The Media & Telecommunication Heist of Guyana

Jan 03, 2014 Heist of Guyana, News

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November 9, 2014

THE GOVT’S RECORD ON PRESS FREEDOM STINKS

The Guyana Government last week issued a public statement in which it trumpeted its track record on the

promotion of press freedom.
But in its pronouncement, it conveniently ignored its own deliberate and perpetual stranglehold over the media landscape and its record of excesses against the independent media in Guyana.
According to the government, under its watch, more than 20 television stations were established. The Government did not however acknowledge that for almost two decades it deliberately restricted all from expanding their signals beyond the confined boundaries assigned them.
This effectively made them “village TVs”.  The Government also did not tell the nation that it was only after the former President Jagdeo’s best friend, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, bought Vieira Communications (Channel 28), that the government turned a blind eye to the station which broke all the rules and laws.
It allowed Ramroop’s station, rebranded TVG, to extend its signal countywide, thus enjoying advantages over existing stations.
Even more prohibitive was the decision to impose a draconian broadcast fee of $2.5M per annum on existing TV broadcasters, a move seen as designed to shut them all down.
Government boasted, too, that under its rule, two privately owned daily newspapers—Kaieteur News and Guyana Times—were established.
What the government did not say, however, was that in an attempt to shut down the only two privately-owned newspapers, it deliberately withheld state advertisements from the Stabroek News for almost two years and later the Kaieteur News.
What it also never mentioned was that during the first ten years of the existence of Kaieteur News there were no State ads offered to this newspaper.
As soon as Ramroop established Guyana Times, the Government conveniently returned State ads to the private newspapers. That move paved the way for the government to pump millions of tax dollars into Guyana Times via the state ads. This was cronyism at its finest.
The government in its recent statement equally omitted to mention that no sooner were State ads distributed to the Guyana Times, than a pattern emerged of disproportionate allocation of these ads.

The Guyana Times, with a minuscule circulation, suddenly began receiving more State ads than the Kaieteur News and Stabroek News. This was a naked and shameless attempt by the Government to boost the Guyana Times while at the same time stifle the other independent dailies by limiting the State ads.
Last week’s statement by the Government also boasted that the radio spectrum was liberalized and that currently there are in operation 13 radio stations, 11 of which are privately owned, with operations evenly spread right across the country.
Government however failed to tell the Guyanese nation that these radio licences were secretly and selectively handed out under discriminatory circumstances. Most glaring was the fact that of the radio licences issued, five frequencies were allocated to Jagdeo’s best friend, Ramroop.
Another five frequencies were handed to the United States-based sister of a sitting Government Minister, Robert Persaud. Another five frequencies were issued to the People’s Progressive Party. This meant that these three operators enjoyed countrywide reach.
The other licences issued were for single frequencies, thus effectively making them “village radio stations”. The main media houses, both television and newspapers were bluntly denied licences.
National coverage was thus monopolized by the State and the cronies and friends of the Government and ruling party. This is not liberalization. This is monopoly domination.
The government in its statement boasted, too, that it does not in any form or fashion muzzle or interfere with press outfits, and that journalists attached to these media entities have equal and ready access to all members of government and indeed, to every public officer.
The government seems to have selective amnesia. It has forgotten the numerous attempts by this newspaper to solicit information on the controversial deals entered into by the government. These attempts to obtain information on these deals were met with stony silence.
What the Government equally forgot was that it was under the PPPC that the former President banned reporters from covering official State functions. It also restricted access by others to press conferences. One columnist has also been sued for libel.
While the government did concede that several of its officials have instituted lawsuits against Kaieteur News, it does not view this as a weapon used to gag this publication from publishing matters of public interest.
A flood of lawsuits have been filed against this newspaper. But the plot against the Kaieteur News did not end with lawsuits. Recently leaked emails revealed a plot to use State agencies to target the Kaieteur News and to have its publisher jailed for a long time.
The plot thickened when dire warnings were sounded about an imminent armed assault against this newspaper. A staff member of Kaieteur News was urged to remove himself from the offices of Kaieteur News and to “read between the lines”.
The State media, controlled by the government, is itself no paragon of fairness and balance. The opposition parties have refused to approve budgetary funding for the State media because of what is deemed biased reporting and the limited access it affords them.
The State media is often used as a tool to target enemies of the government and to launch ad hominem attacks against the Kaieteur News publisher and editor.
The Government of Guyana has the redoubtable record of being condemned by both international and regional media bodies for its actions against the local media. In therefore relishing the fact that it is a signatory to almost every major international agreement and convention which canvas, promote and protect individual rights and civil liberties, the government overlooks the constant condemnation it attracts for breaching these very international agreements.
The Guyana Government lashed out at Kaieteur News saying that over the years, the newspaper has been engaged in an unwavering and institutionalised policy of journalism, lacking in professional and ethical tenets, but steeped in fabrications, distortions, character assassination and homophobia.
The publisher challenges the government to report one instance of fabrication, distortion, and character assassination.
Nothing could be further from the truth. What irks the Government is not unprofessional and unethical journalism. What bothers the Government is not fabrication, distortions and character assassination.
If this were the case Kaieteur News would not be the country’s largest selling newspaper.  At the heart of the Government’s discontent is the exposure by Kaieteur News of the skullduggery and wrongdoing.

 

November 13, 2014

Prorogued Parliament leaves Telecommunications Bill in Limbo

Stakeholders nervous about making new investments-Dean

By Gary Eleazar
Guyanese will not benefit in any way as it relates to the telecommunications sector as none of the players will be

looking to make any substantial investment as a result of the prorogued Parliament.
This is the case since the work of the Parliamentary Select Committee which was tasked with addressing the Telecommunications Bill has now been put on an indefinite pause.
Speaking with this publication briefly yesterday, Chief Executive Officer of Digicel Guyana, Gregory Dean, lamented the decision of the President to prorogue Parliament since the liberalization of the sector has also been postponed.
Guyanese, he said would not be able to benefit from any new services that would come about as a result of a liberalized telecommunications sector.
Liberalization, according to Dean, is long overdue and the President has effectively called to a halt the work of that Select Committee.
According to Dean, all of the players in the industry would be nervous about making new investments to provide a better or expanded service to Guyanese given the climate of uncertainty in relation to the Telecommunications Bill.
Dean is on record saying that while his company is ready to make major investments in Guyana, the non passage of the Telecommunication Bill continues to hamper business.
He had described the “non-passage” of the Bill as a bigger issue for the country.
Dean told Kaieteur News that it’s no secret that Digicel wants to invest and become a full service communications player, not only in terms of expanding the current services they offer on mobile phones but to also upgrade the present service.
“We would also like to get into the landline and internet businesses, plus we’d like to run our own fiber optic cables too since we are looking to further our business here in Guyana,” Dean recently told this publication.
Since its entry into the Guyana market in 2007, Digicel has sunk US$70M in network and data services.
Meanwhile as it relates to the work already done at the level of the Committee, Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, is optimistic that all is not lost.
According to Isaacs, whenever the Parliament is reconvened, there is the possibility that a motion can be laid in the House, requesting that the work already completed by the Committee be adopted.
Upon enactment of the Law, not only will the monopoly be broken, but licences will automatically be handed out to additional telecommunications companies namely – E-Networks, Quark Communications Inc and Nexlink Communications Inc.
The Bill has been engaging the Special Parliamentary Select Committee for over a year now and has benefitted from several stakeholders including Digicel and the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company.

 

November 25, 2014

Limited US airwaves fetch US$34B and counting

– but Jagdeo gives away Guyana’s to friends and family

A multi-billion US dollar auction for six blocks of airwaves has attracted huge interest in that North American country.
It has also starkly highlighted how Guyana deliberately set about giving away what is one of its most valuable assets.
According to the New York Times online news, a government auction of airwaves for use in mobile broadband has exceeded expectations, becoming the biggest auction in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) history.
The demand for the electromagnetic spectrum or frequencies as they are known would signal how phone companies expect demand for internet will soar in face of rising popularity of smartphones.
FCC collected bids of more than US$34B as of Friday afternoon for six blocks of airwaves, totaling 65 megahertz of the electromagnetic spectrum. That total is more than three times the US$10.5B reserve price that the FCC, as the US regulators, put on sale.
US authorities are now expecting prices for these precious assets, which are limited, to rise further, because the auction has no definite end and could continue for days or weeks.
The previous record was US$18.9B raised in a 2008 sale of airwaves that, because of their lower frequency, are considered more attractive for wireless phone use than the current batch.
The spectrum is so expensive that a group representing broadcast television stations is considering giving up theirs for sale in the FCC.’s next auction, scheduled for 2016.
The success of the auction has been fuelled largely by the pent-up demand for years without an auction and which coincided with the explosive popularity of smartphones and mobile broadband.
The response to the FCC auction is more surprising, given that the airwaves’ high frequency makes them less attractive for wireless use than those sold in the last auction or scheduled for the 2016 sale.

Benefit to country
About US$7B of the proceeds will be used to finance the building of a nationwide public-safety communications network, known as FirstNet, with the remainder going to the Treasury.
What makes the auction more interesting for onlookers, is the fact that the frequencies up for auctions are currently occupied by Government agencies, including branches of the military, which had to be cajoled to agree to move out or to share portions of them.
The relatively high position on the electromagnetic spectrum of the blocks being sold also cast doubt on their attractiveness.
Higher-frequency waves generally have more trouble passing through buildings, making them less desirable for mobile phones, although they are able to carry lots of data, increasingly important to wireless broadband.
Frequencies, according to the New York Times report, are being sold include two blocks in the 1695-1710 megahertz band, and four paired sets of frequencies at 1755-1780 and 2155-2180 megahertz.
The next scheduled broadcast spectrum auction, in 2016, involves frequencies in the 600 megahertz band.
The last such sale was in 2008, when the iPhone was barely a year old and demand for mobile broadband was at a relative trickle. “Today, as consumers’ stream video and share photographs with many more phones, tablets and other devices, demand for bandwidth has exploded.”
Some analysts have also speculated that because the auction of broadcast television bands currently scheduled for 2016 has already been delayed twice, buyers might be skeptical that those frequencies will come to market on schedule — giving them extra incentive to buy now rather than wait.
Verizon Wireless and AT&T are assumed to be among the big bidders in the sale. But Dish Network could also be in the running.
Some prices are truly eye-popping. The price for licenses in a 20-megahertz block of paired frequencies covering New York and Long Island, and portions of adjacent states stood at US$1.96B Friday afternoon. In the bidding round that starts Monday morning, the minimum bid is more than US$2B.

Nothing For Guyana
The US auction will have huge significance for Guyana as it will continue to highlight how valuable the airwaves are considered for some countries while Guyana gives it away to friends and family.
Closer to home, Jamaica has been moving to auction its electromagnetic spectrum, while places like India, Canada, the US, Europe and Australia have all been fine-tuning the allocation of the frequencies under auctions.
The bottom line for the countries is that there is big money to be made from the telecoms companies who are willing to spend to acquire the spectrums.
The issue of the airwaves became a burning issue following an announcement by Government in late 2011 that former President Bharrat Jagdeo doled out several frequencies before he was due to step down in November of that year.
The radio frequencies went mainly to his best friend, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, the ruling party, and to an overseas-based sister of sitting Natural Resources Minister, Robert Persaud.
These three were given multiple frequencies allowing them countrywide coverage.
Others were granted single frequencies, giving them limited range in their transmissions.
It will also be recalled that frequencies were given by Jagdeo to E-Networks and Quark Communications Inc., two companies he has close links with, to go-ahead to run cable TV services.
Quark, E-Networks and Global Technology’s iNet Communications are now standing at the head of the line for telecoms licences that will be automatically granted to them once new laws before the National Assembly are passed. Jagdeo and Ramroop are linked to all three companies.
These licences and the frequencies will also allow the companies to offer telephone services, mobile services, internet and a host of other high demands services.
As can be seen, one can only presume the value of the frequencies Guyana has given away as against what it could have received.

 

November 27, 2014

$$M US auction vs. Guyana’s gifting of airwaves…It’s the dirtiest, most corrupt act of our time – Ramjattan

“When one compares the ongoing multi-billion US-dollar auction for six blocks of airwaves against the manner in

which ours were gifted away by the former President, Bharrat Jagdeo to his loyal minions, it clearly exposes corruption at its most sickening form.”
This was the assertion of Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Khemraj Ramjattan, yesterday as he spoke on the “obsessive control over Guyana’s airwaves” by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).
According to the New York Times online news, a government auction of airwaves for use in mobile broadband has become the biggest auction in the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)’s history. The FCC collected bids of more than US$34B as of Friday afternoon for six blocks of airwaves, totaling 65 megahertz of the electromagnetic spectrum.
That total is more than three times the US$10.5B reserve price that the FCC, as the US regulators, put on sale.
US authorities are now expecting prices for these precious assets, which are limited, to rise further, because the auction has no definite end and could continue for days or weeks.
The spectrum is so expensive that a group representing broadcast television stations is considering giving up theirs for sale in the FCC’s next auction, scheduled for 2016.
The success of the auction has been fuelled largely by the pent-up demand for years without an auction and which coincided with the explosive popularity of smart phones and mobile broadband.
AFC Leader Ramjattan said that it clearly exposes the Guyana government’s “devilish ways”. He pointed to the fact that it gave away radio frequencies to “its cronies and friends.”
He opined that the US auction is of great significance for Guyana, since it highlights how valuable the airwaves are considered for some countries, while Guyana gives the spectrum away to friends and family.
“Radio frequencies are extremely important.  They serve as a medium for not just getting the message of the body politic

to the regional platform, but also to the international stage. These are extremely valuable assets and the fact that Jagdeo gave away these frequencies to his family, friends and cronies represents the dirtiest corruption scandal of our time.
“This important form of communication is being stolen and given away for nothing at all. And the nation will give the PPP a good thrashing for this.  Simply put, the PPP is F-ing up the country. And let me put the F-ing up into context. When I say that, I mean that they are literally messing up this country and stealing the wealth for Friends, Family and Favourites. It’s not PPP anymore. It is FFF…” Ramjattan stated emphatically.
He said that there is big money to be made from the telecommunications sector and those who acquire it can either use it to promote democracy or pollute the environment with “dictatorial notions.”
The issue of the airwaves became a burning issue following an announcement by Government in late 2011 that former President, Bharrat Jagdeo, doled out several frequencies before he was due to step down in November of that year.
The radio frequencies went to his best friend, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, the ruling party, and to an overseas-based sister of sitting Natural Resources Minister, Robert Persaud. These three were given multiple frequencies allowing them countrywide coverage.
Others were granted single frequencies, giving them limited range in their transmissions.
It will also be recalled that frequencies were given by Jagdeo to E-Networks and Quark Communications Inc., two companies with which he has close links, to go-ahead to run cable TV services.
Quark, E-Networks and Global Technology’s iNet Communications are now standing at the head of the line for telecommunications licences that will be automatically granted to them once new laws before the National Assembly are passed.
These licences and the frequencies will also allow the companies to offer telephone services, mobile services, internet and a host of other high demand services.
One can only presume that the value of the frequencies Guyana has already given away as against what it could have received.

 

November 29, 2014

$$M US auction vs. Guyana’s gifting of airwaves…AFC to revisit radio frequencies Jagdeo gifted to his “loyal minions”

Emphasizing that one of Guyana’s most valuable assets is its airwaves, Vice Chairman of the Alliance For Change

(AFC), Moses Nagamootoo stated that when his party becomes the next government, it will certainly revisit the allocation of the “bulk” of Guyana’s radio frequencies which he said were gifted by Former President Bharrat Jagdeo to his “loyal minions.”
The AFC Parliamentarian made this statement during a press conference which was held on Thursday at the Georgetown Club.
Nagamootoo was at the time expressing his party’s dissatisfaction with what he termed as “the obsessive control” of the government over the state media. Kaieteur News subsequently asked the Vice Chairman to give his take on the domination of Guyana’s airwaves, against the back drop that the USA is conducting an auction for six blocks of its airwaves with the cost exceeding over US$34B.
To this, Nagamootoo said that the allocations that were made in 2011to certain government cronies by Jagdeo were arbitrary and reflects discrimination.
“I had mentioned before that in India, the frequencies at one time had been auctioned to bidders who paid billions of US dollars. Now in the US, we are seeing billions being spent on the frequencies because it is considered to be a limited or a scarce resource and you couldn’t just hive it off to your friends , family and favourites and discriminate against those who have a track record in media and television,” the Attorney-at-law expressed.
He said that it is not tenable and a new government headed by the AFC will revisit all those allocations. He said that it is something he considers to be a sacred grail and the government’s actions constitutes a violation. Nagamootoo said that this “theft of a national resource” bothers him and that it would be investigated thoroughly.
The AFC he said also condemns the manipulation of the airwaves and found it to be a most reprehensible act.
Asked if he believes that Guyana should also adapt the method of auctioning its airwaves to get the best value, Nagamootoo answered in the negative.

