PM hails commissioning of Linden Broadcasting Network as victory for Lindeners
IN what has been deemed a historic occasion in the town of Linden, and the fulfillment of a long-awaited promise to the residents, the Linden Broadcasting Network (LBN) was on Tuesday commissioned and handed over to the community.
The ceremony was held at the building in which the National Communication Network (NCN) presently operates. The building was renovated and enhanced for the commissioning, which is all part of the transformation process.
Addressing the audience, which comprised several ministers, regional officials, staff and residents, was Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who said that the day marks a victory after a long fight for a break in the monopoly of State-dominated media, and stressed that it was always his desire to see the television station returned to the residents.
Noting that the legal process was somewhat stymied when trying to establish a board of directors back in 2016, Minister Nagamootoo said he then mandated former Minister of State, Joseph Harmon “to sort this thing out,” which he did expeditiously. And, in a matter of weeks, he said, a new Trust was formed, and the licence was finally handed over to the executives, among them, the Regional Chairman Renis Morian, who is the Board’s chairman; Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira, who is secretary, and the Mayor of Linden Waneka Arrindell, who is director.
After reminding the trustees that they are only the custodians of the station, as it really belongs to the residents, the prime minister announced that systems are in place for the smooth transition and support of NCN staff, who will now be in the employ of LBN.
“You see, what has happened here,” the PM declared, “is that you are able to trust the people, and you are able to vest in them the authority to handle their own affairs and to communicate. Communication is very important; communication is power. Knowledge is power! Information is power! And politicians do not give these things up easily; they do not share these things. But this is not the view of David Granger, President of Guyana.”
PEOPLE POWER
The Prime Minister said that evidence of similar people power initiatives is the establishment of six community radio stations across Guyana; something that is truly a changing phenomenon in the history of broadcasting in Guyana.
Sharing similar sentiments was NCN Chairman, Enrico Woolford, who said it was a truly joyous day for him, as his vision of broadcasting is finally being realized, which is to have broadcasting stations in every district, thereby resulting in one national link. NCN, he said, is currently working on a public broadcasting system that will link the entire country. “So, the fact that LBN is going to be part of what is a community radio station, that is in fact a good thing, and a wonderful thing for Guyana,” he posited. He related that NCN will demonstrate its goodwill towards LBN by handing over all its assets to make sure that the network can do what it is supposed to do.
Playing an integral role in the station becoming a reality is MP Figueira, who worked beyond the call of duty with the officials to not only ensure that the legal documents were handed over, but that the building itself was transformed. In his short address, Figueira said the commissioning is not just historic, but long-awaited, and that it was all thanks to President Granger and his government for being true to their word, by honouring a promise that was made to the people of Linden to deliver a means of communication that they can truly call their own.
LBN Chairman, Renis Morian saw the event as a truly momentous one for the people of the Upper Demerara-Berbice Region. “We are truly happy that we have a government, a coalition government that keeps its promise,” he said, adding: “We are happy that we are seeing the promises made to the people come to fruition.”
LBN will have three frequencies, namely: The Learning Channel, a local channel, and NCN. These frequencies are expected to be relayed to neighbouring communities such as Ituni and Kwakwani.
Source: Guyana Chronicle
