Dear Editor,
I believe the management of the National Communications Network Inc (NCN) has disappointed Berbicians this holiday season. Earlier in the year, NCN had promised to improve radio broadcasting in the region. They said that upgrades would be done to their transmitters to better the signals of Voice of Guyana and expand those from 98.1 FM. These revelations were made by the CEO on a live programme on NCN Channel Fifteen in Berbice. To date, the signals of VOG are still full of static and 98.1 FM is virtually ‘unhearable.’
The only source for hearing 98.1 FM in Berbice, JumpTV, has been down for nearly two weeks. I think they have stopped transmitting the channel. Therefore, it is time that NCN invest or add to the investment in radio communications in Berbice.
The recent commitments in Parliament to bring more radio and television stations on stream in Guyana are most reassuring, but when we will see this decision come to fruition is anybody’s guess. Broadcasters in Georgetown who are willing to expand their services out of Georgetown must be allowed to do so without reservations. I know the day a private radio station comes on the Guyanese airwaves should be a day of great celebration − a day that should be remembered forever in our history. The green light has been sort of given for that to happen, but when actually will it happen?
This government is rather stubborn. Since 1992 till now, there has been no permission granted for the establishment of any private radio channel or even the expansion of services provided by broadcasters in the city. Vieira Communications got lucky when Tony Vieira was allowed to set up shop at Blairmont to relay his signals from Versailles to East and West Berbice. But he didn’t get so lucky when he was transmitting radio signals a couple of years ago. Top government officials themselves went and seized his equipment − they had to do everything in their power to regain control of the radio spectrum. And they did.
NCN can and should utilize the services of the TV station Channel Fifteen and try to relay the 98.1 FM signals from Homestretch Avenue to New Amsterdam. At least, they should try to upgrade the signal which they are convinced is reaching portions of Berbice. Sadly, NCN has seen it better to reinvest in Radio Roraima − now only available on the FM band mostly in the city and surrounding areas.
Let us look after our homeland first by making sure every corner of Guyana can hear our radio stations, and then we can invest so that the world can listen too.
Yours faithfully,
Leon Jameson Suseran