He told this publication that he believes studies should be done first because an auction may not guarantee that it will result in the best use of the invaluable resource.
Nagamootoo also opined that there are other applicants for radio licenses who have not been dealt with on the basis of merit. He stressed that there should be technical studies done to ensure that the best use would be made of the frequency once given rather than just granting it to someone because of presidential favour or financial capacity.
“If I knew someone were a citizen of a foreign country with which we have a problem, a national broadcasting authority would look at that factor and feel that the person would not be qualified for a frequency because they may use it against the country to advocate for the wrong things. So you don’t use an auction to get the best value because the hammer falls on the highest bidder, irrespective of whether the person is democratic or anti-national. Auctioning is not the best mechanism. It’s important but not for me and it should not be ruled out as a mechanism,” the AFC Vice Chairman noted.
Nagamootoo then described Guyana as “a melting pot, a salad bowl” and as such, emphasized that radio frequencies should be used in a manner to promote unity and not incite racial tension.
“We want all cultures to bloom and all ethnicities to flourish and therefore if you allocate the spectrum, you must do so judiciously thinking that you will help to promote the diversity of our cultural strands …it must be seen as a medium to address the wounds and problems affecting the society but the allocation by Jagdeo reflects an exclusion of experience. It’s a serious issue in our country and government’s obsession with domination of the airwaves, state media and even the private media has stifled democracy,” he concluded.

 

December 1, 2014

$$M US auction vs. Guyana’s gifting of airwaves…Sinister plot to control people’s minds

– done to pave way for dictatorial take-over

When he compared the multimillion dollar auction of six blocks of airwaves in the US to the gifting of Guyana’s to certain persons by former President Bharrat Jagdeo, General Secretary of A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) Joseph Harmon said that Jagdeo’s actions reveal a sinister plot to bombard and control the minds of Guyanese with “PPP’s poisonous messages” in event of any elections.
He added that this was also done to pave the way for a dictatorial take over by the current administration.
The APNU Shadow Minister of Telecommunications stated that Guyana’s airwaves are an important resource not only for local and regional communication but also for international reach.
He expressed the opinion that the multimillion dollar auction of the airwaves in the US clearly shows how Guyana’s government literally gifted the country’s frequencies to the “Jagdeoites.”

Harmon emphasized that the nation should also pay attention to the manner in which the government, “is obsessed with controlling all means of communication simply to manipulate the people and the political atmosphere with its immoral and poisonous persuasions.”
He said that the citizenry needs to understand that the government is doing this because it wants to colour their thinking. The PPP only wants its lies in the atmosphere, he reiterated.
The politician said that the government does not want other voices getting a chance to be heard because the “truth and their lies cannot co-exist in the same place.”
The Attorney-at-Law stated that his coalition has always said that the actual “give away” of the airwaves in such a manner by the former President constitutes “an unforgivable violation.”
He reiterated that the airwaves are a limited national resource and it should be viewed and treated as such. On this premise, Harmon emphasized the need for a proper formula that would enable the best person being granted a radio licence so that the best use can be made of it.
The politician remarked that it is still his belief that Jagdeo, in his last days in office, gave away the airwaves in such a manner so that in event of another elections, “it can be able to easily influence the thinking of the people. They did this so they can bombard the people with their messages, and it’s a sickening thing. It is about control and domination of the airwaves by the government and it’s a sneaky sinister plot to kill democracy and pave the road for a dictatorship.”
In a general sense, the politician urged the electorate to pay attention to the manner in which the PPP government either takes control of certain resources or sells it to foreign groups.
“I want the nation to pay attention to what is taking place. They have the Chinese firms taking over and abusing our resources without facing the law, they have literally taken control of the frequencies and they are sharing out all of the other resources. We need to let this ugly and wicked PPP clan know how angry we are and that we are simply fed up with its dictatorship-rule.
“At the rate they are going, it is frightening to imagine what the future would be like for our children’s children, if we continue under the PPP. This administration wants to control everything because they want us to become tenants in our own land. They want to be known as the PPP landlord class, but I promise that will change.”
Vice Chairman of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Moses Nagamootoo had stated that when his party becomes the next government, it will revisit the allocation of the “bulk” of Guyana’s radio frequencies which he said were gifted by former President Bharrat Jagdeo to his “loyal minions.”
Kaieteur News had asked the Vice Chairman to give his take on the domination of Guyana’s airwaves, against the back drop that the USA is conducting an auction for six blocks of its airwaves with the cost exceeding over US$34B.
To this, Nagamootoo had said that the allocations that were made in 2011to certain government cronies by Jagdeo were arbitrary and reflects discrimination.
He had said that it is not tenable and a new government headed by the AFC will revisit all those allocations. He had also asserted that it is something he considers to be a sacred grail and the government’s actions constitute a violation. Nagamootoo had said that this “theft of a national resource” bothers him and that it would be investigated thoroughly.
Nagamootoo had also opined that there are other applicants for radio licences who have not been dealt with on the basis of merit. He had stressed that there should be technical studies done to ensure that the best use would be made of the frequency once given rather than just granting it to someone because of presidential favour or financial capacity.

 

December 10, 2014

PPP justifies Jagdeo’s radio frequencies giveaway

Yesterday, the ruling People’s Progressive Party decided to address the controversial distribution of Guyana’s invaluable airwaves to President Bharrat Jagdeo’s party, friends and family.
Below is the statement in its entirety;
“The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has noted with deep concern recent statements emanating from certain misinformed political quarters and mischief makers who are in the habit of spreading half-truths and distortions with respect to the assignment of radio frequencies.
In this regard, the Party has taken note of the persistent and wrongful accusations levelled against former President Jagdeo purporting that he “gave away Guyana’s patrimony” when he sought to approve spectrum space for radio broadcasts in Guyana.
The false accusation of “giving away to friends” needs to be addressed.
Approvals to broadcast via Radio were given to ten (10) persons or entities in 2011 after the passage of the Broadcasting Act 2011. Prior to this date the only entity broadcasting via Radio was NCN.
1. Alfro Alphonso – Essequibo Coast
2. R.S. Christie – Berbice
3. Haslyn Graham – Linden
4. Hits & Jams Entertainment – East Coast Demerara
5. Rudy Grant – Georgetown
6. Telcor Inc – Georgetown
7. Wireless Connections Inc – Georgetown
8. National Communications Network – Georgetown
9. New Guyana Company Ltd – Country wide
10. Radio Guyana Inc – Country wide.
With specific reference to Radio Guyana Inc. it should be noted that this approval was given in compliance of an order of Court in a matter that had been filed by Mr. Anthony Vieira prior to his selling his communications empire to Dr. Rangisinghi Ramroop.
Dr. Ramroop is always referred to by the former President’s detractors as his “best friend”. Well even Presidents deserve best friends, but the approval to operate a radio station given to Dr. Ramroop’s company was not given by virtue of friendship. Instead it was by virtue of a Court Order.
One needs to look at the other nine (9) approvals and judge whether it is not geography rather friendship which was taken into account.
Mr Anthony Vieira, truly one of the pioneers of Television Broadcasting in Guyana, notwithstanding how many copyright infringement laws he may have broken, now by his writings and utterings, seems to want his cake having already eaten it.
Mr Vieira now wants to be recognized as an expert on technical matters regarding Guyana’s spectrum availability, misquoting the Chairman of the GNBA in the process. The truth is that Mr. Vieira sold his interests in broadcasting for a hefty sum of money and is now desperately trying to remain relevant in the area of broadcasting.
The PPP denounces these blatant half-truths and distortions of the facts and calls upon Guyanese to reject the attempts by the mischief makers who waste no time to utilize every opportunity to throw dust in the eyes of the unsuspecting public.”

 

December 11, 2014

Dying e-governance project to be resuscitate – Dr. Luncheon

Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, denies that the approximately US$32M Brazil/Guyana fibre

optic cable venture has collapsed.
Dr. Luncheon preferred to say that the cable which is part of the E-Governance project headed by the President’s son, Alexei Ramotar, suffered some failures but that it is in a remedial stage. Several persons, he said, have been hauled before the courts for lending to the state of the project.
Dr. Luncheon was adamant that the project was not scrapped or abandoned. He said that he is currently involved in negotiations with a local firm and another of a neighbouring country on concluding the project.
“I for one am engaged in negotiations but I have to be hesitant in these days of prorogation. I am involved in discussions with a local firm and one from a neighbouring country to conclude the rehabilitation of the existing cable that traverses the over 200 kilometers from its entry point in Lethem to its termination here at Castellani in Georgetown… but in so saying (the project) is obviously in need of being remedied.”
Dr. Luncheon said that the project has attracted “a pretty penny”. This is the construction itself which he estimated to have cost over a billion dollars. The construction, he said, involved moving and excavating to the required standard and purchasing the lengths of cable to bring the project from its entry point in Lethem all the way to Georgetown.
The Cabinet Secretary said that some time, probably around 2011 and 2012 it was recognized that significant failures had occurred. He said that this is regarding contractors and meeting their obligations with supervisory firms and commitments in the development and unfolding of the project.
He noted that while this is the case, his current discussions will see him giving direction on how renovation and correction of the defects that have been documented can be dealt with.
Significantly, Dr. Luncheon said that while Guyana is not accessing the bandwidth, it has incurred some debt with the Brazilians.
“Well I would hate to say this publically, but we haven’t paid them for the connection. We do have a contract to purchase bandwidth but the mechanism to access it hasn’t kicked in. The Brazilians have been understanding.
“We owe some US$76,000 US a year for bandwidth connection on the project,” the Cabinet Secretary said.
A Government source close to the project, had informed Kaieteur News that there was continuous breakage to the cable along the way. The project was planned poorly as incorrect cable lengths were ordered and independent supervisors were reportedly fired.
Physical works for the laying of cable began in April 2011 but poor weather conditions and the absence of appropriate equipment were cited for the slothfulness of contractors.
On the Brazil side, Globonet, a subsidiary of Oi, the largest telephone company of that neighbouring country, had landed the fibre optic cable to the border.
The E-governance project was touted to feature a data centre, a transmission network and data network. The data centre, or control centre, is to be housed in the compound of Castellani House.
The transmission network stretches from Moleson Creek on the Corentyne Coast to Charity on the Essequibo Coast, reportedly using fibre optic cable of the Guyana Power and Light Inc.  The Brazil cable is part of the network too.
By way of the access network, all major Government facilities in the coverage areas are intended to be connected via fibre optic and/or 4G wireless Cellular services.
Government had announced that the connection would have allowed for, in addition to connectivity, a range of services such as “E-Health” allowing for video consultation, movement of information from one health centre to another and tracking disease outbreaks.
Regarding security, the project would allow quick transmission of information including video and data between police stations.
In education, the project would set up an “E-library” which would allow for access to textbooks and other teaching aids that can be used by students and schools, thereby lowering cost.

 

December  14, 2014

Jagdeo invested $20B from Treasury to enrich self, family and friends

Kaieteur News has been at the forefront of reporting on corruption and other questionable deals in which billions of taxpayers’ dollars were blatantly used to secretly fill the pockets of a few.
As a result of extensive research and consultations with worried industry experts, Kaieteur News has unearthed a massive scheme by former President Bharrat Jagdeo, who when at the helm of power in Guyana, engineered the heist of the telecommunications industry.
The plan was to use monies from the national coffers to finance a number of seemingly unrelated projects that cost Guyanese in excess of US$100 Million {$20B}.

Fibre Optic Cables
GT&T signed a US$30M deal with Suriname to land a submarine fibre optic cable in Guyana.
That cable has the capacity to service the demands of Guyana, five times over, providing ‘lightning speed internet service’ to the country by increasing its available bandwidth 3,000 fold.
The Jagdeo administration announced shortly after, much to the surprise of Guyana, that it was no longer interested in holding onto its shares in GT&T.
That 20 per cent shareholding was one of the most lucrative investments for Government, earning as much as $500M a year.
By the time GT&T’s fibre optic cable landed in Guyana, Jagdeo announced that Government had already made a down payment for its own fibre optic cable coming from Brazil.
He said that the government cable will facilitate E-Governance—an ambitious US$32M plan to increase efficiency in the public service.

Cable TV Restricted
Unknown to the Guyanese public, Jagdeo had already called in all operators of Cable Television across the country and halted their operations.
Included in the bunch was one operator who is also providing wireless internet service, Vishok Persaud’s E-Networks.
The then President, like a knight in shining armour, granted a reprieve to the operators but with the condition that they do not expand their operations. E-Networks was, however, allowed to expand its services countrywide, while the Jagdeo administration turned a blind eye.
Jagdeo then announced another ambitious project –this time using the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL). This massive US$42M expansion project was at first glance a good sell as it would include changing out the aging transmission power lines along the coastlands. Jagdeo secured a loan from China for this venture. What Guyana did not know until later about this transmission line was that it contained a built in fibre optic cable.
It stretches from Essequibo, through Georgetown to Berbice.
GPL sought to justify the use of the fibre optic by claiming that it was for connecting the power company’s network.
This massive new fibre optic network is also complemented by the construction of 54 LTE (Long Term Evolution) towers which were erected under the E-governance project. The towers reportedly cost in excess of US$10M.

Automatic Telecoms Licence
While all this was going on, the Jagdeo administration crafted a piece of legislation which revealed one of the most shocking and unprecedented occurrences anywhere in the world.
It identified companies which would automatically be handed a Telecommunications Licence when the legislation is passed.
GT&T and Digicel are already holders of Telecommunications Licences.
A Telecommunications Licence is indeed a valuable document as it allows its holder to provide any internet-related service including the sale of bandwidth, cable television and mobile/cellular.
So just who are the companies named in this proposed law to be handed Telecommunications Licences?
Two of those companies are E-Networks and Quark Communications Inc.
E-Networks has as its shareholders, Vishok Persaud and his sister Member of Parliament, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, both the children of former PPP Minister, the late Reepu Daman Persaud; Keith Evelyn (Brassington’s partner in Hand in Hand Trust) and Rakesh Puri.
Quark Communications has as its shareholders Jagdeo’s niece, Subrina Singh, Brassington and Brian Yong, a close friend of the former President.
Interestingly, Quark has its base of operations in a compound at Versailles, West Bank Demerara, which belongs to none other than Jagdeo’s best friend, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop.
Another private company slated to be handed a Telecommunications Licence is iNet Communications Inc.
This company has as its principals, Dr. Bobby Ramroop, his secretary Valerie Khan and one of his Directors, Roopnarine Ramcharitar, among others.

Foundation Laid
But what does all of this mean when one takes a step back and takes a look at the bigger picture?
Upon completion of the multiplicity of projects spearheaded by Jagdeo, there will be a massive network in place with the capacity to not only rival GT&T but also put it out of business.
When the administration was asked what it intends to do with the excess bandwidth it would have available to it via the Brazil cable, Government shockingly admitted that it would be sold to private operators. A clear picture was emerging of the plan.
With little private investment, but with the use of taxpayers’ dollars to install a fibre optic network, the restriction of Cable TV operators, and the sale of GT&T shares, Jagdeo literally laid the foundation for the takeover of the industry.
These few companies, all closely linked to Jagdeo, are now positioned to compete directly in one of the most lucrative industries in the world…telecommunication— and it was all done using taxpayers’ dollars.
These select companies will now be in a position to firstly close down every private cable television operator, sell cheaper bandwidth than any other Internet Service Provider and embark on rolling out cellular services.

Guaranteed Market
Not only did the former President utilize the nation’s coffers to put in the infrastructure required for these private companies to take over the industry, he also secured a guaranteed market for them.
Shortly before he was scheduled to demit office, Jagdeo rolled out another multi-billion-dollar (US$27M) project and said Government will supply 90,000 laptops to families across the country.
This was a critical component of the grand scheme orchestrated by Jagdeo to create huge demand for internet connectivity.
Industry experts have also opined that by refusing to use GT&T’s submarine cable in the first place, Jagdeo in essence has left Guyana four years behind the technology curb.

