Dear Editor,
Mr Mohamed Sattaur, the CEO of NCN has finally spoken. He chose to respond to utterances in the letters’ columns that NCN is not placing cricket in the forefront (‘Cricket reigns supreme on radio and shortwave’ SN, June 12). It’s so sad that I – and others as well – have raised numerous concerns in these columns about NCN TV and radio, none of which were responded to by senior NCN officials. I was quite disappointed in that I believe his response was a business decision to ensure the cricket sponsors do not abandon their deals with the network.
The CEO boasts of some kind of “shortwave signal which is received worldwide.” How can I listen? And how can my relatives in England, Africa, Australia and USA listen? More interestingly, how can I listen to 102.5 FM? I can’t seem to pick it up, but his letter makes it look as if people are picking up that band.
The CEO knows the history of cricket broadcasts on radio very well. Radio itself has a very rich and interesting history in Guyana. But I am appalled that in this day and age we still cannot hear 98.1 FM in Berbice, or have our own radio stations here. I am more shocked that the current NCN management seems very pleased with the quality of radio broadcasting in Guyana. NCN and VOG radio streams on JumpTV ceased over two years ago. We can hear other countries’ radio stations in digital quality sound, but we cannot hear our own. Literally thousands of radio stations on the internet can be heard, while ours do not even have a proper and reliable presence on the world wide web. Is he telling me that this large network, NCN, cannot, up to this point, fix the problem with Voice of Guyana on the internet?
I keep saying over and over, the group of ‘big ones’ currently in charge of radio in Guyana give the appearance of knowing nothing about radio broadcasting, nor do they care to carry on the rich legacy of Guyana Caribbean radio. Others are just left to toe the line. I have said much to justify my position in previous letters. They simply just don’t care.
Youra faithfully,
Leon Suseran
