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Govt pays ‘Bobby’ Ramroop $3.6M every month to air Learning Channel
TVG, owned by Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, best friend of former President Bharrat Jagdeo, is being paid $3.6 million a month to put the Guyana Learning Channel on the air.
Minister of Education Priya Manickchand
This was revealed yesterday in a written response by the Minister of Education Priya Manickchand to Parliamentarian Jaipaul Sharma.
Jagdeo is the one who had championed the setting up of the Learning Channel, which was launched in April 2011.
“The Guyana Learning Channel has the use of a teleport that was created at the time of its set-up since there was no other teleport capable of up-linking video signals in existence in Guyana before or since,” Manickchand said in response to questions raised by Sharma.
According to the Minister, every wireless communication device utilizes electro-magnetic spectrum and the Learning Channel has minimized use of the electro-magnetic spectrum by reusing the same channel in different regions of the country such as Channel 3 in New Amsterdam, Lethem, Mabaruma and Ituni; and Channel 10 in Kwakwani, Orealla, Linden and Port Kaituma.
She said that for the Learning Channel to send the signal to the satellite, it would have had to set up a commensurate service that would have required an initial capital outlay of US$150,000 plus monthly recurring costs of over $4M in bandwidth rental and associated services.
Manickchand stated that the Learning Channel is using “the only teleport capable of up-linking video-signals in existence in Guyana.”
She added that because the Learning Channel’s bandwidth is bundled with the bandwidth of TVG they are able to negotiate better rates from the satellite operators.
Access to the Learning Channel in Region One is in the areas of Mabaruma, Morawhanna, Hosororo, Port Kaituma and Arakaka.
Region Two is getting from Georgetown and not from Anna Regina due to a technical issue, the Minister said. She noted that soon other communities on the Essequibo Coast, including Santa Rosa, Saint Monica, Pomeroon, and dozens of other surrounding communities will be benefitting from the learning Channel.
Bartica from Moira Point, Saint Edwards Mission, Cuyuni area and mining camps are where the Learning Channel is broadcast in Regions Seven and Eight.
Jaipaul Sharma
Access to the Learning Channel stretches across the coast, from Parika, Rosignol to New Amsterdam and up the Corentyne Coast to Skeldon and Black Bush Polder and other areas.
The Channel also reaches Linden and Kwakwani in Region Ten, Mahdia and its environs in Region Eight, Annai, Lethem, Nappi, Sand Creek, Aishalton and their environs in Region Nine.
The village of Orealla in the Berbice River would be able to receive the signal of the Learning Channel soon, as would be Karasabai and its environs in Region Nine and Ituni and its environs in Region Ten.
Communities in valleys and outside signal reach will have dishes and receivers for direct satellite feed in community centres and learning resource centres.
Some such communities include Paramakatoi and lmbaimadai. Matthews Ridge will receive a transmitter for access by all in collaboration with the mining companies in that area, the Minister said.
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