 

 December 17, 2014

Jagdeo stifled Guyana’s technological development

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo, through his actions, deliberately stalled Guyana’s technological development by more than four years.
Industry experts have opined that had he made use of the advanced facility Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) – which in 2010 already had the high speed fibre optic cable in place – Guyana would have been on par with the rest of the Caribbean. The GT&T cable has the capacity to service the demands of Guyana and five other countries like it.
There was consensus that all major Government facilities would have been connected via fibre optic. The plans to enhance the public service operations would have been in place.
A range of services such as “E-Health” allowing for video consultation, movement of information from one health centre to another and tracking disease outbreaks would have made life for the medical personnel much easier.
Regarding security, there would have been quick transmission of information including video and data between police stations with an enhanced database.
The police would have been better informed, able to conduct speedy background checks, monitor people, vehicles and police operations. It could have realized a faster implementation of surveillance mechanisms across the country, using cameras.
In education, the project would set up an “E-library” which would allow for access to textbooks and other teaching aids that can be used by students and schools, countrywide, thereby lowering cost.
Things like birth certificate processing and other technological advancements would have already been taken to another level.
This publication was told that had Jagdeo used the GT&T cable, all of the now delayed promises would have already been a reality. Instead he intended to dominate the telecommunication landscape and in the process pushed Guyana into backwardness.
When he announced that the government would be bringing in its own cable at a cost of US$32 million from Brazil his aim was to help his friends and family to position themselves to take over the telecommunications market. He told the nation that the Brazil cable was not to compete with GT&T, but rather to supplement it.
At the same time, he was secretly negotiating with the Chinese company, Huawei, to install another cable, this time hidden in the Guyana Power and Light’s transmission line that ran from Charity on the Essequibo Coast, to Parika, along West Demerara to Georgetown and on to Moleson Creek, Berbice.
This project cost Guyana in excess of a further US$42 million. It was to connect with the fibre optic cable from Brazil to create the communication network that Jagdeo said was to be the government’s E-government programme.
Guyana only learnt about the Huawei cable through a question asked at a public session hosted by GPL and the Public Utilities Commission at Tower Hotel.
Recent revelations by this publication clearly spelt out why the former President Jagdeo would have insisted on not using the telephone company’s offer, instead opting for an independent cable.
On Sunday last, Kaieteur News reported extensively on how Jagdeo invested $20B from the national coffers to benefit himself and a few companies closely aligned to him.
He had called in all operators of Cable Television across the country and halted their operations.
Included in the group was one operator who is also providing wireless internet service, Vishok Persaud’s E-Networks.
A reprieve was granted to the operators, but with the condition that they do not expand their operations. E-Networks was however allowed to expand its services countrywide.
As it relates to the telecommunications aspect of the industry, the Jagdeo administration then crafted a piece of legislation in which specially selected companies would automatically be handed a Telecommunications Licence.
Two of those companies are E-Networks and Quark Communications Inc. E-Networks has as its shareholders, Vishok Persaud and his sister Member of Parliament, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, both the children of former PPP Minister, the late Reepu Daman Persaud; Keith Evelyn (Brassington’s partner in Hand in Hand Trust) and Director Rakesh Puri.
Quark Communications has as its shareholders Jagdeo’s niece, Subrina Singh, Brassington and Brian Yong, a close friend of the former President.
Quark has its base of operations in a compound at Versailles, West Bank Demerara, which belongs to none other than Jagdeo’s best friend, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop.
Another private company slated to be handed a Telecommunications Licence is iNet Communications Inc. This company has as its principals, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop; his secretary Valerie Khan; and one of his Directors, Roopnarine Ramcharitar, among others.
With a Telecommunications Licence and an extensive network put in place by these companies, when the Government’s fibre optic cable is operationalised these companies would be in a position to capitalise and monopolise the industry.

 

January 04, 2015

Troubled E-Governance project… Taxpayers saddled with loan repayment

A few weeks ago, there was the report on how former President Bharrat Jagdeo spent $20B from the treasury in a scheme designed to gain control of the information and communications technology (ICT) sector.
The money was spent on cables, towers, transmission lines, data centers, and thousands of laptops for poor families. All this was to transform Guyana’s internet and telecommunications sector, thereby putting it on par with the rest of the developing world, Jagdeo had said.
But after billions of taxpayers’ dollars have been expended on the E-Governance project and on the Brazil to Guyana Cable venture, both are yet to be realized. Government has admitted that there are problems and that solutions are being examined to put the Brazil project back on track.
The Brazil project involves running a fibre optic cable from Lethem to the city at a cost of some US$32 M. However, the project has stalled, some say abandoned because of the problem of getting the cable across difficult terrain. The cable breaks repeatedly.
Government had been largely silent on the E-Governance project. It was even silent when it all but abandoned the project.
The matter has since sparked discussions in some quarters and queries, with the private sector and the political opposition, lambasting the government for the collapse of the project.
Anand Goolsarran, a former Auditor General in his most recent column said that he was shocked to learn that after billions of taxpayers’ dollars were expended on government’s Fibre Optic Cable project, it has now collapsed.
More significantly, Goolsarran said that after doing his own research he found that Guyana had taken a loan from a Chinese Bank to back part of the project. With the project stalled, and the monies from the loan completely expended, Goolsarran was concerned that future generations will be saddled with paying off the debt until 2032.

In his most recent column, Goolsarran examined how the venture collapsed and some of the financial irregularities of the project. Goolsarran spoke about some of the financial improprieties of the venture by examining the audited public accounts of the country from 2009 to 2014.
The chartered accountant said, too, that the entire loan and grant resources provided by the China Export Import Bank for the project have been drawn down and expended. The loan is repayable, inclusive of interest, in 31 equal semi-annual installments, commencing March 2017 and ending September 2032.
He emphasized that those responsible for decisions relating to the execution of the project as well as for monitoring it have failed the country immensely.
“They have left us not only without any meaningful tangible assets for the expenditure incurred but also a huge debt burden that future generations will have to repay. Many of those responsible may not be around to witness the completion of the loan repayment,” he said.
The ICT initiatives, benefitted friends and family in key companies that participated in various aspects, and comprised three main projects including the installation of a fibre optic network from Brazil to Georgetown via the Lethem trail. It included the installation and commissioning of wireless and terrestrial network system from Moleson Creek to Anna Regina, inclusive of 54 towers. Also launched was the One Laptop Per Family Programme which targeted 90,000 households.
In 2010, Jagdeo announced that he would provide 90,000 lap tops to poor families over three years at a cost of US$30M. Later that year, he said that Government entered into a contract with a Chinese firm, Huawei, for US$35M.
According to Jagdeo, the main objectives of advancing the E-Governance project was to connect schools, hospitals and the police stations and everything else so that technology can be used in providing better and faster service to the people.
With the three projects and other initiatives, it is estimated that over $20B (US$100M) was allocated in the massive scheme to fashion the internet connectivity from the infrastructure. With the connections, a particular company could be strategically placed to offer landline and mobile telephone services, internet television and radio, and internet connectivity.

 

January 08, 2015

Troubled fibre optic cable project … E-Governance project may be piggybacking on GPL fibre-laced transmission lines

– Alexei Ramotar confirms that this is happening but Luncheon hesitates to verify

By Kiana Wilburg

Manager of the E-Governance initiative, Alexei Ramotar, told Kaieteur News that for the sake of cost effectiveness, the venture has been piggybacking where it can, on the fibre optic cable transmission lines of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) along the coastal region.
The E-Governance project is just one of the three components of the current administration’s Information Communication Technology (ICT) strategy. The US$32M project, Ramotar said, is not concerned with internet, but acts as a database centre for Government agencies and Ministries with certain applications which would facilitate a better management of payment processes and other information, efficiently.
He had said that the internet is just a service the project can provide, but it is not the main purpose of the project. He said too that it is finally complete and is expected to be operationalized and launched this year.
Ramotar said that the E-Governance feature which is complemented by GPL transmission lines was done because it reduces the cost of bringing in long lengths of fibre optic cables needed to support the project. He said that it is a standard procedure.
Alexei Ramotar, head of the e-governance programme, added that where GPL lines are not found, only then would monies be expended on new lines to make the connections. This lends to cost effectiveness, he said.
But Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon hesitated to confirm that this was actually the case yesterday at his first press conference for 2015, at Office of the President.
Dr. Luncheon was asked if the fibre optic cable which runs from Molesen Creek to Charity and the transmission lines laid by GPL along the same route are in any way connected.
He said that the two projects are totally different and that he does not think that GPL lines complement Government’s ICT network.
The Cabinet Secretary then said that perhaps, it can indeed be seen as a complement, but it is not in any way related or a part of Government’s ICT programme.
He added that the transmission lines which have fibre in them are said to provide for the purposes of the electricity company and not for the overall purposes of the ICT strategy and its three components.
Ramotar had explained to this newspaper, that parts of the E-governance project were taking a free ride where it could on GPL lines, for example on lines for the crossing of the Demerara River.
To this, he said that he would hesitate to validate that the network that has been created depends on the GPL fibre optic lines for its continuity.
The Head of the Presidential Secretariat said that the GPL fibre optic cable may be added where applicable but it is not a fixed component of the ICT network.
When Dr. Luncheon pronounced, last year, on the project to the media, he said that another aspect of its ICT strategy, the Brazil to Guyana cable project, was in a remedial state and that he was in talks with a local firm and one of a neighbouring country on the completion of the venture.
The cable from Brazil to Guyana is “part of a promise” to improve access to the internet locally, at a cheaper and more reliable rate.
“I for one am engaged in negotiations, but I have to be hesitant in these days of prorogation. I am involved in discussions with a local firm and one from a neighbouring country to conclude the rehabilitation of the existing cable that traverses the over 200 kilometres from its entry point in Lethem to its termination here at Castellani in Georgetown…But in so saying (the project) is obviously in need of being remedied.”
But asked yesterday for an update on these talks, Dr. Luncheon said that he did not recall making a comment about discussions with a local firm and a foreign firm. He said that indeed what occurred was that a consortium that included a local firm and a foreign firm was at the hub of the talks.
He said that the parties involved are engaged with central government on the way forward with regard to the project, essentially to ensure the serviceability of the fibre.
Of course there are significant defects with the Brazil to Guyana project and those would have to be corrected for the bandwidth that is being purchased from Brazil to be made available for domestic use in Guyana “and the engagement with the consortium dealt specifically with how we are going to fix it and what is it that we can expect in recompense.”
Dr. Luncheon disclosed that government has a firm proposal that is under consideration from the consortium dealing with what would be provided in exchange or to meet the costs of repairing the cable and restoring to serviceability.
He added that the E-Governance project is ongoing.
The ICT project has three main parts; installation of communication fibre optic network from Georgetown to Lethem called the Brazil to Guyana fibre optic cable. The second is the installation and commissioning of wireless and terrestrial network system from Moleson Creek to Anna Regina which falls under the E-Governance aspect and the last being the One Laptop per Family Programme. This ICT programme according to the 2014 estimates of expenditure stood at $13B but the Estimates do not say what the exact cost for each component is.
While Guyana is not accessing the bandwidth from Brazil, it has incurred some debt with the Brazilians.
“Well I would hate to say this publicly, but we haven’t paid them for the connection. We do have a contract to purchase bandwidth, but the mechanism to access it hasn’t kicked in. The Brazilians have been understanding.
“We owe some US$76,000 a year for bandwidth connection on the project,” Dr. Luncheon had said. But Ramotar, who is directly in charge of this project, had insisted that Guyana is not receiving any bandwidth, and as such, he is not aware that Guyana owes the neighbouring country a cent.

 

January 24, 2015

After two years … TV licence application for Region Ten gets acknowledgement

By Jacquey Bourne
The television licence for Region Ten has been acknowledged by the Government Board after two years.
In a correspondence addressed to the Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon dated December 17, last, the application has been acknowledged, but according to the General Manager of the National Frequency Management Unit, Mr. Valmicki Singh , the requested Channel 13 which was initially requested by the Regional Board is no longer available.
A disgruntled Chairman said that he has prepared two bits of correspondence to the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority and to the President. “This issue is not one between the Region and the Broadcasting Authority. It was an agreement signed between the Region and the Government. The agreement specifically stated that within 14 days the Channel 13 transmitter along with the dish and a few other things would be handed over.
The Region broke down the old structure that was there to accommodate the television station. The building is about 95 percent completed. It is painted, tiled and the washroom is installed. The electrical fittings would be finished soon and the building would be completed.
Solomon said that everything was done, except the Government officially handing over the channel.
He also noted that the Fire Service was contacted to clean the dish and preparations are being made to construct a guard hut.
According to Solomon a board of five members is in place and an Information Management Committee (IMC) is also in place. Two other members of the community are to join the existing five.
Solomon noted that Mr. Tony Vieira was contacted for technical advice.
“In principle, the signing of the agreement is that we would have our CH 13 back and all that we have done we would not be able to get CH 13 and that is where our problem is.”
Solomon’s letter to President Ramotar clearly states, “ Region Ten Democratic Council wishes to strongly register its dissatisfaction with the handling of this matter which defends the fundamental rights of the people of Linden, Region Ten, one of the most  sanctified being protection of freedom of expression in Article 146 of the Constitution.
“It has been more than two years since the RDC and Central Government signed the August 21, 2012 Agreement of which a commitment was given to return to the people of Linden and Region Ten VHF CH 13 transmitter.”
This agreement was also signed by APNU and AFC thus, the advice by Mr. Singh is perplexing since it is in the agreement the original CH 13 was assigned to Green Construction who gave it to Linden and the people of Region Ten.
The said channel now in the possession of the Government of Guyana under the management of NCN, is to be returned to the people of Linden and Region Ten as agreed on August 21, 2012. This agreement said that the dish and transmitter would be transferred to the Region in 14 days of signing, which should have been no later than September 4, 2012.
Further, it was agreed that Region Ten would apply for a Broadcasting Licence and the Government would facilitate the granting of that licence.
The Region has honoured its commitment to the agreement by applying for the licence consistent with the agreed understanding, this would set in place the formality for the return of CH 13 to the people of Linden and Region Ten, Solomon said.
“Mr. President this is a matter of grave national importance borne out of a political struggle soaked with blood, sweat and tears. This matter has political ramifications and is therefore outside of the scope of the NFMU and the GNBA.
“The roles of NFMU and the GNBA in this matter are administrative, which means that if Central Government respectfully Sir, as designated as Minister of Information honour the Government side of the agreement, yet the NFMU would not be obliged to execute.
“In the absence of Government honouring (its) obligation, the RDC is placed in a position to view this latest move as an attempt to further deny the people of Linden and Region Ten their fundamental rights. The RDC once again urges the Central Government and the Opposition to take note of the continued violation of the agreement.”
Solomon claims that the matter is on the verge of concluding with the exception of the Government honouring fully what they have committed to and urged them to up the ante.

 

March 01, 2015

Unfair distribution of radio licences nurtures a bitter society – Sir Fenton Ramsahoye S.C

By Kiana Wilburg

Fenton Ramsahoye, QC, strongly advocates for the monopoly over Guyana’s telecommunications sector, particularly the radio frequencies by a select few, to come to an abrupt end.

Dr. Ramsahoye commented on the current mismanagement of the spectrum and warned that should a restructuring of the current arrangements fail to occur sooner rather than later, it could have detrimental effects for freedom of expression in the Guyanese society.

The former attorney general stated that partisan use of the spectrum is unconstitutional and is a misuse of the national asset. He stressed too, that it denies equality of treatment to which every member of the population is entitled.

The lawyer said, too, that the spectrum and how it is managed, currently, needs to be restructured and that it should not be used as a weapon. Failure to do this, he said, would only lead to a fractured nation and increase division.

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo days before demitting office, gifted several radio and cable frequencies to cronies, relatives and family.

A number of frequencies went to PPP’s newspaper, The Mirror; to Jagdeo’s best friend, Dr. Ranjisinghi “Bobby” Ramroop, and another five to an overseas-based sister of Natural Resources Minister, Robert Persaud. Persaud is also Jagdeo’s nephew-in-law.

The applications for radio frequencies by independent newspapers, Kaieteur News and Stabroek News, and televisions stations like CNS 6, WRHM 7, Capitol News, HBTV 9 and RBS 13 were ignored by Jagdeo.

President Donald Ramotar had given his word to the nation that he would review those licences but since he assumed office, it remains an unfulfilled commitment, even in the face of strong protests by the independent media.

In giving his views on the matter, Ramsahoye, said that the Jacob Rambarran case which is with the Guyana Court of Appeal raised the question of the ownership of the spectrum and if its use should be regulated by an autonomous body.

The Queen’s Counsel said that that particular subject raised in the case was also one that was brought up in another, in India. That matter in India which spoke to the use of the spectrum started because of a debate over how the Cricket matches should be aired over radio.

In the India Supreme Court, Ramsahoye said that two things were mentioned that are relevant and important to the Guyanese situation. The first he cited was that the spectrum is owned by all the people of the country and secondly, that its use should be regulated by a self-governing body where all of the people are represented.

Ramsahoye said that he strongly believes that Guyana ought to accept those principles for they are firmly rooted in the soil of democracy.

He said that such a process would ensure the dissemination of information in a free and fair manner.

