State broadcaster National Communications Network (NCN) has requested emergency funding from the government, according to Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman.
Trotman made the disclosure during Wednesday’s post-cabinet press briefing, where he did not disclose the figure requested but emphasised that it could not be considered a “bailout.”
Trotman said that Cabinet was asked to “provide a small amount of bridging finance until accounts receivables are pulled in and we can bring the entity back onto a strong footing.” He said that there were a number of outstanding payments yet to be received.
The People’s Progres-sive Party (PPP) has failed to pay $13,561,676 million which it owes NCN for political ads that were aired in the run-up to this year’s general elections. The party, which had control of the government when the debt was incurred, missed a June 19th payment deadline and up to last Monday’s press briefing at Freedom House, General Secretary Clement Rohee rebuffed follow-ups by Stabroek News on the issue. He stated that he would not answer any questions on payments as they were private party matters.
Trotman voiced the government’s disappointment in finding the NCN in its current financial state, given the state entity’s “monopolistic position” throughout Guyana.
He said under the direction of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, NCN is to compile and give an account of all outstanding invoices and bills.
Stabroek News reached out to NCN’s Chief Executive Officer Molly Hassan on Thursday but was told that she was not in a positon to answer any questions prior to hanging up the phone.
Stabroek News was informed by NCN staff that salary payments were made late for the months of June and July, while other staffers stated that they awaiting payments unto now.
While in opposition, APNU and the AFC had voted to cut multi-million dollar subsidies for NCN during the consideration of the budget estimates in the two preceding years and questioned why the then PPP/C government was continuing to channel money into it in light of its healthy revenue stream.
