Sharma slams “clandestine” gov’t move

Aug 17, 2010 News

…as conflict looms over Berbice TV 21 transmissions

Owner of CNS TV6, C.N. Sharma

The owner of CNS TV6, which has a licence to broadcast on Channel 6, has blasted local authorities for not being allowed to extend its signals, even as Berbicians say that they are now seeing transmissions on a little-used channel in that region.
In a letter to this newspaper yesterday, Chandra Narine “C.N.” Sharma described transmission on Channel 21, as a “clandestine” move and questioned why he is not being allowed to extend his signals to cover the Berbice area.
The transmission is said to be used by the National Communications Network (NCN).
Sharma said that in his most recent application to the authorities, he asked for permission to establish relay stations at Long Creek, Soesdyke Highway; Richmond Hill, Linden; Bushy Park, Parika; Mahaicony; Fort Ordinance, Canje and Henrietta, Essequibo Coast.
Over the weekend, Berbicians reportedly began receiving signals, with movies and other programmes being shown.
In yesterday’s edition of Kaieteur News, a letter writer complained that it is a “shameful and vindictive act” to bring another state channel when others are being denied. The writer called on the National Frequency and Management Unit (NFMU) to address this development.
Calls to the NFMU’s head Valmiki Singh and NCN’s Chief Executive Officer, Mohammed Sattaur, over the operations of Channel 21, were not immediately returned yesterday to Kaieteur News.
Berbicians said they watched a movie, “Nanny McPhee” on it yesterday.
“But all of this is not surprising at all. Elections are just around the corner. The more avenues for sharing propaganda and half truths on the airwaves, the better it would be. This new TV station in Berbice could not have come at a better time,” the TV station owner stated.
Sharma said that the move to allow NCN to broadcast on Channel 21, when Berbice already has Channel 15, is tantamount to “double standards”.
Noting that he has been quite frequently requesting updates on his application, the host of the “Justice For All” programme, said that he was always “informed that the Broadcast Legislation does not lend itself to the approval of my application.”
It is surprising therefore, Sharma contended, that another television can get permission to extend its signals,” and a second signal at that.”
“If public pressure comes on stream regarding two NCN channels in the Ancient County, then the administration may offer to sell one. But Berbice will therefore remain vulnerable to propaganda television.”
The TV host was of the belief that the NFMU will not be responding to the letter writer’s accusations but will attempt to “present a weak explanation that will wax technical…”
He also argued that Guyanese have the right to determine what they watch on public television.
“As has been stated before, the refusal by the administration to grant permission for the extension of my signal is a denial of the rights of the residents of Berbice.”
Sharma said that the operation of Channel 21 by NCN in Region 5 is clear evidence of discrimination since there are already other television networks other than NCN in the region.
“In addition, the broadcast of Channel 21 clearly indicates that government had licensed the network to operate an additional channel in that region, and continues to stall my request to operate in that same region. A clear case of discrimination.”
In December 2008, Chief Justice (ag), Ian Chang, had ruled that while no applicant has an absolute right to a licence to operate a radio or TV station, or residents the absolute right to receive information, government has a constitutional duty to deal with applications efficiently.
He also ruled on that occasion that “Region Ten residents had been hindered in their enjoyment of freedom of expression under Article 146.”
Sharma stated that “all citizens outside of Region Four are likewise hindered”.
The ruling came after two residents of Region 10 approached the court in 2005 seeking relief “for breaches of Article 40, 146 and 149 of the Constitution.”
Among other things, they sought declarations that the failure to have radio broadcasts in Region 10 from stations other than the state-controlled NCN was a negation of free elections, especially in light of the then approaching 2006 polls; that this failure was a hindrance of the employment of their freedom of expression and freedom to receive ideas, particularly in light of the then upcoming election; that the failure to enable broadcasts from a station other than NCN was discriminatory.
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Almost $1B to be expended for school improvement works

By Sharmain Cornette

Permanent Secretary within the Education Ministry, Pulandar Khandi (left), and Minister of Education, Shaik Baksh