Ramsahoye stressed that while there is a monopoly over the airwaves by those in power and people believed to be supporting them; freedom of speech is being hindered.

He emphasized that in allowing freedom of speech, one of the fundamental characteristics of any democratic state, ensures that the country is ruled by a representative and responsible government.

He said that such a process would lead to a society being better able to make informed judgments and decisions.

Significantly too, the Queen’s Counsel said that it is only democratic for people to have access to all information and not partisan views. “Partisanship”, he said, “only nurtures and ensures a bitter society.”

He said that one can only expect such as an inevitable consequence with the way the spectrum is being managed in Guyana.

The celebrated scholar added, too, that freedom of expression implies that the means of imparting and receiving information may be constitutionally used. But the use of those means must be regulated in the interest of order.

Dr. Ramsahoye articulated that this means of regulation of the use of the spectrum which is a national asset must lead to honourable and fair dealing in which all of the people have the right to impart and receive information about matters which concern the public.

Members of the political opposition have made solemn promises to revoke, review and regularize the licenses granted as well as the policies governing it.

Specifically, Prime Ministerial candidate for the coalition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)/Alliance For Change (AFC) front, Moses Nagamootoo, recently said that the partnership is concerned with the deliberate hijacking of the airwaves and of several news outlets.

“We will also move to ensure that the Broadcasting Authority is reformed and sanitized to purge it of party and political contamination. And therefore, that body will be tasked to review the frequency allocation and to consider applications on their merit.”

 

March 24, 2015

Opposition still blocked from accessing airwaves in Linden

– despite promises from Gov’t in 2012 agreement

With elections approaching, Opposition parties are still unable to access the airwaves in Linden, even though the issuance of TV and radio licences was part of the agreement hammered out between Linden and the government on August 21, 2012.

That agreement was reached following a month-long protest in Linden over a proposed electricity hike that eventually led to 27 persons being injured and three shot dead.
During the protests, the mining town was effectively shut down, impacting heavily on the normal hinterland activities, including mining and logging.
Region Ten Chairman, Sharma Solomon, attacked the current media monopoly by the government, labeling it as a concerted attempt to silence the people of Guyana.
In the agreement, the Government agreed to not only hand over a dish and transmitter that once belonged to Channel 13, but also to facilitate the granting of licences to operators in the region. To date, according to Solomon, this has not been done and moreover, reports reaching him indicate that the equipment was sold to a friend of the administration.
He stated that the problem goes to the very policies employed by the Guyana National Broadcast Authority (GNBA). He claimed that the GNBA has consistently harassed

radio operators and pointed to the case of businessman, Haslyn Graham.
According to Solomon, he has engaged multiple organizations on the issue, including the Government. However, the general impression is that the Government is not interested in acceding to anything in the agreement.
“We’ve outlined our situation in correspondence to the opposition, the international community, embassies, outlining the oppressive state we are in.”
Asked about how the Opposition was dealing with not being able to broadcast messages to the people of Linden, Solomon stated that they have had to adjust to suit the scenario.
“We have had to improve our ground movements and make our programme more people-oriented. Having the radio licences would have been very helpful, but in improvising we have had to be more face to face in our interactions with (supporters).”
Broadcasters have long protested the fees from the GNBA as an attempt to shut out the voices of ordinary citizens and keep the small operators out of business. They have already taken GNBA to court over the fees on a number of occasions.
The Board of Directors of GNBA was appointed in 2012. Broadcasters were directed to submit new applications for broadcasting operations to the GNBA.
Approved licencees have to pay two fees before they are handed their licences. The license fee was set at a minimum of $2.5 million by Cabinet.
The Cabinet reportedly directed that the licence fee be calculated at three percent of gross income for the preceding year, but it should be not less than $2.5 million. So even in a case where three percent of the licencee’s gross income is less, that licencee still has to pay $2.5 million.
In late 2011, a total of 11 radio applications were approved for licences by former President Bharrat Jagdeo, days before he left office. This was despite a standing agreement for no new licences until new broadcasting regulations and the GNBA were in place.
Jagdeo’s best friend, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, received one with multiple frequencies. Also receiving a similar number of frequencies was The Mirror, a newspaper which belongs to the ruling party, and Telcor, a company with close links to serving Natural Resources Minister, Robert Persaud.
However, several independent media houses including Kaieteur News, Stabroek News and Capitol News were ignored.
The disclosures of the licences, which also included approval for two cable TV operations, sparked court cases and several days of protests, as well as local and international condemnation, and also led to the administration being accused of attempting to take control of the media, due to its actions.

 

April 16, 2015

Fibre optic cable saga…Arrangements finally in place to get project back on stream – Dr. Luncheon

After some months of being at “death’s door” as the opposition had said, the Brazil/Guyana fibre optic Cable project is back.  Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon, revealed yesterday that arrangements are finally in place to ensure the resuscitation.
Providing an update on the project which he had, in the past, deemed to be in a remedial stage, Dr. Luncheon said that he was in possession of some of the initial reports on the progress being made in the rehabilitation efforts.
The project, he said, is being executed by a special consortium seeking to restore the fibre optic cable to its original purpose and design, that being for the transmission of bandwidth to Georgetown. The Cabinet Secretary said that the details such as how much this process will cost the nation will be shared with the media in due time.
The Brazil/Guyana fibre optic cable project is “part of a promise” to improve access to the internet, at a cheaper and more reliable rate. To date, this project has cost more than US$4.5M.
The Cabinet Secretary had previously stated that while Guyana is not accessing the bandwidth, it has incurred some debt with the Brazilians.
“Well I would hate to say this publicly, but we haven’t paid them for the connection. We do have a contract to purchase bandwidth, but the mechanism to access it hasn’t kicked in. The Brazilians have been understanding.
“We owe some US$76,000 a year for bandwidth connection on the project,” Dr. Luncheon had said.
Additionally, Dr. Luncheon had said that the project which was started in 2011, endured several setbacks due to defaulting contractors and supervising firms. He had noted, however, that legal action was filed against those directly responsible, but no ruling on how they should be penalized was made as yet.
However, considering the damage done to the Brazil/Guyana fibre optic cable project due to grave mismanagement, Leader of the Opposition, David Granger, had stated the ambitious project was placed in the wrong hands from the start.
The politician had said that the selected head of the unit was not required to demonstrate any experience or knowledge of the project of which he was put in charge. It is for these reasons that he felt that it was very badly flawed from the start. Heading the project is the President’s son, Alexei Ramotar.
The resuscitation of the project is expected to cost taxpayers another huge sum of money, but the opposition had said that it would not support this unless there was a careful study or review of the entire project by experts to determine whether it is worthwhile continuing, or whether it will be safe at all.

 

April 24, 2015

Corrective works start on Brazil fibre optic cable

… after deal reached with local contractor, consortium
More than four months after Kaieteur News broke a story that the fibre optic cable from Brazil – intended

to link Government entities and provide internet connections – is in trouble, a deal has been made for corrective work to be carried out.
Government in a statement Tuesday said that rehabilitation of its fibre optic cable, from Lethem to Georgetown, has begun.
“The Office of the President (OP) has stated that Dax Contracting Services started rehabilitation work on the cable on April 19, and has estimated about six months for its completion.”
The E-Governance project is headed by Alexei Ramotar, son of President Donald Ramotar, and includes not only the fibre optic element but is part of a US$32M, three-component initiative to connect Government facilities along the Linden-Lethem road and the coastland, with internet access.
The other two components included a cable from Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast, through Georgetown to Moleson Creek, East Berbice, and a data centre with 54 towers that will create a wireless network. The data centre is completed and located in the compound of Castellani House, Vlissengen Road.
Contractors, because of the difficult terrain along the Linden-Lethem trail and technical issues with the integrity of the cable, ran into all sorts of problems with the cable from Brazil.
More than $1B has been spent on the cable component already.
Office of the President said that in September 2014 it received correspondence proposing the rehabilitation of the fibre optic cable component.

“The proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlined ‘at no cost’ to offer the Government of Guyana to have the fibre optic cable rehabilitated. The cable was reportedly 20% damaged, and the cost of rehabilitation was acquired from technical sources and estimated at US $28M by one source.”
OP said that in 2015, it approached Dax Contracting Services on its submission for its consideration of the MoU. It said that the entity represented a consortium and urged expedition with the negotiations of the MoU, and that OP discussed the content of the MoU with Dax Contracting Services as well as the fact that both parties agreed to further meetings, including those to provide technical and legal advice.
“Dax Contracting Services later met with the E-Governance project team to share information on the details of the original fibre optic cable construction, and also with the Attorney General’s Chambers to examine issues surrounding the consideration of the MoU,” it said.
By March 2015, OP, Dax Contracting Services and E-Governance Project Head, Alexei Ramotar, met and finalised aspects of the MoU, with the contracting services and OP agreed on the details.
OP said that it was agreed that there would be a 100% rehabilitation of the cable, according to international standards; maintenance would be provided for the life of the contracted period; maintenance works would be shared; and that Dax Contracting Services would be provided with an agreed upon number of pairs of fibres in the cable, which has twelve pairs.
The MoU was signed on March 18, 2015.
Government had announced that the connection would eventually allow for – in addition to connectivity – a range of services such as “E-Health” allowing for video consultation, and movement of information to and from health centres.
It was said that security will also benefit, as the project would allow quick transmission of information, including video and data among police stations. The project is also aimed at enabling the setting up of an “E-library” which would allow for access to textbooks and other teaching aids, via the internet.
The project had come in for scathing criticisms not only because it was being managed by the President’s son, but for the delays. The cable was identified as being crucial for the provision of internet services for the 90,000 laptops to poor families that Government intends to distribute in a special project.
In January, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, said that Government initially had two options to correct the cable – do it themselves or partner with others.
Government stopped short of saying that the fibre optic cable had collapsed. Rather, it described the project as being in a remedial stage.
Luncheon said several persons have been hauled before the courts for lending to the poor state of the project. He had admitted that around 2011 and 2012, it was recognized that significant failures had occurred in the cable-laying.
Guyana is committed to paying a Brazil internet company around US$76,000 a year for connectivity.
A Government source close to the project had informed Kaieteur News that there was continuous breakage to the cable along the way. There were criticisms that bad planning and poor implementation caused the problems. Physical works for the laying of cable began in April 2011, but poor weather conditions and the absence of appropriate equipment were cited for the slothfulness of contractors.
By way of the E-Governance network, it was the plan that all major Government facilities in the coverage areas would be connected via fibre optic and/or 4G wireless Cellular services.

 

April 28, 2015

US$40M Brazil fibre optic cable…Contractor seeks investors to recoup repair cost

As part of the arrangements to correct defects with the E-Governance fibre optic cable from Brazil,

Government has agreed to allow Faizal ‘Dax’ Mohamed of Dax Engineering, a contractor, use of bandwidth.
The government, rather than pay Dax Engineering, will give him a portion of the cable bandwidth. They have also agreed to have the contractor maintain the cable for 25 years.
Last week, Office of the President said that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed which will see the cable rehabilitated at no cost to the government.
The statement said that the cable was reportedly 20 percent damaged with technical estimates putting rehabilitation at US$28M.
The E-Governance project is headed by Alexei Ramotar, and includes not only the fibre optic element but a US$32M, three-component initiative to connect Government facilities along the Linden-Lethem road and the coastland, with internet access.
The other two components include a cable from Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast, through Georgetown to Moleson Creek, East Berbice, and a data centre with 54 towers that will create a wireless network. The data centre is completed and is located in the compound of Castellani House, Vlissengen Road.
It is estimated that the E-Governance project is costing taxpayers in excess of US$40M so far.
Yesterday, Faizal ‘Dax’ Mohamed of Dax Engineering, said that several sections of the Brazil cable strung on poles will be buried underground to minimize possibilities of breakage.
Mohamed said that Dax Engineering which signed a contract last month with

Government to bring the cable into operation, are also in talks with partners locally and overseas to utilize the bandwidth that will become available.
Works to repair the cable have started and it is expected to finish in six months. Government has also said it spent $1B so far to bring the cable, with all its defects to the city, from Lethem.
The contractor, whose company has also worked on sections of the cable laying in the past, said that he could not allow Government to go down the route of allowing the fibre optic cable to not be operational.
Rough terrain, inexperienced contractors and supervising contributed to the cable running into serious problems, before Government admitted last December that it is looking for solutions.
This was after Kaieteur News broke the story that the cable had several defects and was not operational.
A number of contractors are facing legal actions, Government spokesman, Dr. Roger Luncheon, has said.
Guyana is committed to paying a Brazil internet company around US$76,000 a year for connectivity.
Guyana had taken a loan E-Governance project.
Government has been moving to open the bandwidth market under telecommunication liberalization programme, but problems with the US-controlled Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company which has the monopoly on landline, has stalled the process.
Digicel has been granted permission to bring in its own cable. E-Networks, a cable television company with close links to the Government, was also reportedly granted permission to bring another cable.

 

April 29, 2015

Govt gifts US$40M Brazil fibre optic cable to contractor

…also grants tax exemptions, incentives, tax holidays, remissions, tax waivers, duty free concessions on vehicles etc.

The US$40 million fibre optic cable from Brazil is no longer to be the property of the taxpayers.
Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon, literally gave the cable away when he entered into a contract with a small contractor, Dax Contracting Services Ltd owned by Faisal Mohamed on March 16, last.
This same contracting service owned by Mohamed was one of the five contractors hired to lay the cable from Lethem to Georgetown.
The cable programme started in 2011 and remains incomplete to this day. It should have been completed by 2013.
The contract signed between Luncheon and Faisal Mohamed has been described as the most generous give away package, worse that the Sanata Complex in the run up to the 2011 elections.
It also mirrors the giveaway of the radio frequencies in Jagdeo’s last days as president.
Kaieteur News exposed the plot to steal the communication sector two years ago. This expose is still on the Kaieteur News website as the ‘Media and Telecommunication heist of Guyana’.
The agreement between the government and Faisal Mohamed is for the repair, use and maintenance of the fibre optic cable from Brazil.
This agreement is for an initial 25 years with an option to extend it for a further 15 years.
It says that the government will provide Mohamed with the necessary support to receive and transmit data by way of the cable after granting the company an operating licence.
This means that Mohamed will be equal to Guyana Telephone and Telegraph company and Digicel.
And for free, Mohamed will be able to use all the Government-owned fibre optic cables and structures including, roads, the poles, access to repeater stations and other things.
Dax Contracting Services would also be provided with tax exemptions and incentives, including but not limited to tax holidays, remissions, tax waivers and duty free concessions on equipment, spares, tools   and vehicles.
The vehicles would be two SUVs, and three four-door pick-ups, renewable three years for the next 40 years.
The government insists that it will retain possession and use of the bandwidth, as agreed to between Dax and the government.
As the owner of the cable, Faisal Mohamed can invite and sign with any company or entity to use the cable to transmit and receive data and information from any part of the world in the same way that today’s telephone companies operate.
To add insult to injury, the government has agreed to pay Dax for specific emergency maintenance.
In exchange for the operating licence, Mohamed will accept the risks involved in accepting and using the operating licence even before the legislation is passed.
And in the event of the United States voicing objections to the illegal move which could lead to the shutting down of GT&T/ATN, Dax will front for the government and so prevent the government from being penalised.
At present the taxpayer is paying Brazil US$76,000 per year on that same cable. The country is also paying some hefty salaries in US dollars to people who are doing nothing on the project.

