Several radio operations face imminent shutdown …as Broadcasting Authority gets tough for non-compliance

Apr 06, 2018 News

GNBA Chairman, Leslie Sobers

By Abena Rockcliffe-Campbell
Even the longest rope has an end. That idiom is a stark reminder of the position taken by the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) which has decided to publish a list of all non-compliant broadcasters who as a result of their errant ways will no longer be allowed to operate.
Kaieteur News understands that a number of radio broadcasters owe millions of dollars to the GNBA, representing backed-up licence fees.
At the beginning of the year, GNBA Chairman Leslie Sobers met with all broadcasters—television and radio. During his meeting with radio broadcasters, Sobers inforKaieteur Newsmed them of the Board’s decision to facilitate a payment scheme that they should take advantage of to fulfill their financial obligations.
The Board decided to have all broadcasters, individually, pay half of their debt within the first quarter of the year, giving them the rest of the year to pay the balance in monthly installments.
Now that the first quarter is finished, most broadcasters are reportedly still out of financial compliance, and Sobers spoke to Kaieteur News yesterday about the developments that will follow as a result. He said that some broadcasters made attempts to clear their debts while others chose to ignore the generous provision offered by the authority. Sobers indicated that one broadcaster, whom he did not name, cried out that he cannot make the payment.
The broadcaster reportedly indicated that he will be filing for bankruptcy. Sobers said, “That will not stop us; we will still be going after him. We cannot allow him to come and operate here, make money, claim he folded and go away with all the money he owes us. “
The Board, according to Sobers, had made a decision that something had to be done and gave the subcommittee, with responsibility for licence fee and legal issues, a mandate to take the necessary appropriate action.
The committee had a meeting yesterday to decide what form of “appropriate action” must be taken.
Sobers, who is also the chairman of that committee, said that by the end of the working day today, the GNBA will prepare a list of all non-compliant broadcasters.
That list will be published on Monday in the various newspapers. Sobers said that when that list is published, all noted broadcasters will be immediately considered illegal and they will not be granted their 2018 licences. Sobers said that strict action, in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations, will be taken against those who continue to broadcast despite being deemed non-complaint. Measures to be taken can include the seizing of equipment.
Sobers said that once the list is published, broadcasters will have to pay off all the money owed to the authority before having the opportunity to resume broadcasting.
“The deal will then be off the table. The first quarter is finished and we have been more than reasonable with them.”
Sobers was tightlipped about the names of the broadcasters. But this newspaper understands that very popular radio stations are likely to make the list of non-compliant broadcasting agencies.

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