Community radio stations integral to empowering citizens at grassroots level – GNBA Head
The Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) is moving towards the implementation of community radio stations as part of a plan to empower citizens at the grassroots level. Chairman Leslie Sobers told Kaieteur News that community radio is a major part of the Authority’s work plan for this year. The aim, he said, is for the GNBA to use the community radio to create a more informed populace.
“Radio has always had a special place in the Guyanese community. The villages are important and community radios will help citizens from across the country participate fully in the economics of the country.”
Sobers said the plan is intended to remove inequality, as well as encourage greater participation and input in important national matters. “For instance, if a community has an issue with marijuana, the frequency can be used to share valuable information on the topic.” Additionally, Sobers noted that community radios are intended to improve village economies by giving residents a medium through which they can promote their product and services to attract wider markets.
He stressed reliable and accurate public information can play a significant role transforming communities, noting that radio stations will ensure that residents have up to date information on issues such as healthcare, education, citizenship, security and the environment. The GNBA Chairman said that at present, there is wide availability of frequencies for community radio.
“We will have to conduct training and sensitise community representatives on the proper way to utilize their frequencies. At present, Port Kaituma, Matthew’s Ridge, Wakenaam, Leguan, Essequibo Coast, Linden, Ituni, Kwakwani, Belladrum , Ithaca, Black Bush Polder, Whim and New Amsterdam are earmarked for community radio projects.”
The GNBA’s announcement comes days after more than 40 regional radio broadcasters, drawn from Indigenous Communities in Regions One, Six, Seven, Eight and Nine, participated in the first ever Regional Radio Workshop being held at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre (ACCC) in Georgetown. The broadcasters were exposed to guidelines on how to use their respective stations, and how to provide quality programmes. They were exposed to sessions on the Guyana Constitution, the Amerindian Act and defamation laws. During the opening of the conference, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo noted the historic nature of the event. Describing it as a “revolution of radio broadcasting in Guyana”, he pointed to the fact that for the first time in the history of national broadcasting, radio has been carried to the wider hinterland.
“We have now brought to the attention of the world that we have nine peoples residing in the far-flung hinterland and that they can communicate with the rest of the world in their own languages; that’s a revolution.”
According to the Prime Minister, while the idea of community radio stations has been around for some time now, it was not undertaken until the Coalition Government took office in 2015.
The President had said that we need public community radio stations in every region. We now have in five, and I’m sure in due course, we will have in every region. We should have radio stations in every capital city in every region in Guyana, so that we can all be linked.”Additionally, the Prime Minister announced that talks have started with the National Communications Network and the Department of Public Information and National Centre for Educational Resource Development, to add public information content through the Guyana Learning Channel television stations in 16 locations in the hinterland.
Source: Kaieteur Newspaper
