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Linden ups pressure for TV licence
The people of Linden remain adamant that they will have their television station soon. Their determination was prompted by the recent revelation from Parliament by Prime Minister Sam Hinds that nine television and radio licences were granted to Dr Ranjisinghi Ramroop, Jagdeo’s best friend; five to Robert Persaud’s Deputy Permanent Secretary; and five to the Mirror newspaper.
According to former Parliamentarian of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Aubrey Norton, Lindeners have toed the line and submitted the required information as requested by government.
Former MP/Lindener, Aubrey Norton
The issue of a TV licence for that Region Ten area was a critical one following a massive protest last July in Linden over a proposed hike in electricity rates. Three people were shot dead by police.
An agreement to bring normalcy was hammered out between government and leaders of that mining town.
One of the issues that Lindeners stuck to was the issuing of a television licence to the town. They said that it was a fundamental breach of the arrangement with the then President Bharrat Jagdeo that they would get a television licence.
They now say that the government must be bound by its obligations.
It was agreed that the dish and transmitter given to the Linden Community will be given to Region Ten Regional Democratic Council. The dish and transmitter was also supposed to be transferred to the region within 14 days of the signing of the agreement.
It was also agreed that Region Ten will apply for a broadcasting licence and the Government will facilitate the granting of that licence in keeping with the law.
According to Norton yesterday, the dish and transmitter are the property of the people.
“The people are adamant that we will have a television station for Linden.”
Norton also pointed out yesterday that nowhere in the agreement did it state about an application to the National Broadcast Authority.
However, Linden has still not been issued a licence, a fact that has been generating growing anger.
The issue of licences has taken front burner in recent days after government released details of licences that it in 2011.
Shortly before he stepped down, former President Bharrat Jagdeo issued licences to his close friends and party members in what has been seen as a clear case of biasness.
Opposition parties in the National Assembly are now weighing the information and the media bodies, in condemning the process, have called for a reversal of the issuance of the licences. They have also called for regional media bodies to intervene.
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