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March 12, 2016
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Four years later… Broadcast Authority readies to issue more radio, TV licences

More than four years after several radio, television and cable licences were doled out under questionable circumstances to close friends of the Bharrat Jagdeo administration, there appears to be significant moves to correct the situation.
Yesterday, Government announced that the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) has committed to speed up the processing of applications for a number of media houses and others.
The applications have been pending for years now with the GNBA, under the last administration, appearing to have dragged its foot in the processing. In so doing, the previous Government allowed a number of operators to cement their place with some of them even refusing to pay their annual licensing fees.

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January 5, 2016
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No final decision on revocation of Jagdeo issued radio licenses – GNBA Head

There has been no final decision made by the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) to revoke all radio spectrum licenses issued by Former President Bharrat Jagdeo, says GNBA Head Lennox Craig.

Craig during a telephone interview with Demerara Waves revealed that there has been discussions to that extent but the board has not made a final decision since there may be some legal hurdles.

“It is still being discussed” he stated adding that a sub committee within the Authority had made the recommendation.

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December 4, 2015
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Committee set up to review legality of radio licences

By Abena Rockcliffe
The Board of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) has set up a special committee to review all issues relating to broadcasting licences as well as examine the validity of some licences.

Head of the Authority, Leonard Craig, told Kaieteur News yesterday that the Board had already discussed licences, but did not look into them in detail. He said that the Board recently made the decision to set up a sub committee which is mandated to submit a report on Thursday, December 10. That committee is chaired by veteran broadcaster, Anthony Vieira.
The committee is expected to recommend to the Board, which broadcasting licences definitely need to be revoked and those that need further review. However, the final decision lies with the Board.

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December 3, 2015
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Region 10 to have own TV channel soon

By Rabindra Rooplall
THE Region 10 Broadcasting Inc. (RBI), set up for the purpose of applying for licence to broadcast in Linden and surrounding communities, is hoping to have its regional television channel soon, according to Chairman of the RBI Board, Sharma Solomon.

Chairman of the RBI Board, Sharma Solomon

Chairman of the RBI Board, Sharma Solomon

In a tripartite meeting convened last July by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who holds the information and telecommunications portfolios, Head of the National Frequency Management Unit, Valmiki Singh, advised Solomon that the RBI could be assigned a channel for use as a regional television channel.

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November 30, 2015
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Jagdeo’s doling out of radio licences was ‘indecent’ … new GNBA chair promises review, not necessarily revocation

By Ariana Gordon
THE reviewing of radio licences issued by former President Bharrat Jagdeo in 2011 does not necessarily speak to revocation. Chairman of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) Leonard Craig yesterday cautioned that while the authority will be reviewing all licences issued, they will not necessarily be revoked. “All licences will be reviewed, but review is not necessarily synonymous with revocation. Whatever is done here, during the review process, will be fair, transparent and above board. I am not in a position to say what form or shape it would look like, that is a decision the entire board would have to make,” said Craig.
The GNBA Chairman told this publication that he believes the move by former President Jagdeo to issue 12 radio licences was wrong. “Yes, I think it was not done based on the agreement between the political parties that existed then. There was an agreement that all licensing should be stopped until the Broadcast Act came into being and the then President Jagdeo took it upon himself, which is an indecent thing to do…”

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October 2, 2015
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$2.5M radio licence fee to be reviewed – GNBA Chairman

By Abena Rockcliffe

Whether the Board will agree is another matter, but for Chairman of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) the 2011 distribution of radio licenses and the annual licensing fee that poses as a burden to most broadcasters are two things that need urgent review.
Consumer advocate, Leonard Craig, was appointed about a month ago to chair the all important GNBA.

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