Only TVG Ch 28 had transmission services for learning channel – Manickchand

Amid the controversy surrounding the National Learning Channel and Television Guyana Inc contract, it was disclosed that at the time of the channel’s establishment, there were no other entities that could have provided the transmission services which TVG offered. This was disclosed by Education Minister Priya Manickchand, in response to questions posed to her by Alliance For Change Member of Parliament Catherine Hughes.
Sometime in June, Hughes had posed several questions to the education minister about the contract between TVG and the learning channel, and the channel’s operations.
The minister said in her response, that all the matters surrounding this issue were “extensively” dealt with at a press conference held in April and as such, she provided a copy of the speech made by the head of Guyana Learning Channel, Dr Seeta Roath. She also made available, as requested, a copy of the contract between TVG and the learning channel.
Access
Manickchand, responding to Hughes’ question about when the tender was published for the service and in which media, explained that there were no other entities offering this service at that time; however, TVG was in the process of procuring the service, which allows all communities across Guyana to access programmes aired on the learning channel.
The minister asked that if the opposition MP is knowledgeable of any other company in existence with the same criteria, then she can make that information available.
The minister further explained that the services from TVG were obtained using the single-source procurement method under the Procurement Act of 2003, Section 28 (a), which states: “The procuring entity may engage in single-source procurement when – the goods or construction are available only from a particular supplier or contractor, or a particular supplier or contractor has exclusive rights with respect to the goods or construction, and no reasonable alternative or substitute exists”.
Contract
In answering Hughes’ questions, Minister Manickchand disclosed that the contract was signed in 2010 for a period of five years and as of December 2011, the sum of Gy$ 3 million per month has been paid to TVG for its services.
Hughes had asked the minister how many persons are employed by the learning channel and from which communities they hail. The education minister replied that the learning channel currently has six full-time, six part-time and two temporary employees.
She noted that the other personnel, such as studio teachers and scriptwriters, are contracted as needed, adding that the company hires the best skill for the best price available.
Manickchand continued that the learning channel has its own satellite receivers/ dishes, which are located in Georgetown, New Amsterdam, Benab, Orealla, Kwakwani, Linden, Lethem, Annai, Aishalton, Mahdia, Port Kaituma, Mabaruma, Bartica, Morakaibai, Anna Regina, Karasabai, and Ituni. She revealed that there are 17 antennas, 20 dishes, 17 receivers, and 16 dish stands, which were bought along with the installation services from TVG at the price of Gy$ 6.987 million.
Equipment
The minister added of the 17 antennas, two are located in Georgetown and one each in the other communities mentioned.
In answering in which geographical areas the learning channel utilises equipment of the two local telecommunication companies for the purposes of broadcasting its programmes, Manickchand noted that the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph tower at Benab and the Digicel tower at Moira Point are used.
The Guyana Learning Channel is a non-commercial, apolitical, educational broadcast network, which focuses solely on education and strives to maintain 30 to 40 per cent local content.
In 2010, the company entered into discussions with TVG and a final agreement was concluded in the same year. The agreement requires TVG to provide the channel with a guaranteed satellite transport network service.
The learning channel has more than 200,000 viewers and reaches far and wide in Guyana, including areas such as Annai, Lethem, Aishalton, Kwakwani, Port Kaituma, and Mahdia.