Nine broadcasting entities that have submitted their relevant documentation for licences to continue to operate were on Friday presented with their licence certificates by Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) Chairperson Bibi Shaddick.
She stated that the licences for television and radio are issued under the Post and Telegraph Act and assign the frequency and the specifications of transmission.
Five television stations were presented with their licences at the small handing over ceremony at the GNBA office, Hadfield Street. These are Television Guyana Incorporated, GWTV Channel 2, Pinnacle Communication Incorporated, Multi Technology Vision (MTV) Incorporated, and CNS Incorporated. Those receiving radio licences were Radio Guyana Incorporated and Telecor, Cultural and Broadcasting Incorporated. Cable licences were given to Atlantic Cable Networking and E-Networks.
Shaddick explained, “These licences were ready before today, but the law said that we have to advertise them in the Official Gazette, so we wanted to have a number ready before we advertise.” She also highlighted that the law requires the licences to be exhibited in the place of business like TIN certificates are exhibited.
Shaddick added, “This is just to publish that licences have been granted for 2013, we have a list of people who are calling in trying to make last-minute negotiation, which we really cannot make”.
The GNBA chairperson believes that all other stations that have not yet submitted their full documentation to receive licences to continue broadcasting “will get themselves in order” by the October 31 deadline.
Earlier this month, the GNBA had disclosed that a number of broadcasting entities are yet to submit all outstanding documents to the board and failure to do so would result in them being deemed illegal broadcasters. As such, she disclosed that these entities have until the end of this month to submit the relevant documents.
Eight radio and television station operators, including the state-owned National Communications Network (NCN), are yet to submit all outstanding documents to the GNBA board. The other stations are STVS Channel 4, The Guyana Learning Channel, National Television Network (NTN), Rambarran, WRHM, Tarzie in Bartica, and the New Guyana Company.
