Nothing stopping a Guyanese from owning three media houses – Broadcast Authority head

Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) Chairman Bibi Shaddick on Tuesday responded to a misleading advertisement in the Kaieteur News, clarifying that there is no law in Guyana that prohibits a person from owning three media operations.

For several weeks, the Kaieteur News has been publishing an advertisement which states that the best friend of former president Bharrat Jagdeo is the only Guyanese who owns three media houses, insinuating that the owner of the Guyana Times / TVG/ RGI, Dr Bobby Ramroop acquired his licences as a result of his affiliation with the former head of state.
“I congratulate somebody who is enterprising enough to invest in this country and create jobs… are they saying the former president should not have a best friend or is it that a friend of the former president shouldn’t be in business?” Shaddick was quoted by the Government Information Agency (GINA) as stating.
As with any investor who is on the lookout for good business opportunities, Dr Ramroop purchased VCT Channel 28, now TVG, from its former owner, Tony Vieira. He had earlier established the Guyana Times, a newspaper that has attracted its own readership. It publishes a wide range of information outside of the daily happenings in and around the country.
Subsequently, he applied for a radio licence, which was granted based on the fact that he met all the necessary requirements as set out in the Broadcast Act. Shaddick said that Dr Ramroop is one of 10 people who received radio licences in 2011 and is the only one that is currently broadcasting.
“Since I began chairing the board of the GNBA, I have been meeting the other nine licensees and asking ‘ what is happening?’. Despite being licensed to broadcast, they are not yet ready; some are having problems with equipment,” she explained.
The GNBA board was appointed in September 2012. Shaddick added that there have been much criticism about the monopoly on radio; however, since the advent of the GNBA less than 10 applications have been received and of that number, less than five have submitted all the requisite documentation for the granting of such licences.
Shaddick said that the GNBA supports competition and urged the other nine licensees to commence broadcasting as soon as possible. The Broadcast Act of 2011 mandates the GNBA to grant broadcasting licences to companies or trusts in which no less than 51 per cent of the voting shares is held by Guyanese nationals. In terms of eligibility, the act, states that an applicant must be fit and proper and must meet the established technical standards.
They also have to inform the GNBA of the programmes they will be broadcasting (including those that will be produced locally, as well as those that will be produced in Caricom countries and further afield) and the geographic area to which they will broadcast.
In granting licences, the GNBA must also take into account whether an applicant has previously been refused a licence, had their licence suspended, or is already the holder of a licence.
In its bid to open up the broadcasting spectrum, government in late 2011, had granted licences to the following: Matthews Ridge Community Council; Little Rock Television Station; Alfro Alphonso and Sons Enterprise; New Guyana Company Limited; National Television Network (NTN); Hits and Jams Entertainment; Wireless Connections; Rudy Grant; Telcor and Cultural Broadcasting Inc; Linden Wireless Communication Network; and Television Guyana (TVG) Channel 28.