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Region 10 optimistic that Government will fulfill television licence promise
Amidst the ongoing “unfair licence distribution” saga, Region 10 is optimistic that the government will follow through with their promise to grant Linden a television license. The granting will be in keeping with an agreement signed between Lindeners and the government on August 21, 2012.
Region Ten Chairman Sharma Solomon
Region Ten Chairman, Sharma Solomon, told the media last week that he is setting to engage the government on the granting of the licence and is looking forward to discussing other issues such as the station’s board of trustees.
Solomon said that now that the budget debates are over, he hopes that the government will take an earnest approach to fulfill its promise. “Our position is that we are firm that the region will move forward regardless and show commitment towards honouring the agreement.”
He added that several persons have already been approached to partake in the processing of the station, while the region is bent on crafting and implementing its measures for advancement. Solomon had in an earlier report said that the station Management Board will include a private investor, acting in the capacity of Chief Executive Officer.
Solomon also stated earlier this year that his administration would not make another application for a broadcast licence since the region was asked to re-apply to the National Frequency Management Unit (MFMU). He said that the Regional Administration had already sent in an application, and that is the most that it was willing to do based on the understanding of the agreement that was signed with the NFMU.
“We are saying that the agreement predates the National Broadcasting Authority.” Solomon stated if it was known that the region would have to re-apply for the licence, his administration would have never signed the agreement since at the time there was no broadcasting authority.
Solomon said last week that the ongoing questionable licence distribution issue is only the tail end of a matter that existed long before former President Bharrat Jagdeo had distributed those contentious radio licences. According to him, Linden had been, for a long time, fighting to obtain a television licence and was isolated in its quest.
Now the light has been shed on the licence issue and what appears to be an unethical distribution, stakeholders from the inception, he said, should have joined forces to tackle the licence distribution issue.
He said, “It should have been a collective voice making a collective demand.” That way, he said, the force would have been greater, likewise the voices making one call.
Local media houses have however been fighting an ongoing battle for the last couple of months to have the Jagdeo-issued licence revoked, calling the distribution process biased. The former President issued some 10 licences one week before demitting office.
It was revealed that several close associates of the former President, close friends, family and party associates had been issued licences.
Local media houses staged several protest actions and fora of condemnation. The international community has also come on board condemning the former President’s actions.
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