Radio award: Vindicated! Radio 89.5’s award source acknowledged by Appellate Court – “…the award of the courts should answer all questions,” says Dr Ramroop

With Court of Appeal’s award of costs to TVG as the successor to the interests of VCT, which had applied for andhad been denied a licence to operate a radio station, Guyana Times International (GTI) decided to interview the chairman of TVG, Dr Ranjisinghi Ramroop, who had been in the firing line over the receipt of the radio licence.
GTI: On Friday, the Alliance For Change (AFC) took out a full-page ad in the Kaieteur News asking, “Can the Ramotar administration explain to the people of Guyana how Guyana Times … got five radio frequencies… while Kaieteur News and Stabroek News were denied?”
Dr Ramroop: I am sure that someone in the administration will be able to answer that question. But since the name of Guyana Times was mentioned, I will elaborate. Firstly, we have pointed out for at least over a year now that Guyana Times never received any radio frequencies or licences.
For a party that has so many lawyers, I am surprised that they would make such a baseless allegation. I can understand Nagamootoo, because he just came out of law school, but Ramjattan and Hughes?
We have consistently pointed out that QAII purchased VCT from Tony Vieira back in 2009 and this was published by Kaieteur News on June 5 of that year. At that time, VCT had a suit against the government of Guyana and the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) for denying it a radio licence. The case had reached the Appellate Court.
GTI: When was that radio application first made.
Dr Ramroop: 1993.
GTI: Please continue about the genesis of the radio licence.
Dr Ramroop: Well, when we purchased VCT, which was a corporation, and renamed it ‘TV Guyana’, the latter became the successor to all the rights and interests of VCT. This meant that when the Appellate Court handed down its decision later in 2009 and directed the government and the NFMU to issue a licence to VCT, this was now the property of TVG.
GTI: And the award that was just handed down?
Dr Ramroop: This simply confirms what we have been saying all along. The cheque for Gy$500,000 representing costs from the government and from the NFMU for denying VCT a radio licence, was made out to TVG, but as per the agreement QAII had struck with Vieira, we passed this on to him.
The government of Guyana did not ‘give’ any radio licences to TVG because of any magnanimity or friendship, but because it was compelled to do so by the Appellate Court of Guyana, to break the radio monopoly that they had maintained for decades.
GTI: So VCT and its successor TVG broke the government’s radio monopoly?
Dr Ramroop: You have that right and that’s why we can only assume vindictiveness and spite when this is not acknowledged. We paid millions of dollars for our right to the radio licence.
GTI: On a related note, we note that the owner of KN, Mohan “Glen”  Lall and Enrico Woolford have filed actions in the High Court challenging the radio licences awarded to you and some others. Woolford claims that the awards were, “arbitrary, unconstitutional, unlawful, unfair, unreasonable, capricious, irrational, procedurally improper, ultra vires, null, void and of no legal effect”. Lall asserts the same thing, while also asserting the awards were made to “friends”.
Dr Ramroop: That’s quite a mouthful! The award should answer all questions about our radio licence. However, I cannot speak for the other licensees. But after reviewing what I have just related, I challenge anyone to arrive at Lall’s and Woolford’s assertions on Radio 89.5.
GTI: What about the AFC’s question about why the Kaieteur News and Stabroek News were denied radio licences?
Dr Ramroop: As I have said, we broke the government’s radio monopoly. If the two named entities have made proper applications etc and have satisfied all relevant conditions established by the Guyana Broadcasting Authority (GBA), I am sure the government will do what is best for Guyana.
I wish them well, since I believe that competition is good for business.