 

April 30,  2015

Controversy over Brazil fibre optic cable cost…Companies quote US$30 million to fix US$5 million cable project – Luncheon

Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon, condemned in harsh terms, recent articles carried by Kaieteur

News (KN) and Stabroek News (SN) on the Brazil to Guyana fibre optic cable project and Government’s latest “sweetheart” deal with a construction company to revitalize the cable.
At his press conference which was hosted at the Office of the President, yesterday, Dr. Luncheon said that he hesitated to respond to the “outrageous and scandalous” reporting by KN and SN over recent times, particularly since the start of the week, concerning the government controlled projects in the ICT sector.
He said that of concern to government is the depth to which the two privately owned newspapers have “descended in efforts to discredit” the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C).
The Head of the Presidential Secretariat said that what both of the entities reported over the last few days on the fibre optic cable project are not only erroneous but can be contradicted by stories which were done in earlier times on the said project, by both media houses.
His first bone of contention was a headline carried in yesterday’s issue of this newspaper, “Gov’t. gifts US$40M Brazil fibre optic cable to contractor.” He said that this contradicted statements in an earlier interview Kaieteur News conducted with the Head of the E-Governance Project, Alexei Ramotar.
He said that Ramotar had said that only US$4.5M was expended for the procurement and laying of the cable from Brazil to Guyana.
However, companies that were asked by the government for quotations to repair the US$5 million damaged cable quoted prices as low as US$20 million and as much as US$30 million, according to

Luncheon.
Yesterday, Kaieteur News reported on the contract signed between the government and Dax Contracting Services. Dr. Luncheon challenged sections of the contract. He also declined to answer questions on certain aspects, promising instead to deal with the matter by way of advertisements.
However, reporters insisted that he hold a press conference devoted specially to the Brazil fibre optic cable project.
The Cabinet Secretary was particularly perturbed about the “scandalous” contentions about the contract government entered into with Dax Contracting Services.
He said that the articles on the agreement are not only “incredulous” but prove that there is an agenda by both media outfits to tarnish the reputation of the government during this period of election campaigning.
Kaieteur News reported yesterday that government granted tax exemptions, incentives, tax holidays, remissions and duty free concessions on vehicles.
This information was obtained from a copy of the contract between Government and Dax Contracting Services owned by Faisal Mohamed on March 16, last. This same contracting service owned by Mohamed was one of the five contractors hired to lay the cable from Lethem to Georgetown.
The agreement is for the repair, use and maintenance of the fibre optic cable from Brazil. It is for an initial 25 years with an option to extend it for a further 15 years.
Luncheon said that these were inaccurate, that the contract that he has speaks an entirely different story. When media houses pressed Dr. Luncheon for a copy of the contract he has yesterday, it turned out that Kaieteur News had reported accurately.
Luncheon said that of the 12 pairs of fibres in the cable, Dax was granted a few for his exclusive use.
Dr. Luncheon also said that while Dax has spoken about forming a consortium, he can only say that the partner is coming out of Venezuela.
Dr. Luncheon reminded that the rehabilitation work was at no cost to government. He said that the second part of the agreement with the company saw both parties agreeing on Dax maintaining this rehabilitated cable for the life of the agreement.
He said that the cable will forever be a government owned. The maintenance arrangement, he said, was seen by both parties as an “insurance” and was the best way to guarantee that Dax remains committed to servicing the cable. (See full contract below)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 01, 2015

Gifting fibre optic cable reminiscent of radio frequencies giveaway – Greenidge

A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) point man on Finance, Carl

Greenidge, and financial analyst, Ramon Gaskin, have blasted the Government’s “sweetheart” deal with Dax Contracting Services.
He described the transaction as evidence of the government’s many questionable transactions and disregard for the rights of the general public to access of information.
According to the contract, Dax Contracting Services has sole rights to the repair, use and maintenance of the fibre optic cable, for an initial 25 years, with an option to extend it for a further 15 years.
Dax Contracting will also have access to and use of all structural components of the fibre optic project, including road access, access to poles and repeater stations.
In the contract, Dax will also enjoy uncapped benefits from the state such as tax exemptions, tax holidays, duty free concessions on tools, equipment and vehicles.
Greenidge, a former Minister of Finance, strongly condemned the deal, stating that the government should not be engaged in signing any long term contracts, in the run up to general and regional elections.
This, he stated, is the rule in any democratic country. He also compared it to the radio licences giveaway before the 2011 General and Regional elections.
“This Government believes it is not bound by rules. These are things they do in spite of the law for the benefit of a select few.”
Greenidge, who in March filed a writ in the High Court against Finance Minister Ashni Singh and Attorney

General Anil Nandlall, barring them from accessing a US$17M Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) loan, also stated that the court was an option that was open to his party.
“The fact is, however, they have already signed (the contract). We will, however, challenge the legitimacy of the contract. We will leave it for the courts to decide.”
Financial analyst, Ramon Gaskin, has also blasted the Government’s agreement with Dax Contracting Services, whereby the Brazil/Guyana fibre optic cable has been virtually ‘gifted’ to the company.
Describing it as an obscene ‘illegality’, Gaskin expressed the necessity of having the project stopped, citing the timing of the transaction, with just days before General and Regional elections.
“Of course it should be stopped. The entire thing is illegal. Just days before elections, (Government) will be giving away these state assets? There should be a statutory prohibition on giving anything to anybody in the run up to elections,” Gaskin said.
Gaskin, who has long been an outspoken critic on many Government policies, also drew comparisons with the situation just before the last elections, when radio licences were controversially gifted to a few persons who had close ties to the administration, while longstanding private media houses were bypassed.
“Someone should approach the courts and have it stopped dead in its tracks.”
The issue of new radio stations, which bears a marked resemblance to the Government of Guyana/Dax agreement, was an embarrassing one for the Donald Ramotar administration after revelations that

Jagdeo bypassed a standing agreement with the Opposition.
He unilaterally granted several radio and cable licences to not only his friends but also to close party members and even to the ruling PPP newspaper, The Mirror, just before he left office.
It was widely seen as part of a bigger plan by Jagdeo to gain control of the airwaves.
Several prominent media houses were ignored by Jagdeo, leading to condemnation locally and internationally, and to protests.
Among those granted approvals for radio licences were Telcor & Cultural Broadcasting Inc, the former owner of IRadio 90.1 FM, the company closely linked to Minister Persaud.
Also granted five frequencies were Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, Jagdeo’s close buddy. He was allowed also to buy over a television Channel (TVG) from its former owner Tony Vieira under controversial circumstances.
The Mirror, owned by the PPP, was also granted five frequencies through Dharamkumar Seeraj, a senior member of the ruling party.

 

May 01, 2015

Contractor gets exclusive rights to US$100M ICT project

Over a five-year period, between 2010 and 2014, Government budgeted $20B (US$100M) for its Information Communication Technology (ICT) programme that included its E-Governance and fibre optic cable from Brazil and the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) projects.
According to the budget estimates for the period, the funding was a mixture of loans and grants from China and India and financing from taxpayers.
In 2010, the ICT projects kicked into gear, with $1.6B earmarked for the running of the Brazil-linked fibre optic cable from Lethem, Region Nine.
That amount was also for the construction of a central data centre for the E-Governance project at Castellani House, Georgetown, and construction of wireless and terrestrial network from Moleson Creek to Anna Regina.
That year, Government said that $6.5B was coming from China and $1B from India. Guyana would have been putting in $1.2B.
In 2011, the budget started to cater for the OLPF, under which Government promised to distribute 90,000 laptops to poor families as part of the ICT programme. $4.34B was budgeted that year.
In 2012, the Government allocations went up to $6.75B and also included the procurement of software, equipment, vehicles and materials.
The 2013 budget figures saw Government allocating $4.58B for the ICT project. By then, the data centre had already been built at Castellani House, so it was only the OLPF and the installation of the wireless network from Moleson Creek to Anna Regina that was left.
There was no mention of financing that year, or in 2014, of the Brazil fibre optic cable.
Last year, some $3.4B was allocated to the network system on the coast, the OLPF and the purchase of equipment.
The entire ICT project came under scrutiny this year after Government announced that it has signed an agreement with Dax Contracting Services Limited to repair the Brazil cable, the laying of which encountered severe difficulties last year.
In December, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, admitted that the project, headed by Alexei Ramotar, was in trouble, and talks were underway with a local contractor and a consortium to resurrect it.
Last week, Government in a statement from the Office of the President announced that it had signed an agreement with Dax Contracting Services to repair the cable, at no cost to the government.
The contract reveals that Dax will enjoy unlimited benefits, as well as uncontrolled usage of the cable and every aspect of the US$100 million ICT project.
The agreement is for the repair, use and maintenance of the fibre optic cable from Brazil. It is for an initial 25 years with an option to extend it for a further 15 years.
Government spokesman, Dr Roger Luncheon, said that the Brazil cable has 12 pairs of fibres. Dax was granted a few for his exclusive use.
Government also granted tax exemptions, incentives, tax holidays, remissions and duty free concessions on vehicles to be imported by Dax.
Dax will use and maintain the said fibre optic cable, repeater stations and equipment for a period of 25 years from the date of signing of the agreement, with the option of renewal for an additional 15 years.
He will also have access to and approval for use of the Government of Guyana-owned fibre optic structure equipment including road access, and access to poles.
The repeater station and equipment are all part of the US$100 million investment on the ICT project.
“The Government of Guyana will provide Dax Contracting Services with the necessary support, according to the law, in obtaining licences to transmit and receive data via the fibre optic cable.
When contacted by this newspaper yesterday for a comment, the contractor, Faisal ‘Dax’ Mohamed said, “Hey, hey listen, you can go and f***k yourself.” He hung up the phone immediately after.
Below is a table of the budgetary allocations to the ICT project since 2010.

Year	Description	Amount budgeted
2010	1. Installation of fiber optic networking system from Georgetown to Lethem.2. Construction of central data centre in Georgetown.3. Construction of wireless and terrestrial network from Moleson Creek to Anna Regina.	$1.68B
2011	1. Installation of fibre optic networking system from Lethem to Georgetown.2. Construction of wireless and terrestrial networking systems from Moleson Creek to Anna Regina.3. Commencement of the One Laptop per Family (OLPF) programme.	$4.34B
2012	1. Construction of wireless and terrestrial networking system from Moleson Creek to Anna Regina.2. Installation of fibre optic networking system from Lethem to Georgetown.3. Continuation of the One Laptop per Family (OLPF) programme.4. Procurement of software, equipment, vehicles and materials.	$6.75B
2013	The project includes provision for:1. Installation and commissioning of wireless and terrestrial networking system from Moleson Creek to Anna Regina.2. Continuation of the One Laptop per Family (OLPF) programme.3. Purchase of equipment.	$4.58B
2014	1.     Installation and commissioning of networking system from Moleson Creek to Anna Regina2.     Continuation of OLPF3.     Purchase of equipment	$3.46B
		Total– $20.8B

 

May 2, 2015

Architects of agreement between Govt and Dax should face the court –Dr. Clive Thomas

Economist, Dr. Clive Thomas, believes that Government’s latest “sweetheart” deal which allows a local contractor some exclusive shares in a state cable is not only disrespectful to the Guyanese people, but highly illegal.

He said, too, that given the details of the contract the architects of the agreement should be made to face the court.
On March 16, last, Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon on behalf of the government, negotiated with and signed a special agreement with Dax Contracting Services Ltd. That firm is owned by Faisal Mohamed.
Under the agreement, Dax will undertake, at no cost to the government, the repair, use and maintenance of the fibre optic cable from Brazil. This contract is for an initial 25 years with an option to renew it for a further 15 years. This gives Dax a total of 40 years of cable rights.
Government has also undertaken to provide Mohamed with the necessary support to receive and transmit data by way of the cable after granting the company an operating licence. And for free, Mohamed will be able to use some of the Government-owned fibre optic cables and structures including, roads, the poles, access to repeater stations and other things. Dax Contracting Services would also be provided with tax exemptions and incentives, including but not limited to tax holidays, remissions, tax waivers and duty free concessions on equipment, spares, tools   and vehicles. The vehicles would be two SUVs, and three four-door pick-ups, renewable three years for the next 40 years. The government insists that it will retain possession and use of the bandwidth, as agreed to between Dax and the government.
As the owner of the cable, Mohamed can invite and sign with any company or entity to use the cable to transmit and receive data and information from any part of the world in the same way that today’s telephone companies operate.
To add insult to injury, the government has agreed to pay Dax for specific emergency maintenance. In exchange for the operating licence, Mohamed will accept the risks involved in accepting and using the operating licence even before the legislation is passed.
This same contracting service owned by Mohamed, was one of the five contractors hired to lay the cable from Lethem to Georgetown.
Considering the arrangements of this special deal between the two parties, Dr. Thomas said that it is a typical example of the “Jagdeo syndrome.”
“This sort of behaviour is characteristic of former President Bharrat Jagdeo who made a lot of giveaways before demitting office, as he did with the radio frequencies. Now you have President Donald Ramotar continuing along this line. His administration is showing clear symptoms of suffering from the Jagdeo syndrome,” Dr. Thomas said. The economist said that he finds the magnitude of the tax concessions and the value of the gifts to Mohamed to be “absurd”. He said that it needs to be investigated, halted and made the subject of intense legal action.
He said that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration has concocted yet again, another contract that represents a betrayal to the Guyanese people and continued loyalty to enriching just a few through the abuse of the electorate.
“This contract between the two parties is perhaps worse than the Marriott Hotel. It is illegal and needs to be stopped. The (government) is entrusted with the nation’s resources to protect it and govern it wisely.
“The clauses of that contract show that the government has disregarded its responsibility to the people and no attention was paid to due diligence. It gifted billions of dollars’ worth in tax concessions to this contracting company without any proper process being carried out in a transparent and accountable manner.
“It is negligence and disrespect of the highest order and they should be prosecuted,” Dr. Thomas stated.
Since the disclosure of the most generous contract agreement, it has attracted scorching criticisms from the political opposition, particularly from the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) and A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) financial point man, Carl Greenidge.
Earlier this week, the WPA articulated that it is appalled at Government’s recent gifting of a 40-year monopoly licence to Mohamed. Dr Roger Luncheon, the Cabinet Secretary, has since said that there is no 40-year contract.
Since then the Opposition party has threatened to ensure that the maintenance contract is cancelled.
The WPA described it as the “theft of state resources in the last days of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).” The party said, too, that those responsible for the gift to Dax Engineering will not escape prosecution.
When contacted by this newspaper on Thursday for a comment, the contractor, Faisal Dax Mohamed said, “Hey, Hey, listen. You go and  f**k youself.” He hanged up the phone immediately after.

 

May 3, 2015

US$100M spent on ICT projects…Jagdeo’s cronies begin takeover of telecoms sector

Two years ago, Kaieteur News which has been reporting and raising questions over the spending of taxpayers’ monies, predicted that moves were afoot to take over the telecommunication industry.
The aim of the takeover was to enrich family and friends of Bharrat Jagdeo.
This was after evidence emerged that a number of companies with close links to the Jagdeo government were mandated to receive telecommunication licences to conduct operations in this multi-billion-dollar industry.
The telecommunication industry is described as one of the most lucrative businesses in the world.
Under the direction of former President Bharrat Jagdeo, draft telecommunications laws named E-Networks Inc., Quark Communications and Global Technology as companies that will be granted telecommunications Operator Licences when the market is liberalized.
Heading E-Network is Vishok Persaud, whose sister is Dr. Vindhya Persaud. Both are children of the late PPP executive, Dr. Reepu Persaud. Rakesh Puri of Continental Industries and Keith Evelyn, of Hand in Hand, are also included.
Quark Communications has as its directors, Winston Brassington, Jagdeo’s niece Sabrina Singh, and Brian Yong, a close friend of the former President.
A director on Global Technology’s Board is Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, Jagdeo’s best friend.
It was made clear, based also on complaints by the two current licenced telecommunication companies, Digicel and the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T), that plans were afoot also to delay the liberalization and expansion of the market to facilitate these companies, which included E-Networks and Quark Communications.
Among the nine cable operators in Guyana, seven were prevented from expanding while E-Networks and Quark Communications were allowed to expand countrywide.
It is now the stark truth that the scheme has started to become a reality, as is evident by news over a week ago that Government has handed control of the Brazil-linked fibre optic cable to a local sawmiller turned contractor, Faisal Mohamed, owner of Dax Contracting Services.
In one fell swoop, the administration allowed Dax Contracting Services access to the Brazilian fibre optic cable and structure equipment including road access, access to poles, access to repeater stations and “others” countrywide.
The entire investments by Guyana, exceed US$100M, and will allow Dax and his partners to compete with GT&T and Digicel and give Faisal Mohamed exclusive rights to the communication cable.
It will be recalled that in 2010, when GT&T landed its US$30M fibre optic cable in a joint project with Suriname, former President Bharrat Jagdeo announced that Government was bringing one at the same cost.
His administration argued, then, that the move was to put Guyana on par with the rest of the world in the Information Communications Technology (ICT) industry.
The country’s poor internet speed was singled out as the reason why development was lacking.
US$100M and counting
Between 2010 and 2014, under the National Budget, Government allocated $20B (US$100) for a number of projects. These included:
*A Brazil-linked fibre optic cable running from Lethem to Georgetown. Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon, had said that the cost for procurement and laying of the cable was US$4.5. But in a paid advertisement last week, Government said the cost of US$4.5M was only for the laying of the cable.
*A US$32M networking system that includes 54 towers and a data centre stretching from Moleson Creek, Berbice to Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast.
*A US$27M One Laptop per Family project that will see 90,000 laptops distributed to poor family across the country over three years.
A US$42M transmission lines project, with a built in fibre optic cable, of the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) was also announced. This fibre optic cable stretches from Moleson Creek to Anna Regina.
Late last year, following reports in Kaieteur News, Government admitted that the Brazilian fibre optic cable was damaged before it had even become operational.
The fact that the Brazilian cable is still not in operation has held back the ambitious E-Governance project from benefiting Guyanese. Thousands of citizens have the laptops distributed by Government but no internet.
With all the attention on the ICT projects and its costs, Government announced over a week ago that it has struck a deal with Dax which had done work on the fibre optic cable in the early stages, to fix it.
According to the government, Dax Contracting Services Limited will fix the cable at no cost. However, in Clause Six of the contract, it specifically states that the Government of Guyana would undertake “to contribute financially to the cost of specific maintenance service of an emergency nature.”
The government also agreed for the contractor to use and maintain the fibre optic cable, repeater stations and equipment for a period of 25 years with the option of renewal for an additional 15 years.
Licence
Government promised to support Dax, according to the law, to obtain licences to transmit and receive data via the fibre optic cable.
Among other things, the agreement said, Dax will be provided with tax exemptions and incentives including but not limited to tax holidays; remissions; waivers and duty free concessions on importation of equipment, spares, tools and vehicles.
The contractor, according to the agreement, will be free to enter into a joint venture arrangement with any other company or entity. This includes the use of the cable to transmit and receive data and information from any part of the world.
Dax will become sole operator for the cable and granted an Operator Licence or its equivalent issued by the Government of Guyana under two conditions.
According to the agreement, these will be if Dax fully and willingly accepts the risks involved in accepting and using an Operator Licence prior to the enactment of the applicable legislation and support the Government in any response that the Government has to legally undertake in the likelihood of intervention by GT&T/ATN with regards to the granting and use of the Operator Licence.
When contacted by this newspaper last week for a comment, the contractor, Faisal ‘Dax’ Mohamed said, “Hey, hey listen, you can go and f***k yourself.” He hung up the phone immediately after.

