President Irfaan Ali has assured that he will deliver on his promise and soon engage broadcasters on their request for “relief” in broadcast licence fees due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In July, a newly formed group, the Guyana United Broadcasters (GUB) had said broadcasters are seeking the engage the Government for “relief” in broadcast licence fees.
The GUB had made the disclosure days after the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) published a list which identified 26 broadcasters who it said had failed to pay their licence fees.
Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of an event on Monday, Ali said he was hoping to meet with the broadcasters soon.
“…I am going to meet with the broadcasters…..I can’t tell you how soon but I can tell you that we will meet definitely. Let’s hope before the end of the week,” Ali said.
“…It is not as situation where the President has forgotten his promises. I take seriously all the promise I make and we are going to meet,” he added.
On July 15, the GNBA had said it was facing an “arduous” task in collecting broadcast licence fees from the broadcasters named.
Among the list of “financially non-compliant” broadcasters identified by the GNBA were Atlantic Cable Television Inc., Bartica Communication Network Inc, CNS Inc, Linden Wireless Communications Network, National Communications Network Inc, National Media and Broadcasting Company (Kaieteur Radio), HGPTV Inc, News Talk Radio Guyana Inc, and Rambarran Broadcasting Systems Inc.
In a statement, the GNBA advised broadcasters to “make every effort” to be financially compliant with the authority.
“Importantly, be reminded that GNBA is empowered to take action against delinquent broadcasters. We are therefore requesting that the broadcasters listed … honour their obligations at the earliest,” GNBA warned.
According to the statement, over the years the GNBA has incorporated a number of mechanisms to assist broadcasters to become financially compliant. “The Authority has been very patient and lenient,” the statement said.
In a subsequent statement, the GUB had said its “regrets the publication of a list of non-compliant broadcasters by the GNBA at a time when we are engaging the Government of Guyana concerning relief due to the adverse national impact of the coronavirus, COVID-19, during the past sixteen months”.
Stabroek News was previously informed that the GUB was formed a few months ago ahead of engagements with the GNBA on “matters of concerns”.
A source had informed this newspaper that the GUB has three committee members; namely, Denis Chabrol, Shameer Ali and Bobby Vieira. Various broadcasters are part of the group.
