Feb 17, 2013 News

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…demand answers from Broadcast Authority, NFMU

One of the city’s most powerful private sector bodies has slammed the government over news that China Central TV (CCTV), Chinese state television, has been granted permission to operate here.

In expressing what it described as “considerable concerns” over the process that led to the granting of the television licence and broadcast spectrum frequency to the Chinese Government, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) also said it is the government’s duty to ensure the laws of the country are followed.
“The mechanism employed appears to have been conducted without the necessary regulatory requirements and principles that should be observed in the issuance of such a licence. While the Chamber acknowledges that China is a very important development partner, the government of Guyana should ensure that due process is followed and the laws of Guyana are observed when brokering agreements with domestic and foreign entities.”

According to GCCI, the government also has the duty to guarantee that equitable, fair and transparent procedures are applicable to all applying for statutory licences.
“Our private sector companies are all expected to follow such statutory guidelines.”
The private sector body said that the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) has the responsibility of efficiently and effectively managing the electro-magnetic frequency spectrum and receiving and processing applications for licences for broadcast services.
It was also pointed out that the recently formed Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA),under the dominion of the Broadcast Act of 2011, has responsibility for the granting of television licences.
BYPASSED
“From the statements emanating from the Government on the granting of the Chinese Broadcast Licence, it appears that none of these agencies were involved in the processing of the approved licence. This represents a worrying development and one that the Chamber admonishes if it is proved that the statutory procedures were not followed.”
The Chamber said that it would also welcome statements from both the NFMU and the GNBA on the issue.
CCTV is housed in the compound of the National Communications Network and started transmitting over a week ago on Channel 27/Cable78.
Government had initially said that the agreement was signed between the Guyana and Chinese government several years ago. However, following statements from GNBA’s head, Bibi Shadick, that there was reportedly no records of CCTV ever applying for licence to broadcast, senior government spokesman, Dr. Roger Luncheon, disclosed Thursday that checks are being done to determine the details of the agreement.
GNBA was established last year and given powers to consider and grant applications for television and radio licences. It has now asked for current broadcasters and others to submit fresh applications.
With limited space or spectrum of the airwaves available, there has been anger and questions over the timing and appearance of CCTV.
Luncheon said it was the government that “committed” to provide a channel for a CCTV signal to be made available to the Guyanese audience. He also stated that CCTV has similar arrangements in a “dozen” other countries…but did not name them.
Luncheon referred media workers to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the NFMU for more details.
CRITICISMS
There has been a host of criticism from broadcasters and several prominent citizens over the issue.
Earlier this week, long-time veteran media practitioner, Kit Nascimento, criticised government over the issue, saying that the floodgates are now open for another government, with whom Guyana has diplomatic, trade and commercial relations, to expect the same privileged right to broadcast on a domestic channel.
In a letter to Kaieteur News, Nascimento wanted to know how government will be regulating the channel.
Michael Gordon, acting Chief Executive Officer of the state-owned TV, National Communications Network (NCN), said the setting up of China Central TV (CCTV) was a direct government-to-government agreement between Guyana and China.
Veteran broadcaster Enrico Woolford has been pressing for the NFMU to reveal who has been allocated what frequencies in Guyana, but to no avail.
A number of radio licences were granted under unclear circumstances shortly before former President Bharrat Jagdeo ended his constitutional two terms in office in 2011.
Both Kaieteur News and Stabroek News, independent newspapers, had been bypassed for radio licences.
Executive Member of the opposition coalition APNU, Lance Carberry, in scathing remarks, said that the government needs to clarify the arrangements under which CCTV is licenced to broadcast from Guyana.
Cathy Hughes, Parliamentarian of the Alliance for Change, said she will be demanding answers in the National Assembly.

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