Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman has described as “obscene” the awarding of radio licences days before the 2011 general elections and the government is now facing questions over the propriety of allocations in the name of a Member of Parliament and a senior government official.
Minister of Natural Resources Robert Persaud, in whose ministry one of the allottees is a deputy permanent secretary, refused to comment on the matter when contacted by Stabroek News on Thursday. It is being alleged that Persaud is also connected to the licence and multiple frequencies awarded and he also refused to address this question.
Both the Jagdeo and Ramotar administrations have faced a barrage of criticism over the November 2011 awards outside of the new broadcast legislation which had already been assented