GNBA takes errant broadcasters to court
THE Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) has taken legal action against three broadcasters who failed to honour their financial obligations to the authority.
According to a press statement from GNBA, the authority, for months, has been urging broadcasters to pay their broadcast licence fees, however, some broadcasters have refused to comply.
As a result, GNBA took the necessary legal steps to recoup its outstanding fees. Additionally, of the three broadcasters, who were served plaints for legal proceedings, one has decided to pay all outstanding licence fees to the GNBA.
As a consequence of this act of compliance, the GNBA withdrew its lawsuit against this broadcaster. The remaining two broadcasters: Atlantic Cable Network Inc. and Bartica Communications Network Inc. were ordered to appear before the court to answer proceedings on September 30, 2019.
“The GNBA takes this opportunity to urge non-compliant broadcasters to bring themselves into conformity with the law and to honour their obligations,” said the authority.
THE GNBA had issued a stern warning against errant broadcasters, reminding that they can be fined and jailed.
It pointed out that the Broadcasting Act of 2011, Section 43 (C) provides that any person who carries on a broadcasting service at the licensed location after the licence granted to him has been suspended, cancelled or expired, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $1M and imprisonment for one year.
Additionally, all machinery and equipment used, or which can be used for broadcasting and owned by/or in the possession of the person concerned is liable to be forfeited.
“GNBA takes this opportunity to urge all broadcasters to honour their obligations to the authority in order to be recognised as a responsible and compliant broadcaster and to avoid sanctions under the Act,” the broadcasting authority urged.
Last October, the GNBA had indicated that broadcasters’ indebtedness to GNBA had exceeded $50M.
Source: Guyana Chronicle
