Eight broadcasting agencies facing penalization; NCN and NTN included

By Kurt Campbell

[www.inewsguyana.com] – Broadcasters have until October 31 this year to ensure that they are fully compliant with all broadcasting regulations and to complete applications for their license.

This announcement was made by Chairperson of the Governing Board of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) Bibi Shadick during a press conference on Tuesday, October 1.

Shadick told reporters that she was forced to write nine letters to eight companies on September 24 for non-compliance, incomplete applications and in one instance no documentation.

Those companies are: NCN, STVS Channel 4, the Learning Channel, NTN, RBS, WHRM Channel 7, TTS and the New Guyana Company Ltd.

She explained that if October 31 reaches and these companies are still not compliant and continue to broadcast, it will be an offence under the law for which there are penalties attached.

Shadick, who is also a Government Parliamentarian and a Lawyer said the Board was able to license six operators since it appointment a year ago. These are: Television Guyana (TVG), Channel 2, Pinnacle Communications Inc, Multi Technology Vision Inc (MTV), Telcor and Cultural Broadcasting Inc and Radio Guyana.

She pointed out that the Board has not received any applications from the Region Ten Administration, Capitol News nor Mark Benchcop. Currently the Board has before it 29 new applications which Shadick said will be considered in the last two months of this year.

Among the 29 applications, seven are for television license, 17 for radio, three for cable and two for IPTV.

The GNBA’s governing board is statutorily tasked with licensing in the broadcast sector and ensuring compliance among broadcasters with the provisions of the Broadcast Act.