Under its budgetary allocations for the year, the state-run National Communication Network (NCN) will be testing the use of closed captions and sign language insets as part of its productions as it moves towards compliance with the Persons with Disabilities Act.
Prime Minister (PM) Mark Phillips made this disclosure during his budget presentation to the National Assembly on Monday while noting that there is a commitment for the company to be compliant by 2022. As a result, it will be testing its capabilities to include subtitles or sign language usage in its newscast and events of national interest.
The network has been allocated $375 million.
According to the PM, the state television station will explore forthwith “the use of closed captioning and the use of sign language interpreters as part of its social responsibility” and in the coming years will also strive to present major programmes in the Indigenous and Creole languages.
The Persons with Disabilities Act provides for the inclusion of sign language or subtitles. Section 26 (1), (2) of the Act stipulates “every national television station shall provide a sign language inset or subtitles in at least one newscast programme daily and special programmes covering events of national significance”.
It is estimated that 50,000 people comprise Guyana’s persons with disabilities population. Of this population, 9.1 per cent or 4,406 people suffer from hearing impediment and 30 per cent or 14,525 persons suffer from visual impairment, the PM told the House.
It was also pointed out that while the network is available in some sub regions, they are unable to benefit from the services and information disseminated due to mountainous terrain and lack of electricity.
To combat this challenge he noted, “Over the next four years, NCN will partner with other state entities like the Guyana Energy Agency to ensure there is a provision of reliable power for these additional facilities. This effort will realise the growth and development of Indigenous broadcasters and create employment,” he announced as some members of the opposition heckled “Boring!” in response to his presentation.
He added, “Through a satellite link with NCN in Georgetown these stations will be able to access daily programmes from the main national broadcaster in Georgetown, covering news, current affairs, national cultural and social events including sports and entertainment, live broadcasts from Parliament and key national events as well as special educational and health programmes produced by NCN.”
It was further disclosed that the network will receive support on technical and programmatic capacity-building from the Department of Public Affairs within his office as he noted that NCN strives to expand and diversify both programming and human resource capacity.
He also pointed out that that a universal exchange programme would be established through key external (international) bilateral partners and benefit from training of new communication recruits for the state media.
“NCN sees itself as being a major contributor and beneficiary in this endeavour over the next four years,” he said as he made reference to the ‘National Broadcast Academy’, which is to provide opportunities for young broadcasters to be adequately trained and mentored in all areas of broadcasting.
The academy is expected to come on stream within the next four years.
