Many broadcasters reapply for licences within 30-day period- GNBA Chairman

Oct 21, 2017 News

Chairman of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority’s (GNBA) Board of Directors, Leslie Sobers, has indicated that most broadcasters have reapplied for their licences. They have done so within the 30-day period set out by the

GNBA Chairman, Leslie Sobers

Broadcasting Amendment Bill of 2017.
Sobers said that the majority of broadcasters have cleared their outstanding fees owed to the Authority. He said, too, that those who have not paid off in full have at least made a conscious attempt to clear their debts.
“A conscious attempt” is also what Sobers said that broadcasters are making when he spoke of those who are yet to submit their applications for licences.
“We are satisfied that they are making their best efforts and we are not unmindful of the complexities of these things. It is not like we will just take them off arbitrarily like that. We have spoken with them; we understand there are setbacks and we have agreed that they will bring them in, they are making a conscious attempt.”
Sobers said that some of the broadcasters have committed to a time frame to submit their applications.
Despite the fact that the law as amended earlier this year prescribes for all broadcasters to reapply within a strict 30-day period, Sobers said that there are no punitive measures at this stage for those who are yet to reapply.
“We will not impose punitive measures at this stage unless the broadcasters demonstrate gross and crass disregard for the law, but so far broadcasters have not come across to us as not willing to obey.
“We are happy with those who have already complied and as for those who are yet to comply, we are satisfied that they are making genuine efforts to do so. And, we will allow them to do so without punitive measures.”
Sobers said that the Authority will now begin to access the applications and “as soon as we are finished with the existing broadcasters we will turn our attention to those who have applications pending. We will be looking at them shortly.”

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