Public schools are set for a September 6 reopening, and according to Minister of Education Shaik Baksh, every effort is being made to ensure that this process is a smooth one.
He disclosed that there is a massive infrastructural programme which entails repairs and maintenance countrywide, a venture which should attract works amounting to just under $1B in the various regions. This sum, the Minister said, is to ensure that the physical structure of schools and the sanitary blocks are in good condition.
A sum of about $400M should be expended in the District of Georgetown alone on schools and the Technical Institutes including the Carnegie School of Home Economics.
“This is quite a big sum…in all, for the repairs, we have 71 projects for Georgetown alone and this will involve general repairs and maintenance, sanitation blocks, school fences and other works…”
Several contracts for the works were awarded last month in anticipation that the two months of vacation would suffice for the completion of works. And there has been no little monitoring on the part of the Education Ministry, Baksh assured.
“We are monitoring the contractors to ensure that most of these projects are completed. Those works that are not completed, particularly those that involve internal works, will cease when school reopens next month and continue in December, but we are hoping that at least 90 percent is completed.”
At the moment, though, the Minister said that about 80 percent of the works are completed and progressing at a satisfactory pace.
The infrastructural projects, he revealed, come directly under the purview of the Ministry of Education and will even cater to the construction of new schools, among them a secondary school at Leonora and another at Sand Creek, which is currently 95 percent completed. Additionally, dormitories are being built, including one each at the Waramadong and Paramakatoi Secondary Schools.
New primary schools have also been built in Region Three at Belle West, Parfait-Harmonie and Tuschen. These are expected to be opened next month. “The region is working feverishly to have these schools opened up for the new school year…” the Minster noted.
Speaking to this newspaper, Permanent Secretary within the Ministry, Pulandar Khandi, revealed that under capital works for this year there are two categories of works, including the roll-over projects from last year. Among these are extension works to Tucville Secondary at a cost of $4.1M, a new wing at the Patentia Secondary School ($10.2M), an extension to Thomas More Primary to the tune of $5.2M, construction of Sand Creek Secondary in Region Nine ($16.M) and Sophia Nursery at $6.8M.
The aforementioned works, according to the Permanent Secretary, are currently being undertaken even as works are being completed on Information Technology laboratories at schools across the country.
“We are moving to have IT labs in all the secondary schools by year end and some of the primary schools… at least 50 percent, by mid next year. Last year we spent $93M for 54 of these labs…” The finishing works for the roll-over projects are expected to amount to about $140M.
This year the Ministry commenced the construction of the new secondary school at Leonora which is estimated to cost $120M. However, progress on this project has been affected by the rainy weather which has caused the site to become waterlogged, Khandi said.
In addition to the school at Sand Creek, a dormitory is also slated to commence this year at a cost of $50M.
This year, too, the sum of $12.6M will be expended on the renovation of the Science Laboratory at Richard Ishmael Secondary, the Permanent Secretary revealed. He disclosed that the cost for the renovation also includes the removal of the entire laboratory roof because of the presence of asbestos.
Another significant infrastructural project slated for this year is the construction of a dorm at Charity – which is estimated to cost some $57M – to cater to children from the Pomeroon River who attend Charity Secondary. Also at Paramakatoi Secondary some $26M worth of extension will be constructed, even as plans for an extension to Waramadong Secondary take shape at a cost of $19.3M.
Some smaller capital works are also slated for this year and include works at the Carnegie School of Home Economics, the New Amsterdam Technical Institute, the University of Guyana’s Turkeyen Campus and President’s College, where some $14.5M is expected to be expended.
“We will construct water reservoirs; repair the roof of the staff housing and we will repair the roof and walls of the dormitories…,” Khandi disclosed.
Another $12M has been allocated for works at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD).
Khandi is hoping that these projects will all be completed by year-end, even though the challenge of inclement weather conditions is likely to have an impact at some locations.
In addition to halting physical works at the various sites, the weather problem also has the potential of hindering timely transport of materials.
“We have had challenges to transport materials from Kamarang to Waramadong because of the weather and this also obtains in Paramakatoi. We also have reports of weather affecting the works on the Charity dorms. There has also been heavy rainfall at Sand Creek, and this has been affecting works there too.
As soon as there is a let in the weather we will try to pick up the pace. We will even ask them (contractors) to put in spot lamps and work at nights so that they can have 24-hour work shifts.”
Aside from the problems being created by the weather, Khandi asserted that there is little room for contractors to “mess up. We are very stringent now with the application of the rules and the contract regulations and the specific performance terms in the contracts.
As soon as a contractor is falling we call them in, we talk with them, and we apply the penalties…but I would want to suggest that there has been an improvement in contractors’ performance.”
All of the contracts were awarded following a public tendering process, according to Khandi.