Former Human Services Minister to head Broadcast Authority

TIMES INT'L

Former Human Services Minister and attorney Bibi Shadick has been identified as the chairperson of the governing board of the newly created Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA).

Former Human Services Minister and attorney Bibi Shadick

This was announced by Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon on Wednesday at his post-Cabinet news briefing.
The other board members are opposition nominee Sherwood Lowe and presidential nominees Margo Boyce, Gerry Gouveia, Norman Mclean, Charles Ramson Jr; and Dindyal Permaul. None of them has any experience in broadcasting, though the law does not specifically lay that down as a requirement.
“The governing board is tasked statutorily with licensing in the broadcast sector and ensuring compliance among broadcasters with the provisions of the Broadcast Act,” Dr. Luncheon stated.
The Act, which was passed in July 2011, makes provision for the Authority but had not enjoyed the support of the PNCR. In nominating Lowe recently PNCR Leader David Granger stated that their objection to the government’s overwhelming influence on the body remained and they will deal with the issue in parliament.
The Board is expected to be housed at the National Frequency Management Unit on Hadfield Street, Lodge, while Dr. Luncheon noted that there are plans to establish an independent office for the GNBA.
The then administration of President Bharrat Jagdeo had agreed that eight of 55 applicants would have been granted radio licenses but none of them has begun regular programming.

Related posts

Comments are closed.