 

May 3, 2015

Breaking News

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 04, 2015

Brazil to Guyana fibre optic cable… Dax contract is born out of corrupt intentions – Lawyers

– agreement ignores termination and penalty clauses, time frame for completion

Most, if not all contracts between Government and any contractor for any national project are supposed to have certain central conditions.
The contract must have, at least, the timeframe within which that project must be completed, a termination clause, a penalty clause and comments regarding insurance.
But these very fundamental conditions are absent from the recent two-page agreement signed between the current administration and Dax Contracting Services Ltd. on the rehabilitation of the Brazil to Guyana fibre optic cable project.
In fact, the contract between the two, sees Faisal ‘Dax’ Mohamed, receiving billions of dollars worth in concessions with Government even making a commitment to provide a financial contribution to the local contractor.
It is against this background that lawyers are of the firm opinion that the ‘Dax agreement’ lacks the makings of a legal contract. They went further to state that it is “nothing but another give away, a sweetheart deal and another move in Government’s plans to grab and control the telecommunications sector.”
The termination clause describes what will happen if the contract is ended early or defaulted on.
It can make the contractor that is responsible for the default or termination pay damages to the other party.
As for the penalty clause, this provides a form of punishment, such as a fine or forfeit if the contractor, for example, fails to fulfill the obligations of the contract.
Moses Nagamootoo, one of the lawyers, said that a contract without any penalty clause for the contractor in case he fails to carry out the outlined obligations, is “nothing but a joke.”
Another lawyer, who has practised Contract Law for a number of years, said, “The fact that Government failed to take into account the possibility of the contractor not living up to the agreed arrangements, points to the scope of the illegality that they plan to be involved in and as such the contract itself is born out of corrupt intentions.”
The lawyer emphasized that penalties are included in contracts to ensure that there is a binding commitment to the tasks being carried out by the contractor in a timely and efficient manner.
“So since that is absent, the contractor can take his sweet time. And so we see another contract with all the makings of a giveaway package. It has the corrupt style of the former President, Bharrat Jagdeo all over it.
“Agreements normally cite obligations and responsibilities of the contractor and the Dax agreement does not even follow this procedure.
“It does not outline specifically, the nature of the works to be completed and the extent of the damage done.
“Nothing in that regard is specific except the concessions. This just goes to show the disrespect this government has for the electorate, the people who entrusted them with the responsibility to manage wisely, their resources.
“But this represents a spit in their (electorate) faces,” the lawyer expressed.

AFC Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan, also expressed similar sentiments, He went further to state that once the APNU+AFC assumes office, the contract will be pulled from Mohamed.
Additionally, well known economist, Dr. Clive Thomas, on Saturday last lashed out at the architects of the agreement. He had said that the deal which allows Mohamed some exclusive shares in a state cable is not only disrespectful to the Guyanese people, but highly illegal.
He had said, too, that the crafters of the contract should be made to face the court.
On March 16, last, Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon on behalf of the government, negotiated with and signed a special agreement with Dax Contracting Services Ltd.
Under the agreement, Dax will undertake the repair and maintain the fibre optic cable from Brazil.
This contract is for an initial 25 years with an option to renew it for a further 15 years. This gives Dax a total of 40 years of cable rights.
Government has also undertaken to provide Mohamed with the necessary support to receive and transmit data by way of the cable after granting the company an operating licence.
And for free, Mohamed will be able to use the Government-owned fibre optic cables and structures including, roads, the poles, access to repeater stations and other things.
Dax Contracting Services would also be provided with tax exemptions and incentives, including but not limited to tax holidays, remissions, tax waivers and duty free concessions on equipment, spares, tools  and vehicles.
The government insists that it will retain possession and use of most of the bandwidth, as agreed to between Dax and the government.
As the owner of parts of the cable, Mohamed can invite and sign with any company or entity to use them to transmit and receive data and information from any part of the world in the same way that today’s telephone companies operate.
To add insult to injury, the government has agreed to pay Dax for specific emergency maintenance.
In exchange for the operating licence, Mohamed will accept the risks involved in accepting and using the operating licence even before the telecommunications legislation is passed.
This arrangement will insulate the government from any legal challenge from the monopoly holder of the landline service, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) Company. Should the telephone company pursue legal avenues, it would be Mohamed facing the fire.
This same contracting service owned by Mohamed, was one of the five contractors hired to lay the cable from Lethem to Georgetown.
When a Kaieteur News reporter contacted Mohamed, he told her, “Hey, hey listen. You can go and f**k youself.”
He hung up the phone immediately after.

 

May 04, 2015

Govt. continues old ways of “no transparency” with Dax contract – Ralph Ramkarran

The Government has come under heavy fire from Former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran, who described its recent contract with Dax Contracting Services Ltd (Dax) as having “all the hallmarks of criticisms made against the Government in relation to procurement.”

That agreement sees Dax being given a 25 year maintenance contract with the option to renew for an additional 15 years. The maintenance contract is for the rehabilitation of the Brazil to Guyana fibre optic cable. Dax, which is owned by Faisal Mohamed, was also granted millions worth in tax breaks and holidays in exchange for the maintenance of the cable.
The Former Speaker aired his criticism on the agreement in a recent post on his blog, The Conversation Tree entitled “Axe the Dax”.
The former House Speaker said that this particular cable project has been plagued with controversy, as it was to be part of the E-Governance Project, which had the objective of providing Government agencies with the capacity to develop ICT capabilities.
This is despite the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) Company’s fibre optic cable having the capacity to satisfy all of Guyana’s Telecommunication need. With the implementation of another fibre optic cable, the Government is being accused of undermining GT&T, as they could have purchased the cable from the telephone company which would have proven to be far more cost effective.
“The contract between the Government and Dax Engineering Company Inc. in relation to the E-governance Georgetown to Brazil fibre optic cable, drew loud objections from APNU (A Partnership for National Unity) and the WPA (Working People’s Alliance), both vowing to rescind it,” wrote Ramkarran.
The political commentator further highlighted the provisions which were granted to Dax under the Government contract; that being the access Dax has to use the entire fibre optic cable, repeater stations, infrastructure and equipment for 25 years, with an option a 15 renewal. The agreement also includes enormous tax benefits, in return for repairing the cable as well as Dax being given licenses to “transmit and receive data and information”.
In his article, Ramkarran explained that while the constitution and other legal avenues do not object to the contract, “entering into important contractual obligations or arrangements by the Government after the announcement of elections is prohibited by convention.”
To this end, Ramkarran posited that the Government is unbothered by the principles of transparent governance, as the recent timing of the agreement with Dax is testament of that.
Moreover, the former politician outlined three issues that arise from Government’s most recent procurement. The first of which being the timing of the contract so close to elections with the second being that the terms appear to have already been negotiated and is a “complete giveaway”. The latter he said is contrary to Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon’s indication that negotiations were still necessary to determine the number of “pairs” in the cable that Dax would eventually receive. The third of these issues, according to Ramkarran, is the failure of the Government to transparently advertise bids for the project.
According to the former PPP member, such issues present a clear vindication of those who were initially against the project due to the suspicion that it was being set up in competition to the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) to benefit cronies. However, Ramkarran said that the Government may claim that circumstances necessitated the privatisation of the project, but stressed that this move will result in a “destructive competitive environment”, with respect to a product which will be in oversupply as a result of Government action.
“It will result in an undermining of market forces and loss of confidence by the business community in the Government’s bonafides with respect to creating fair conditions for creative competition to flourish,” wrote Ramkarran.
In concluding his article, Ramkarran stated that the awarding of a contract more suitable for competitive bidding and has implications for an entire industry, continues the Government’s “old ways” of “no transparency”. This, he said, is despite the PPP/C’s promise to deal with corruption.
“The other companies which have been granted permission to lay fibre optic cables have also been undermined by this act,” concluded the former speaker. !

 

May 06, 2015

Govt. lies about free fibre optic cable repairs

Government’s claim that Dax Contracting Services would be repairing the Brazil fibre optic cable at no cost to

taxpayers, is false and misleading.
The government has granted Faisal ‘Dax’ Mohamed hundreds of millions of dollars in duty free concessions on luxury vehicles.
In the agreement signed March 16, Dax is allowed to import two SUVs and three 4-door pickups every three years for the life of the 25-year agreement. This contract has a 15-year extension clause that is attached to the 25-year contract.
Two high-end SUVs (Mercedes or Lexus 570, or BMW) and three 4-door pick-ups attract some $250M in duty and taxes.
This represents a hefty payment to Dax Contracting Services, according to one contractor.
Dax, if he desires, could sell them and rake in a very tidy profit.
This is just one of the many concessions that Government allowed Dax Contracting Services in the agreement that it says comes at no cost to taxpayers.
A fortnight ago, Dr Roger Luncheon, the chief Government spokesman, announced that he signed an agreement with Dax Contracting Services Limited of Eccles, East Bank Demerara, to repair the damaged Brazilian fibre optic cable.
He said that the repairs would come at no cost to Government.
The deal with Dax Contracting has raised anger as Government is on record for spending at least US$100M on what it calls the Information Communication Technology (ICT) project.
This project includes the Brazil fibre optic cable that runs from Lethem to

Georgetown, construction of a wireless and terrestrial network from Moleson Creek, Corentyne, to Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast, and the distribution of 90,000 laptops to poor families.
The contract with Dax Contracting is seen as a giveaway with serious questions being raised as to who Dax is fronting for.
The ICT project has been under scrutiny for a number of years after evidence emerged that a plan, under the direction of former President Bharrat Jagdeo, was hatched to take over the telecoms industry.
He directed under draft telecoms legislations that three companies be granted Operators Licence once new liberalizations laws come into place. Those companies included Quark Communication, E-Networks and Global Technology.
All three companies have directors that are close to Jagdeo, including his niece, Sabrina Singh, and buddy friend, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop along with Winston Brassington, whose privatization of state assets has raised glaring questions.
In December, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, admitted that the project, headed by Alexei Ramotar, was in trouble, and talks were underway with a local contractor and a consortium to resurrect it.
The contract reveals that Dax will enjoy unlimited benefits, as well as uncontrolled usage of the cable and every aspect of the US$100 million ICT project.
The agreement is for the repair, use and maintenance of the fibre optic cable from Brazil.
Government spokesman, Dr Roger Luncheon, said that the Brazil cable has 12 pairs of fibre. Dax was granted a few for his exclusive use.
Government also granted tax exemptions, incentives, tax holidays and remissions.
Dax will use and maintain the said fibre optic cable, repeater stations and equipment for the 40-year duration of the contract.
He will also have access to and approval for use of the Government of Guyana-owned fibre optic structure equipment including road access, and access to poles.
”The Government of Guyana will provide Dax Contracting Services with the necessary support, according to the law, in obtaining licences to transmit and receive data via the fibre optic cable.
When contacted recently by this newspaper for a comment, the contractor, Faisal ‘Dax’ Mohamed said, “Hey, hey listen, you can go and f***k yourself.” He hung up the phone immediately after.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 07, 2015

Gov’t. grants tax concessions in three packages: Gold, Silver and Bronze -APNU+AFC

A Partnership for National Unity plus Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) has been highlighting the “ad hoc” manner in which Government seems to be handing out tax concessions and tax holidays to foreign investors and local businessmen.

These criticisms were made before but are on the frontburner again given the recent deal struck between Government and a local contractor. That contract signed by Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon and Faisal Mohamed of Dax Contracting Services sees the latter party receiving billions of dollars worth in concessions.
Apart from the magnitude of the tax concessions granted, what is a serious matter of concern to the opposition is the fact that the contract says nothing about penalties to be effected if Dax does not follow through with the obligations of the arrangement to repair and maintain the Brazil to Guyana fibre optic cable. The contract lacks a termination clause and even a time for completion.
The opposition has also highlighted the controversial Marriott Hotel which has been the recipient of extravagant tax holidays and tax breaks similar to Dax.
Given the aforementioned “concession-trend”, the party has concluded that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) grants concessions in three packages: Gold, Silver and Bronze.
One of APNU+AFC’s financial advisors, Jaipaul Sharma, said, “The gold package is the first-class tax concessions that Government grants through the Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh to its family and best friends.
“The silver package is for party members and the bronze package represents the tax concessions

that are given to its supporters.”
Sharma, an accountant, said that he is disgusted at the manner in which Government discriminates when it comes to investments.
He added, “The thing that is most despicable about this administration is that in no sector or no area can you find it operating with an ounce of decency or transparency and accountability.
“With these enormous concessions they are granting to their friends, family and favourites, it is clear that Government wants to control the market.
“They want to control the very bread on our table and who we get it from. And the sickening thing is that they enjoy watching the poor bleed just to make ends meet in this country. This PPP/C administration has a sick and twisted mindset for development.
“Everything they do is to accelerate growth for themselves. So when Ashni Singh talks about Guyana’s economy growing, that is not true, it is their pockets that they are referring to.”
Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram, said that should the APNU+AFC assume office, it would be wise for it to look at a few things relating to tax concessions.
Ram said that the discretion given to the Finance Minister to be the final check point for the approval of concessions needs to be reviewed.
He said that the secretive manner in which tax concessions are treated need to be rejected immediately. The new government should deal with it in an open manner, forthwith.
“The decisions to grant tax concessions should not be left to the Finance Minister alone. We should have some strict rules regarding concessions and tax holidays and those should be incorporated into the law.
“The regulations need to provide for a strict review process and failure from certain companies to meet the relevant terms and conditions attached to the tax breaks should lead to automatic suspension and or revocation of the tax concessions granted to them by the Ministry of Finance,” Ram added.
APNU’s financial point man, Carl Greenidge, had also taken a jab at the Dax deal and the PPP/C’s “carefree” granting of concessions to persons with close ties to it.
Greenidge said that the “Dax Deal” is just another prime example of how the current administration strays far from what the tax laws stipulate.
According to the Fiscal Incentives Institutional Framework for Investment, incentives are supposed to be granted in such a manner that they foster and promote a suitable investment climate for both local and foreign investors.
The document says that Government’s commitment to investment is also set out in the Investment Act (No. 1 of 2004), which was crafted – “…to stimulate the socio economic development of Guyana, and to attract and facilitate investment.”
The APNU Executive Member said that tax concessions are supposed to be granted in a transparent manner and one that promotes the adherence to international best practices regarding investment.
He stressed that based on how government operates, as is evident in the case with its recent “Dax Deal”, favouritism plays out when giving out tax breaks and holidays to entrepreneurs.
“It is obvious that such behaviour defeats the purpose for which tax concessions are to be granted. How Government grants these tax holidays obviously leads to the death of certain companies. It creates unfair competition,” the former Finance Minister added.
The tax laws also state that Government should not discriminate against types of investments, investors (local or foreign), or types of ventures (company, joint venture, partnerships or sole trading) as long as the investment is sound and duly effected by a legally constituted body/person.
The APNU Executive Member reminded of the billions of dollars worth in tax breaks, holidays and concessions granted to the Marriott Hotel. He then pointed to the details of the recent contract between the government and Dax Contracting Services.
This contract is for an initial 25 years with an option to renew it for a further 15 years. This gives Dax a total of 40 years of cable rights.
Government has also undertaken to provide Mohamed with the necessary support to receive and transmit data by way of the cable after granting the company an operating licence.
And for free, Mohamed will be able to use the Government-owned fibre optic cables and structures including, roads, the poles, access to repeater stations and other things.
Dax Contracting Services would also be provided with tax exemptions and incentives, including but not limited to tax holidays, remissions, tax waivers and duty free concessions on equipment, spares, tools and vehicles.
The government insists that it will retain possession and use of most of the bandwidth, as agreed to between Dax and the government.
As the owner of parts of the cable, Mohamed can invite and sign with any company or entity to use them to transmit and receive data and information from any part of the world in the same way that today’s telephone companies operate.
To add insult to injury, the government has agreed to pay Dax for specific emergency maintenance.
“This dying administration cannot deny that it is guilty of granting these concessions in an ad hoc fashion. It ignores the fair and equitable manner it is supposed to be distributed.”
The criteria government uses to grant tax breaks is very clear and known to all by now. You have to be either:  a family member or relative, a close friend, known for lending support to the PPP/C and /or willing to stoop to any level to carry out their corrupt bidding,” Greenidge said.

