Dear Editor,
February 5, 2014 will be the 79th anniversary of commercial radio broadcasting in Guyana.
The National Commu-nications Network (NCN) accumulates yearly, millions of dollars from this magnificent enterprise and I have been wondering whether the people of Guyana know how it started. Do they know who the first commercial radio broadcaster was and does the African Cultural Development Association (ACDA) know that the founder of the first commercial radio station was of African descent?
The founder of the first commercial radio broadcasting station in Guyana was Mr James Leonard Thomas Rowe ‒ an African descendant and a native of Barbados. He was born on October 2, 1903 and migrated to Guyana in 1923. Rowe pursued studies in electrical engineering and in 1925 he was awarded a Diploma from the Chicago Engineering Works Inc. He obtained employment with the Georgetown Sewerage and Water Commission as an electrical engineer, but his hobby was radio engineering. He was an avid reader and he would purchase magazines and books pertaining to radio. He conceived the idea of building a transmitter when in 1932 he saw a model pictured in a magazine.
Despite his meagre salary of eight dollars per week, he imported from overseas radio parts which included tubes, transformers, resistors, condensers and other equipment.
In 1934 Rowe commenced construction of his transmitter at his home at 30 Lyng Street, Charlestown, obliquely opposite the Government Analyst Department. On becoming satisfied with his progress, Rowe invited a friend, J L Kerr who was a major in the Volunteer Force and a professional photographer, to see his transmitter. Kerr was fascinated and thereafter, he paid frequent visits to give Rowe some assistance.
On completion of the project, Kerr invited Charles Kelman, a businessman, to have a look at the transmitter. When Kelman saw the equipment he said, “We can make some money out of this.” The three of them conferred on the business aspect of the venture and a company was registered under the name of Crystal Broadcasting Company. Kelman was given a share in the company and he assumed the position of manager and broadcaster. The transmitter was removed from Rowe’s home to Crystal Photo Studio, Wellington and Church Streets, Lacytown, Georgetown.
Permission was granted by the Post Master General to go on the air. A frequency within the 49 metre band was selected, and the call sign was VP3BG.
The first advertisement was from Pestano of Narvo on Regent Street, Lacytown, and the second came from Cendreourt’s Drug Store, Broad and Ketley Street, Charlestown
On February 5, 1935, Rowe’s station of 10 watts was officially put on the air by the officer administering the government, Sir Crawford Douglas Jones. On that reception were Captain RYS Wyatt, Vice-Captain Holmes of the visiting Marlborough Cricket Club (MCC) team and Wickham, the ADC to Jones. Cricket was being broadcast for the first time in Guyana and in the Caribbean. Kelman subsequently became known as ‘Uncle Charlie’ on his famous Kiddies Programme and his sixty cents Death Announcements.
In 1936 another commercial radio broadcasting station with the call sign VP3MR came on the air. It was not economic for two commercial radio stations to operate in Guyana at that time, therefore, station VP3BG and VP3MR were amalgamated in 1938. The call sign remained VP3BG. Rowe was the radio engineer for the amalgamated company.
The transmitter and studio were located at Luckies Chambers in Fogarty’s Building, Water Street, Georgetown.
Shortly after the amalgamation Rowe was relieved of his position of engineer from the Georgetown Sewage and Water Commissioners and later gained employment with Booker Brothers Ltd as head of their radio department. He later built a transmitter of 75 watts before designing sets of 400 watts in 1938 and 600 watts in 1939.
In order to further improve the quality of broadcasting in Guyana, Rowe recommended to the directors, the placing of the transmitter at a reasonable distance from the studio. He was granted the permission to select a suitable site for the project. Rowe rode his bicycle and selected the site on D’Urban Park, Lodge. A station was set up there and was declared open in 1941 by Governor Gordon Lethem. The call sign was changed from VP3BG to ZFY with Rowe as the electrical engineer.
When the great fire occurred on Friday, February 23, 1945, the transmitter (ZFY) was saved but the studio was destroyed.
Station ZFY was, subsequently taken over by the Government of Guyana and Rowe was relieved of his position as electrical engineer. He was later employed with D M Fernandes Ltd as head of their radio department.
After his retirement from D M Fernandes Ltd in 1968 Rowe served with the Government Technical Institute.
In 1972 Rowe was awarded the Arrow of Achievement for the work he did in radio engineering and for the assistance he gave in propagating politics in Guyana.
James Leonard Thomas Rowe was my father. He died on June 20, 1979.
The broadcasters of NCN have the birth of commercial radio broadcasting in Guyana to celebrate. Let the people of Guyana hear from them.
Yours faithfully,
Eileen Gordonia Rowe
