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Time does not correct wrongs
Mar 23, 2013 Editorial
Discretion was the word used by Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon to describe former President Bharrat Jagdeo’s method of allocating radio licences just prior to his demitting office in 2011. Former President Jagdeo allotted nearly two dozen frequencies to a number of people and sparked a furor among a number of private media organisations.
It was not that these private media houses were against the decentralization of radio; rather they were upset that they were not included in the allocation. The records would show that the then President Jagdeo had vowed to liberalise radio before he demitted office. In the end he sparked an allegation that he practiced cronyism and nepotism.
Allegations are often hard to prove and as Dr Luncheon said this one like so many others would disappear with the passage of time. It could be coincidence that among the first allottees would be a man whom he, President Jagdeo, described as his best friend; another who happened to be married to his niece; and yet another being the political party to which he belongs.
It is not clear whether these persons and entities had applications in the system. Chairman of the Board of the Guyana Broadcasting Authority, Bibi Shadick, had explained that applicants had forwarded applications to just about every aspect of the administration. Some had sent applications to Prime Minister Sam Hinds who, up until President Jagdeo relieved him of the portfolio, was responsible for communication.
Applications were also sent to the office of the Head of the Presidential Secretariat, some to the President himself and some to the National Frequency Management Unit. Surely this could only happen if there was no system in place to deal with the applications and it became clear that there was no central body to deal with applications. The government did not intend to liberalise radio.
We now come to the factors that influenced President Jagdeo to use his discretion. It could be that some of these people met him at some private function and put themselves in line or they brought up the issue in private conversations.
But while it is not unheard of that presidents respond to requests for personal favours, for issues as far reaching as the allocation of radio frequencies a president would seek the advice of people competent enough to make the decision.
There is another aspect to presidential decisions. Because governments are loathe to be accused of fraud leaders try to be as virtuous as the proverbial Caesar’s wife. They would refer decisions to their underlings so that if there should be any query the leader can rise above the fray.
In this case it was as if the former President could not be worried about conflict and controversy. He was demitting office so whatever was said would be of no interest to him. Such an attitude has come to haunt those who have come after President Jagdeo. That image of cronyism and nepotism is not going to go away.
The allocation of the radio licences was made more than a year ago but the secrecy that surrounded information pertaining to the recipients was incomprehensible. It took a Member of Parliament to ask the questions of the Prime Minister and to get the answers that have now sparked protests and the allegations.
The fact that there is the assurance that applicants for radio licences would be granted the licence once they fulfill the obligations has not done anything to appease the people who feel aggrieved. And there is good reason. Many feel that the assurance is nothing more than an afterthought.
There is support from the corridors of power for the apparent discriminatory allocation of the radio licences. President Donald Ramotar, like Dr. Luncheon, says that what is important is the liberalization of radio that every other thing pales into insignificance.
Dr. Luncheon actually said that in the years ahead no one would remember what some of us see as an issue today. But the truth is that when a wrong is committed or when there is a perceived wrong, people must speak. Time may dull the wrong but surely it does not correct it.
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