 

May 08, 2015

Ramroop provides telecoms services to Govt. without licence

Seven weeks after Government handed control of its multi-billion-dollar Information and

Communications Technologies (ICT) network to a local contractor for next to nothing, there is evidence that close friends of the administration are rapidly tightening their stranglehold of the industry.
Yesterday, iNet Communications, a company with close links to Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, said that it has deployed broadband satellite internet connections capable of speeds of up to 10 megabytes per second (Mbps).
The company is also claiming that it is a licenced telecommunications provider in Guyana.
But the only two licenced telecoms providers currently allowed to operate are Digicel and the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T).
iNet said that it has already deployed the Internet Protocol (IP) Easy Satellite solution for several key users, including Government  and army, mining, small businesses and residential consumers.
In addition to the army, iNet is already boasting big clients including the Guyana Forestry Commission, Ministry of Education, Bank of Guyana, Guyana Sugar Corporation, Guyana National Industrial Company, National Insurance Scheme, Ministry of Finance and the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
Ramroop is the best friend of former President Bharrat Jagdeo, has shares in, and is a director

of iNet which is controlled by Global Technology.
The latter says that it has been rapidly expanding its internet reach to especially the remote areas and Government agencies.
According to a press statement from iNet, it entered a deal to supply services across Guyana, connecting remote Amerindian communities, mining communities, remote schools and military bases.
Army link
“The service is ideal for customers with offices in multiple locations where satellite connectivity is the only option to provide connectivity. The Guyana Defence Force has confirmed its order for this satellite solution to be installed at four of their major remote locations in the Amazon jungle.
“The first installation was successfully completed at the New River Triangle base, with the remaining installations due to be completed soon.”
George Melville, CEO of iNet Communications, said, “The dishes have to be transported from Georgetown to remote locations in the Amazon via light aircraft, where the small size of the antennas facilitates easy transportation.”
He said that his company is proud to be able to offer all Guyanese an affordable 10Mbps connection over satellite for the first time.
“We are now the only telecommunications provider with this capability, and we are growing the

network with several installations per day. Having an affordable satellite network that is simple to install, versatile and robust, is a milestone for Guyana.”
The Global Technology Group describes itself as a privately held technology solutions provider that is the combination of three companies: iNet Communications (acquired in 2013), Global Technology Inc. and Global Services Inc.
iNet Communications says it is a licenced telecommunications provider in Guyana, specializing in designing, installing and actively managing large data networking solutions for Government agencies.
“iNet recently started to offer similar networking solutions to corporations.”
Maintains Govt. networks
Global Services says it maintains all of the government and corporate networks that the group is responsible for.
iNet is one of four companies named by Jagdeo in draft telecoms liberalization legislations to receive telecoms licences when new liberalization laws are pass. It will allow Ramroop to compete with the current two licensed providers, Digicel and GT&T.
The other companies, which Ramroop and Jagdeo have links to, and which are set to also be licenced include E-Networks and Quark Communications.
The Opposition has been questioning Government about lucrative concessions and the promised licences which all spoke of a massive scheme by Jagdeo and close friends of the administration to gain control of the very lucrative telecoms sector which not only offers internet connectivity, but the possibilities of radios, cable television, mobile and other telephone services.
The telecoms (ICT) industry is one of the most lucrative in the world with most countries placing a premium price on it. Some countries like Jamaica and even India are auctioning their airwaves.
Officials have been sacked for mismanagement and manipulating contracts in favor of particular companies.
Two weeks ago, Government announced that it signed a deal with Faisal ‘Dax’ Mohamed of Dax Contracting Services to repair the Brazil fibre optic cable which was supposed to bring internet to link state agencies and provide internet access for 90,000 families that were part of a programme to receive laptops.
Dax Contracting, according to the agreement that has been made public, now has control of the US$100M-plus network that runs Lethem to Georgetown and stretches from Anna Regina to Moleson Creek.
It is believed that the Dax deal is really to allow Ramroop and few others control over Telecoms sector, a scam that was unearthed and made public by Kaieteur News two years ago.

 

May 08, 2015

Brazil to Guyana fibre optic cable project…Repairs start, formula for government funding “not worked out” – says Dax Contracting Services

Repairs have started on the Brazil to Guyana fibre optic cable. Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon, said that works began early last month.

However, the “special formula” to be used to determine how much money Government will spend to aid the contractor during a crisis, is yet to be worked out.
This is according to Faisal ‘Dax’ Mohamed of Dax Contracting Services.
Mohamed was asked to explain how the government said on one hand that he will be providing the services free of cost yet a clause in the agreement sees him receiving funding under certain circumstances.
Clause eight of the agreement states, “The Government of Guyana undertakes to contribute financially to the cost of the specific maintenance service of an emergency nature according to an approved formula that takes into account the government of Guyana’s provision of duty free concessions for equipment, spares and tools.”
He was also asked to explain this formula referred to in the clause.
Mohamed said that one must remember that the “contract is for 40 years and it would involve certain maintenance work such as the repairing of utility poles. Government would pitch in for that.”
As for the formula, he said that Kaieteur News was posing the question to the wrong person. He said that he does not know anything about the formula, “I have to sit down with them and work it out.”
Dax Contracting Services was also granted exclusive usage to “some pairs of fibres” in the cable. He claimed, however, that the number has to be determined. He stressed that the architect of the deal was the government.
Dr. Luncheon said that the contract specifically excluded any arrangement of Dax using the fibres granted to him to become a telecommunications operator.
However, Mohamed said that he cannot say for sure whether he would not use the cables for that purpose. He said that the crux of the matter is getting the cable up and running.
Though there is no timeframe for completion of the project in the contract, the Dax proprietor said that he is looking to get the job done within six to eight months.
Dr. Luncheon had told the media that the cost for procurement of the cable as well as laying it was US$4.5M. But in a published advertisement, the government said that US$4.5M was the cost of laying the cable. Asked to clear the air on this matter, the contractor laughed heartily and said, “It’s whatever Luncheon said.”
He had said that the entire repairs programme would cost about US$10 million.
Why is he spending US$10M on a $4.5M cable? Mohamed said that he is positive that the repairs will cost him, “much less” than he estimated.
He said that he only signed the contract “to make a living” when asked why he signed on to something that he is unable to explain or claims to not fully understand.
Mohamed added, “I think I made a big mistake trying to take on this project because no one is saying anything positive. No one is saying we doing a good job. Everybody is on our bones. I can do without this cable.”
He was asked to comment on Clause 10 (2) of the contract which says, “Dax Contracting will fully and timely support the Government of Guyana in any response that the Government of Guyana has to legally undertake in the likelihood of intervention by GT&T/ATN with regards to the granting and use of the Operator Licence.”
The cable contractor said that it is simply a means for Government to protect itself from any legal action but emphasized that he would not be facing any possible risk.
Mohamed said that given all that has unfolded about the project and the contract, he will “now” get his lawyer to review the contract which lacks a penalty clause or a termination clause.
On March 16, last, Dr Luncheon on behalf of the government negotiated with and signed the special agreement with Mohamed.
Under the agreement, Dax will undertake to the repair, use and maintenance of the fibre optic cable from Brazil. This contract is for an initial 25 years with an option to renew it for a further 15 years. This gives Dax a total of 40 years of cable rights.
Government has also undertaken to provide Mohamed with the necessary support to receive and transmit data by way of the cable after granting the company an operating licence.
And for free, Mohamed will be able to use some of the Government-owned fibre optic cables and structures including, roads, the poles, access to repeater stations and other things.
Dax Contracting Services would also be provided with tax exemptions and incentives, including but not limited to tax holidays, remissions, tax waivers and duty free concessions on equipment, spares, tools   and vehicles.
The vehicles would be two SUVs, and three four-door pick-ups, renewable three years for the next 40 years. The government insists that it will retain possession and use of the bandwidth, as agreed to between Dax and the government.
As the owner of the cable, Mohamed can invite and sign with any company or entity to use the cable to transmit and receive data and information from any part of the world in the same way that today’s telephone companies operate.
Dax Contracting Services, owned by Mohamed, was one of the five contractors hired to lay the cable from Lethem to Georgetown.

 

May 20, 2015

Telecoms, AML bills high on agenda of 11th Parliament – Harmon

The liberalisation of the telecommunications sector is set to become a reality with the new administration.

Head (ag) of the Presidential Secretariat, Joseph Harmon, in an interview with the National Communications Network Inc., on Monday indicated that the new APNU+AFC administration intends to put on the front-burner the passage of the Telecommunications Bill in the 11th Parliament.
Harmon, in a Government statement, explained that the Bill was on the verge of conclusion, prior to the prorogation of the last Parliament. The Bill, which was first introduced in 2011, and revised in 2013, was at the level of Select Committee in the 10th Parliament. It is set to address concerns, including those of the industry’s stakeholders.
“When the Parliament was prorogued, we were on the verge of completing the works in the Special Select Committee for the entire package of legislation… since the bulk of the work was already done, I think we can have consent on the way forward, to ensure that that happens (the Bill is passed),” Harmon explained.
“We have to really move this sector forward. It is important not only to businesses, but to the school children, the people in the education system, so we can have better bandwidth, faster communication with the rest of the world,” he said.
He noted that, “it is something that is so unusual, when foreigners come and they want to access the internet and it is so slow, it can hinder them from doing business in the way they want to do it.”
The Bill seeks to create a competitive regime in the telecommunications sector.
It provides for an open, liberalised and competitive sector that will be attractive to new market entrants and investors, while preserving the activities of the current participants.  By creating this competitive environment for telecommunications, the Bill is expected to result in greater choice, better quality of service and lower prices for consumers.
The Bill also specifically addresses the expansion of telecommunication networks and services into un-served and under-served areas, through the institution of a new universal access/universal service programme, in an effort to further national, regional, social and economic development.
The passage had been delayed after the former People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government, met resistance from the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T), which has the monopoly on landline and international calls. GT&T wanted to negotiate.
Meanwhile, Harmon who is to be Minister in charge of the Ministry of the Presidency-currently known as the Office of the President, said that the country will, within the 11th Parliament, join the rest of the countries that have passed and implemented their Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism  (AMLCFT) Bill.
This Bill too was at the level of a Special Select Committee, ready to facilitate amendments put forward by the new administration, when it was in the opposition. These amendments had to do with strengthening the enforcement of the Bill, so as to make it more relevant.
Its passage had been delayed because of the standoff between the Opposition and the former administration during the 10th Parliament.
”I can say that (the passage of the AML Bill) is a priority for us,” Harmon said. He said that this is one matter in which the new administration will test the truthfulness and the positions of the Opposition, to see if they really want the Bill to pass.
“We will put it back on the front burner, and we will let the Guyanese people see that we are going to push aggressively for it,” Harmon said. “We have always said that we wanted Anti Money Laundering Legislation that was wholesome, that dealt with the mechanisms for enforcement, and we have those things already in the draft before the Special Select Committee. So it is just a matter of getting back there, getting the arguments finished very quickly and getting it (the Bill) before the floor,” he explained.
Passage of the internationally-required legislation, emanating out of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), a body that is responsible for monitoring the operations of legislation of this type throughout the Caribbean, is to achieve effective implementation of and compliance with international recommendations on the prevention and control of money laundering and the combating of the financing of terrorism.

 

June 29, 2015

Brazil-Guyana fibre optic cable…Contract will be renegotiated – Harmon

– contractor remains very open to fresh talks
– E-Governance Head, Alexei Ramotar, willing to work with administration

After some weeks of information gathering, the Granger administration has decided on its plans for the highly contentious Brazil to Guyana fibre optic cable project.
Minister of State, Joseph Harmon during his latest press conference told Kaieteur News that this is another project to come under the government’s radar considering that it is absorbing millions of taxpayers’ dollars.
“I did indicate to you the last time we met that I had a request from the gentlemen you spoke about, Fasil Mohamed, but I was not ready to meet with him because I need to get a better sense of where we are with the project and I am now able to do so. I have met with the persons in government who had anything to do with it and so I am in a better position to do so,” the Minister stated.
He added, “I am looking at several things in this regard because we are spending monies on a daily basis on some of these projects and we may have to just draw the line, and say no more work until we see what is going on here but we haven’t gotten to that as yet because we were in the process of gathering information to put us in a position to make informed decisions.”
The fibre optic cable project is part of an Information Communication Technology Initiative of the former PPP/C government to bring cheaper internet service to Guyana’s shores from the neighbouring Portuguese speaking territory.
But after some years, the cable project collapsed and under pressure from the media, the previous administration admitted that the cable was in a poor state.

Before the PPP/C lost the May 11, 2015 elections, former Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon had announced that Dax Contracting Services owned by Faisal Mohamed, was awarded a contract to rehabilitate the cable.
The agreement states that Dax will undertake the repair and maintain the fibre optic cable from Brazil. This contract is for an initial 25 years with an option to renew it for a further 15 years. This gives Dax a total of 40 years of cable rights.
The PPP/C administration also undertook to provide Mohamed with the necessary support to receive and transmit data by way of the cable after granting the company an operating licence.
And for free, Mohamed will be able to use the Government-owned fibre optic cables and structures including, roads, the poles, access to repeater stations and other things.
Dax Contracting Services would also be provided with tax exemptions and incentives, including but not limited to tax holidays, remissions, tax waivers and duty free concessions on equipment, spares, tools and vehicles.
The then PPP government insisted that it would retain possession and use of most of the bandwidth.
As the owner of parts of the cable, the contract gave Mohamed the power to invite and sign with any company or entity to use them to transmit and receive data and information from any part of the world in the same way that today’s telephone companies operate.
To add insult to injury, the former government had agreed to pay Dax for specific emergency maintenance.
Harmon also spoke to the issue of Guyana already accumulating some US$76, 000 annually in debt for the internet connectivity which had stopped at the Brazilian borders even though Guyana is yet to utilize it.
The Minister of State said, “We are going to renegotiate all these things (debt). What I found is that in a number of the international agreements which we entered during the PPP era, the quality of the negotiations was very poor in some cases…So with respect to Brazil and the debt and that contract, we have to re-enter into conversations with the Brazilians and to see whether in fact we can get a better deal.”
He added, “We are fresh and we are a new government and I believe some countries might very well want to cut us some slack because they recognize that the image of this country has been severely damaged by the previous administration…”
Additionally, the Dax Contracting Services proprietor told Kaieteur News in a brief interview that he is eager to meet the new administration and speak with them on the works needed to be done on the Brazil to Guyana fibre optic cable. He sought to set the record straight that even though he was given what appeared to be a “sweetheart contract”, he has been unable to access the concessions.
Mohamed said that “it is tied up at the Finance Ministry.”
The Contractor said that as a result of this, he has been forced to dip into his own pockets to complete at least quarter of the works costing millions of dollars.
He noted that thus far he has finished most of the works on the Linden Highway with some minor adjustments to be made.
“I am willing to negotiate with the new administration, the whole contract and everything, concessions included. I want us all to be happy,” Mohamed added.
Further, the Minister of State, Joseph Harmon maintained that he has not seen the head of the E-Governance project, Alexei Ramotar at work since the new administration took over.
Ramotar however, stated that his latest report on the project was submitted just about two weeks ago to the Ministry of the Presidency and he has been reporting for duties daily.
Harmon in the past had been extremely critical of the former President’s son and questioned his competence to hold such a position. While Harmon still holds this view, Ramotar expressed that he is still willing to work along with the new government “given the importance of the E-Governance project.”
The US$32M E-Governance project is not concerned with internet, but acts as a database centre for government agencies and ministries with certain applications which would facilitate a better management of payment processes and other information efficiently. Ramotar had explained that internet is just a service the project can provide, but it is not the main purpose of the project. He had said that the project will be rolled out in a phased manner and could take a number of years because of its expansive nature.
The E-governance project, he insisted, “was completed and is in the process of being operationalized.”

