Linden’s new radio on air from July

May 26, 2013 News

…owner hopes for more financing, refurbishes rented building

At 37, Haslyn Graham is preparing to live his dream- one he has nurtured since his early 20s.
He has been approved for a radio station and has been granted an Internet Service Provider (ISP) Licence. It is part of his vision to see his hometown, Linden, progress, both economically and technologically.
He is one of 11 applicants that have so far been granted a radio frequency.

Haslyn Graham

Graham recounts the numerous times his applications for radio and cable licences were turned down, but he never gave up.
“I had the faith that one day I would get through, so I just kept on re-applying, even when a few people advised me to forget it.”
Today he is happy that he persevered, and can now venture into the world of business, in an area that he has developed a passion for over the years.
Graham said that he first applied for wireless cable back in 2002. “At the time what I had applied for was the (MMDS) Multi Channel, Multi-Point Distribution Service–the very system that is presently being used by some companies in Georgetown.
Even at that time it would have been an excellent project to execute in Linden, which only had one cable system- and that was not wireless.
”I applied again in 2007, and now I’ve re-applied under the New Broadcasting Authority, which includes all of those other applications. But can you imagine what this community would have been like today, if we had got the opportunity to introduce the wireless cable system here, way back in 2002?” Graham asked.
He is understandably disappointed that he has not yet received approval for his wireless cable television licence, which he applied for more than ten years ago.

Thankful
He is, however, philosophical about it all. “There are people who applied for cable television licences after me, and are presently broadcasting, while I’m yet to receive approval for mine, and I guess likewise, there would be people that would have applied for their radio licences before me, and are yet to get approval.
“So while I am happy to have received approval for my radio and ISP licences. I’m disappointed that I have not yet received approval for the cable licence. I can therefore empathize with others like myself that are still awaiting theirs.”
Although currently employed by Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Inc as a Senior Maintenance Planner, Graham is very pre-occupied with putting his radio studio together at Richmond Hill.
“I’ve already applied for my import licence to import my transmitter as soon as the studio is completed. I don’t want to bring it in before and have it sitting. I received my radio licence letter of approval in November 2011. I was really happy when I was called to go and uplift it.”

July broadcast
“I’m hoping to start broadcasting by July, even though I’m being advised, by a few persons, that I should start right away. I want to do this just right. I want everything in place.”
Graham said he is trying his best to create an atmosphere where people can come and be comfortable, and feel welcomed.
“I would be promoting a lot of programmes that cater specifically to youths, like talent programmes, and so on- you know we have a lot of talent here in Linden, and people out there would have only so far seen a tip of the iceberg.”
Graham pointed out that the Linden talent was obvious in the GT&T jingles competition this year, and even the previous years. “So now our youths will have more scope to showcase some more of that talent. There is so much that can be done.
Graham said that his company was registered more than ten years ago, as ORBIT Television, but then later he changed the name to Linden Wireless Communication Network.
Now his main preoccupation is getting approval for his long awaited cable television.
The entrepreneur is currently the President of the Linden Amateur Basketball Association, and resides with his wife and three children on Blue Berry Hill. (Enid Joaquin)