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Region Ten to finally get TV channel
…use of NCN channel a possibility
After years of hoping and waiting, Region Ten will finally have controlling power over what it watches following the assignment of a regional television channel.
From left: Head of the National Frequency Management Unit Valmiki Singh, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and RBI Director Sharma Solomon following a successful meeting.
The announcement comes three years after a 2012 agreement was signed between the then People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration and Region Ten. In 2012, there had been more than a month of protest in Linden over proposed hikes in electricity rates and three persons were subsequently shot to death by police ranks.
The ownership and management of a community television station formed part of the agreement to end the unrest and the Region Ten Broadcasting Inc. (RBI) Company was set up for the purpose of applying for the license to broadcast in Linden and surrounding communities.
When contacted, Sharma Solomon, one of the Directors RBI, said that the realisation of the agreement was long overdue.
“I am encouraged first that, after three years, we are now seeing this agreement moving forward,” Solomon said. He said that it was also encouraging that the new administration saw the necessity of honouring an old commitment.
He explained that contact was recently made with him for the discussions on a way forward. He added that it was heartening that the three-year long issue was resolved in just a week.
According to Solomon, the issue was one that could have been resolved a long time ago as there had not been, and currently are not, any impediments to get the station up and running. He said that all of the necessary requirements are already in place such as infrastructure, equipment and a management system.
According to the new agreement, the government will hand over the dish and transmitter to the Linden office. This decision had been one taken since 2012 but never materialised. The only issue left to resolve is which frequency the new station will occupy.
With the new assignment, it is expected that Channel 13, which is currently held by the National Communications Network (NCN), will become the regional channel.
Solomon explained that concerns had been raised that the proposed frequency was already in use and would therefore disrupt national transmissions. However, he said, using channel 13 should not be an issue since NCN also has channel 8, thus providing the region with an alternative avenue for national broadcasts.
Solomon said that if channel 13 is successfully given to RBI it will broadcast “indigenous” programming as well as international broadcasts.
Solomon expressed hope that the frequency issue will be resolved by the end of the week.
The materialisation of years-long hope of the people of Region Ten came following meetings amongst Solomon, Head of the National Frequency Management Unit Valmiki Singh and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo. The meetings had been convened by Nagamootoo, who holds the information and telecommunications portfolios of the nation.
Consultations reportedly began over a week ago and had been initiated by Nagamootoo and Imram Khan, Director of Public Information.
Technical recommendations were given by Singh during talks with Solomon. Now, Singh will make an assessment of the company’s transmission equipment, which had been purchased since 2012 in anticipation of being granted a license to broadcast.
Nagamootoo also said that discussions have commenced with regard to extending NCN television’s range beyond Linden to hinterland communities.
Meanwhile, Nagamootoo and Khan earlier held discussions with Virgil Harding, who manages the operations of the Annai based community radio station, Radio Paiwomak, a GINA press release said. These discussions included efforts to strengthen the operations of Radio Paiwomak along with extending the broadcast range.
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