Dear Editor,
From time immemorial, Guyanese have benefited from one person, Rex McKay, providing education and upliftment via his Channel Seven Television programmes. They have fed the hearts and minds of our citizenry. With his passing we are experiencing a shutdown of this channel and its resumption is unsure. There are alternatives obtainable through E Networks and other providers but at a restrictive cost to many.
The government or a business entity must replicate this service immediately and see its importance as part of a democratic state. We cannot be shut off from international transmissions. The world is in turmoil right now with wars in the Middle East, Ukraine, social unrest and natural disasters elsewhere. Our relatives and fellow Guyanese are in the midst of it. One of my best friends might be forced to flee from his home in Beirut with his family. Genuine concern for them must be displayed by reliable sources which would inform us of any crises they face.
The presence of a channel similar to Channel Seven, is long overdue and due to our newly found oil bonanza, it should be a priority among services provided to the citizenry. It is grievous that we would be forced to watch only local programmes, news, hosts and hostesses. Our local station, the National Communications Networks (NCN), shows the BBC at middays for thirty minutes and that is the extent of any news from foreign news outlets with snippets televised from other Channels.
Certainly, it is not the governments or anyone’s fault for the closure of Channel Seven but it is now incumbent for the government to duplicate the service. It is only in authoritarian regimes that citizens are prevented and even discouraged, from having access to information and news beyond the confines of their country. I foresee that our present government would balk at being seen in such a light.
Sincerely,
Conrad Barrow
