Radio, TV channels handed out

TV, RadioGeorgetown: The Guyana Government and associates copped the Frequency Spectrum in the country for itself. Based on the information provided to the National Assembly Thursday, Radio Guyana Inc owned by Dr. ‘Bobby’ Ramroop has been assigned five frequencies. Another company whose director is an in-law of a Member of Parliament from the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) benches has another five. Another PPP Executive and member of parliament Dharam Kumar Seeraj on behalf of the New Guyana Co. of the Mirror Newspaper has another five.

While some have five renowned Guyanese Eddie Grant’s brother Rudy Grant has only been assigned one frequency in Georgetown. Hits and Jams Company and five other entities have one frequency each. Hits and Jams will launch its radio station at the weekend. Of the six with one frequency two are from outside of Georgetown.

On the issue of television the Prime Minister has revealed that only one frequency is available in the VHF band and about five in the UHF band. This by the way does not take into account any applications submitted to or that are being processed by the Guyana National Broadcasting authority. If the Prime Minister’s response is comprehensive then it does not explain whether the Government has any plans for the development of the spectrum in the country other than for the State itself and a few entities.

The controversial use of frequency space for over 18 plus hours of China Central TV (CCTV) daily on NCN has been explained to the National Assembly by the Prime Minister. But the Prime Minister’s explanation has made the situation surrounding the frequency use even murkier.