Latest update May 22nd, 2026 12:38 AM
Will Channel 28 become another propagandistic TV station?
Dear Editor,
Guyanese will never forget the day when they learned that Anthony Vieira sold his TV channel. Vieira Communications Television- Channel 28, Guyana’s very first TV station from back in the 1980’s will go down in our history books.
I was sad to learn that the name VCT will be no more. An ardent TV viewer of years past, I would never forget Channel 28. Guyana would never forget VCT, for VCT was all that Guyana knew in the form of any kind of television viewing for quite a number of years until other TV stations arrived on the scene.
Berbicians are ever thankful for we have been receiving VCT’s full relay signal from Georgetown. This meant that we in Berbice were connected to VCT at Versailles all the time — no interruptions or shenanigans like we’re currently having with another Georgetown-based entity here. Berbicians received the signals of VCT on Channel- 13 for a few years, and then the signals went off. It was not until a while later that the change was made from frequency 13 to 12, which we receive up to this day. Mr Vieira has done his best in the field of Television in Guyana.
With little or no advertising capital from Berbice businesses, Mr. Vieira continued to expend large sums of money; I am sure, in keeping his transmitters running at Blairmont on the West Bank of the Berbice River. He wanted all of Guyana to receive television. He wanted more as well, I am sure. Proof of that was in the establishment of his FM broadcasts which were heard loud and clear in Berbice and continued for some time until the ones endowed with ‘power’ stopped his transmission and carted off with his equipment in broad daylight.
In 2001, eight years ago, in the SN of Tuesday,
October 2, I wrote a letter congratulating Mr. Vieira for the job he is doing especially in Berbice.
On the 29th of October, he made these remarks on his commentary which was broadcasted during the Evening News, “Before I close tonight I want to refer to a letter from a Mr. Leon Suseran that was printed in the SN of Tuesday Oct. 2nd 2001 congratulating us for the good job we are doing in Berbice, I would like Leon to know that the Programme Manager of VCT is yours truly.
In fact it was I who personally designed, redesigned and engineered the Berbice system for three long, hard years to get it right, it was the hardest thing I ever did. I guess a lot for Mr. Vieira changed after nine years, as the article about VCT being sold, cited that he needed to pursue “less stressful” enterprises.
Also, during that time, a tree fell and knocked down wires connected to his transmitters in the Blairmont compound, resulting in millions of dollars in damages. After a few weeks, the signals were on back again, after sending the equipment to London to be repaired. A few months ago, VCT stopped transmitting for 24 hours citing high electricity costs.
He resumed his full day and night broadcasts, being the kind of broadcaster and person he is.
The climate, as Vieira said, isn’t right for the expansion of this kind of business in Guyana (because I am sure he would’ve expanded and improved his services in the future), hence it is very discouraging for private media entities such as VCT.
I’ve always said that VCT’s programming is some of the best available on Guyanese television.
A careful blend and mix of programmes ensured balance for viewers of all genres. Guyanese would never forget such broadcasts as ‘The Ramayan’ which aired for several weeks over a decade ago, The Mayoral Weekly Broadcasts, Car Racing on Sunday mornings, Media Watch, Untold Stories, The Oprah Winfrey Show (which has been at the 8 o’ clock timeslot for over a decade now) and the many hours of my favourite Sci-Fi channel movies which I never could’ve gotten enough of.
I wonder, though, of the background of the person/persons who bought VCT Channel 28.
Many Guyanese know very little of the group which purchased the channel. And being the proprietors of the newest newspaper publication, which has been leaning so favourably towards the ruling party, I feel worried at what will become now of VCT. Would this become another propagandistic TV station? I shudder at the thought.
VCT has been a tradition for many Guyanese over the past years and it is hoped that the current management continue that legacy which was started, nurtured and carried on by Anthony Vieira. Guyanese will accept no less.
Leon Jameson Suseran
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