 

 July 04, 2015

Brazil to Guyana Fibre Optic Cable too expensive to fix –Alexei Ramotar

– Govt. advised to cut losses – Official  

In providing the Minister of State, Joseph Harmon with an update on the controversial Brazil to Guyana Fibre Optic Cable project, Head of the E-Governance Project, Alexei Ramotar, said yesterday, that the damage to the cable was too grave and would now prove too costly for the new administration to rehabilitate.
During a meeting, yesterday at the project’s office, on Barrack and Duke Street, Kingston, Ramotar told Harmon that 40 percent of the cable has been damaged.
Ramotar explained that he informed Harmon that the cable is in such a bad state that even if Government does move forward with repairing the cable, it would not be able to recover the monies invested.
Another government official, Kaieteur News was told, suggested that Government cut its losses regarding the project, despite millions of taxpayers’ dollars already being expended on it.
Minister Harmon was given a tour of the office, and was updated on projects and operations. Also present at the meeting were Project Control Manager Rosco Greene and Government’s Advisor on E-Governance Mr. Floyd Levi, who will be working closely with Ramotar and the E-Governance project.
Only last week, the Minister of State told the media that Government has decided on its plans for the highly contentious cable project.
Harmon said that this is another project to come under the government’s radar considering that it is absorbing millions of taxpayers’ dollars.
“I did indicate to you the last time we met that I had a request from the gentlemen you spoke about, Fasil Mohamed, but I was not ready to meet with him because I need to get a better sense of where we are with the project and I am now able to do so. I have met with the persons in government who had anything to do with it and so I am in a better position to do so,” the Minister had stated.
The fibre optic cable project is part of an Information Communication Technology Initiative of the former PPP/C government to bring cheaper internet service to Guyana’s shores from the neighbouring Portuguese speaking territory.
But after some years, the cable project collapsed and under pressure from the media, the previous administration admitted that the cable was in a poor state.
While the E-Governance Head believes that the cable is now too expensive to repair, the former administration which his father led, awarded a handsome contract to a local firm to repair it.
Before the PPP/C lost the May 11, 2015 elections, former Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon had announced that Dax Contracting Services owned by Faisal Mohamed, was awarded a contract to rehabilitate the cable.
The agreement states that Dax will undertake to repair and maintain the fibre optic cable from Brazil. This contract is for an initial 25 years with an option to renew it for a further 15 years. This gives Dax a total of 40 years of cable rights.
The PPP/C administration also undertook to provide Mohamed with the necessary support to receive and transmit data by way of the cable after granting the company an operating licence.
And for free, Mohamed will be able to use the Government-owned fibre optic cables and structures including roads, the poles, access to repeater stations and other things.
Dax Contracting Services would also be provided with tax exemptions and incentives, including but not limited to tax holidays, remissions, tax waivers and duty free concessions on equipment, spares, tools and vehicles.
The then PPP government insisted that it would retain possession and use of most of the bandwidth.
As the owner of parts of the cable, the contract gave Mohamed the power to invite and sign with any company or entity to use them to transmit and receive data and information from any part of the world in the same way that today’s telephone companies operate.
To add insult to injury, the former government had agreed to pay Dax for specific emergency maintenance.
Harmon also spoke to the issue of Guyana already accumulating some US$76, 000 annually in debt for the internet connectivity which had stopped at the Brazilian borders even though Guyana is yet to utilize it.
The Minister of State said, “We are going to renegotiate all these things (debt). What I found is that in a number of the international agreements which we entered during the PPP era, the quality of the negotiations was very poor in some cases…So with respect to Brazil and the debt and that contract, we have to re-enter into conversations with the Brazilians and to see whether in fact we can get a better deal.”
Additionally, Dax Contracting Services proprietor had told Kaieteur News that he is eager to meet the new administration and speak with them on the works needed to be done on the Brazil to Guyana fibre optic cable. He sought to set the record straight that even though he was given what appeared to be a “sweetheart contract”, he has been unable to access the concessions.
Mohamed said, “It is tied up at the Finance Ministry.”
The Contractor said that as a result of this, he has been forced to dip into his own pockets to complete at least quarter of the works at a cost of millions of dollars.
He noted that thus far he has finished most of the works on the Linden Highway with some minor adjustments to be made.
“I am willing to negotiate with the new administration, the whole contract and everything, concessions included. I want us all to be happy,” Mohamed added.

 

September 15, 2015

Ramroop’s Learning Channel contract will not be renewed

 NCN will fill the gap – Govt.  

By Abena Rockcliffe
The benefits that some have been able to reap from possible insider trading will soon come to an end. Instead of paying Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop $3.6M per month to facilitate the Guyana Learning Channel, the government has decided to make the necessary investment to establish a satellite uplink facility.

The Learning Channel is intended to reach all communities in Guyana by way of satellite. But, apparently that is not what is happening. One of the reasons given by Education Minister, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, for not renewing the contract, is the need for wider reach.
The Learning Channel is transmitted by TVG at a monthly cost of $3.6M. TVG is owned by Dr. ‘Bobby’ Ramroop – former President Bharrat Jagdeo’s best friend. The Learning Channel initiative came into being four years ago, during the tenure of then President Bharrat Jagdeo.
Even though it was lauded as a good initiative, many criticized the fact that Dr. Ramroop was the sole financial beneficiary.
Last evening, Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnarine, indicated that Dr. Ramroop’s contract comes to an end in December and his government has no intention of renewing it.
Dr. Roopnarine said that the matter has already attracted the attention of Cabinet. The Minister noted that it was at the level of Cabinet that “strong recommendations” were made to discontinue the relationship with Ramroop and move towards self- sufficiency.
When Ramroop was given the contract, his television station was the only one in the country with the capacity to facilitate the Learning Channel. Therefore, the previous government, to which he had close ties, placed the hefty contract in his hands.
Politicians, who were sitting on the opposition side at that time, had opined that Ramroop benefitted from insider trading.
A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) Joseph Harmon had said that Guyana needs to move its legislation forward to prosecute those who use privileged information for the unjust enrichment of their friends.

He had said that the granting of the contract by Jagdeo to his best friend is a clear indication that Ramroop was privy to Government’s plan to establish the Learning Channel and as such made the necessary investments in the relevant technologies to air it via satellite.
Harmon had pointed out that this is called insider trading and it is a criminal act in most developed countries.
Either way it was put, the fact was that only TVG could have facilitated the Learning Channel, but that will be no more.
Dr. Roopnaraine said that his government will make all necessary arrangements for the National Communications Network (NCN) to host the Learning Channel.
He said that the PPP’s reasoning for giving Ramroop such a contract is not holding well with the new administration.
“I am sure that whatever system Mr. Ramroop was able to take advantage of, we will also be able to take advantage of. So I do not see this absence of technology as an obstacle; whatever mechanism or technology is required to ensure that the Learning Channel reaches where we want it to reach will be utilized.”
The Minister noted that the Learning Channel is not being accessed all over the country as it was intended to.
He added that NCN is already able to reach all across Guyana so he can see no problem, with NCN being able to fulfill this mandate once the other facilities are put in place.
Dr. Roopnaraine had previously indicated that he would have reviewed the contract for the Learning Channel.
He said that the Ministry would have been looking at the contract with an aim to cut long term cost. Dr. Roopnaraine added that his administration will prefer to have the Learning Channel function in such a way that it can be deemed a government asset as opposed to a rented facility.
When Dr. Ramroop was given the contract, the then opposition—APNU and the Alliance For Change (AFC), the parties now in government—had lauded the Learning Channel as a good initiative, but had labeled the deal behind it as “sour”.
The AFC criticized the arrangement for the project. AFC leader, Khemraj Ramjattan had likened the contracting of TVG to air the Learning Channel for $3.6M monthly, to the Sanata Complex deal authorized by Jagdeo.
He said that though separate deals, their similarities appear to be a mirror reflection. The primary beneficiary of these two deals is Dr. Ramroop. And, in both instances, the deals were specifically designed to suit Ramroop, said Ramjattan.
Ramjattan said that it was a move by Jagdeo to further enrich his close friend.
According to the AFC leader, contracting TVG for this multi-million-dollar project is a perfect example of how the “favoured ones” benefitted under the then PPP/C Government.
He said that the PPP/C should have invested in the necessary technologies for the Learning Channel instead of contracting a ‘privately owned’ television station. This is actually what is now being done.

 

September 21, 2015

Govt. will not force the review of illegally granted radio licences

– Broadcast board will be allowed to do its work without interference
Despite promises to the contrary, the executive has decided that it will not have a hand in ensuring that all the illegally granted radio licences are reviewed. According to the Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, the onus is now on the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) to decide whether a review is fitting.
That means that the Authority will get to decide if it should conduct a review, when it will conduct the review and how this review will be done.
In 2011, outgoing President Bharrat Jagdeo granted permission to 11 persons and entities to run radio stations. Those granted licences include Jagdeo’s best friend Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, the Mirror Newspaper, which belongs to the former ruling party; and Telcor Cultural and Broadcasting Inc. The three received five frequencies each, giving them countrywide reach.
The then opposition—A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change—had dubbed Jagdeo’s actions, just a few days before he demitted office, illegal.
In fact, when the two parties campaigned as a coalition in the lead up to elections, promises were made to the effect that it will ensure that the wrongs the PPP committed will be corrected under the APNU+AFC government.
But Harmon is now saying that the government will not interfere.
At the most recent post Cabinet press briefing, Harmon was asked how soon it is likely that the nation will see a review of the radio licences.
He said, “We have always said that these Boards must be independent and they must act in an independent way.”
Further Harmon said, “We will not give any directions to the Board as to what they have to do. I believe that now it has been established it is really up to persons who are affected, the Guyanese public in general, to go the Board and say well this is what has happened and we ask that you review it. But the administration will not direct the work of the Board or give it any instructions as to whose licences should be taken or who should get a licence.”
The Minister went on to say that interference was a feature of the PPP, one that the new government does not intend to perpetuate.

He told the media that the PPP was able to say, “Give this one and the other and deny that one. We have appointed a Board and we will rely on the integrity and strength of the Board to do what is right by this country.”
Harmon essentially blurred the difference between government mandating a review of that which is perceived illegal and directly interfering in the day to day operations of the Authority.
In the past, Harmon was always vocal about the “unfair” distribution of radio licences by Jagdeo.
In July, Harmon had stated that all licences will be reviewed. He made it clear that there will be absolutely no exceptions.
He has also said that “very soon”, the government will ensure the return of the Telecommunications legislation that was taken to the National Assembly during the life of the Tenth Parliament.
The Minister of State said that the Bill will help to correct many wrongs.
Though the government called a sitting the very last day before the beginning of the parliamentary recess, the Bill was not, at the least, even tabled in the National Assembly.
Local and international media bodies and local diplomats had all been applying pressure on the Donald Ramotar government to review and even recall the licences until a review is done on how they were issued in the first place.
The details of the licences only came to light after the AFC demanded answers in the National Assembly.
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, a former Minister of Information in the Cheddi Jagan administration, spoke on the campaign trail about the unfair distribution.
He highlighted what the consequence has been to the nation, owing to the Government’s “misuse” of the state media. He had promised that should his government come to power, the state media would be liberated and that questionable frequency transactions would be investigated.
He told supporters, “We have a plan. We will review all those television stations, and those radio stations that were given to friends. We will ensure that they are re-distributed to those who deserve to have and who are responsible.”
Former Minister of Natural Resources, Robert Persaud, has relinquished ownership of iRadio 90.1 Love FM. Persaud recently concluded a deal that was long in the making with the Ansa McAl-owned Guardian Media Group.
The licence for the bandwidth that iRadio uses was initially granted to Telecor and Cultural Broadcasting Inc. whose directors are listed as Persaud’s wife, Kamini Persaud, who is also the niece of former President Jagdeo, and Ruth Baljit of New York.
Baljit is the sister of Robert Persaud and was at the time the sole owner of the company. She continues to reside in the United States.

 

September 23, 2015

Govt. courts Microsoft, Cisco on E-Governance project

Government is talking to US tech giants, Microsoft and CISCO Corporation, for possible help in the country’s E-Governance project.

According to the Ministry of the Presidency yesterday, Adviser on E-Governance, Floyd Levi, recently met with regional representatives of Microsoft and CISCO Corporations to discuss support for government’s planned Information and Communications Technology (ICT) initiatives.
The team of IT executives included Senior Systems Engineer at Cisco Systems Inc., Garfield Gordon; Territory Business Manager Trinidad and the Caribbean Cisco Systems Inc., Richard Doldron, and Corporate Territory Manager for Microsoft Trinidad & Tobago, Jonathan Jagai. “These initiatives are geared towards centralizing key services and licensing for Government Ministries and agencies,” the ministry explained yesterday.
Levi informed the group that Government agencies will soon consolidate internet access and email services for ministries which would see email addresses for these agencies being moved to the gov.gy domain.
The US$32M E-Governance was launched a few years ago to create a network linking government and other State agencies throughout the country.
But its rollout has been delayed with the collapse of a fibre optic internet cable from Brazil which has been suspended because of technical difficulties.
The new administration has vowed to revamp the E-Governance project, promising on the campaign trail to the May 11 elections to examine costs, among other things. The E-Gov. Guyana Unit is primarily focused on facilitating the implementation of two ICT ventures integral to development in Guyana.
The first project, the Transmission Network, revolves around the roll-out of a fiber optic network that allows high speed data, video and voice communication. The aim of the project is the installation of a robust infrastructure that will be utilized for the consolidation of government processes
It involved the deployment of a fiber optic cable along the coast connecting Georgetown to Moleson Creek in the east and Anna Regina to the west, to Linden and Lethem in the south by utilizing fiber links. It is the latter that has broken down.It was envisioned that wireless sites will be constructed to provide the “last mile” connection utilizing 4G technologies (LTE TDD).
Government agencies such as police stations, airports, schools and hospitals will receive coverage in order to access the network service.
More than 50 towers have been erected along the coastlands. Part Two of the E-Governance project involves the construction of a Data Network.
This project is committed to the establishment of one centralized facility which will host most of the government ICT applications, offer internet service, operational and maintenance service. The Data Center has been built and is housed behind Castellani House, Vlissengen Road.

 

October 01, 2015

Government reverts to GTT internet for eGovernance

– pulls Guyana from ‘dark ages’

The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), five years ago offered the Bharrat Jagdeo Government its internet service to support the eGovernance project, at a nominal fee.
The administration declined the offer.
The Jagdeo administration instead chose to invest billions of tax dollars to land a separate fiber optic cable from Brazil, at a cost of some US$40M—a project that is still to see the light of day.
Jagdeo’s refusal to use GTT’s fibre optic cable infrastructure meant that Guyana was literally kept in the ‘technological dark age’ while it awaited the Brazil cable.
The new coalition government is now being credited with promoting Guyana with the roll-out, of its pilot phase of the eGovernance service.
This service is being rolled out using internet access purchased from GTT to operationalise the project.
ICT experts indicate that had Guyana been using the GTT internet service all along, its ICT sector would by now be five years more advanced than where it is currently.
Jagdeo opted to use the GTT internet service, then the nation would have been able to tap into the numerous technological advances made over the years. This would have also led to a stimulation of technological innovation on the part of the Guyanese people.
“He (Jagdeo) instead opted to invest billions of tax dollars on a cable from Brazil, a cable that is yet to see the light of day and in the process, literally retarded Guyana’s technological growth.”
Project Coordinator, Floyd Levi, has confirmed that the coalition A Partnership for National Unity, Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) has decided to take up the GTT offer.
He told Kaieteur News that the eGovernance Project will be making a bulk (consolidated) purchase of bandwidth from GTT from today, and the internet service will be distributed among the various government agencies.
Asked to comment on Jagdeo’s objection to the use of GT&T’s bandwidth, citing security reasons, Levi told Kaieteur News, “Internet service inherently is vulnerable to security risks.”
Levi said that the eGovernance unit will be putting measures in place to protect its network.
Levi used the opportunity to stress that he was not vouching for the security of GTT’s internet service, nor is he conceding an inability on the part of the telephone company to protect its data. Rather, Government will be putting its own measures in place to ensure the safety of its information being transmitted across the network.
Compounding the situation is the fact that the Guyana Government had agreed to make payments to a Brazilian company for bandwidth to the cable for the eGovernance project.
Since the cable project has never been completed, Government has been unable to use any of the bandwidth available but nevertheless had to make its contracted payments.
Levi told Kaieteur News yesterday that at the time he did not have any figures at hand and would only confirm that the contract with Brazil and payments were terminated some time back.
He told Kaieteur News that a forensic audit is currently being undertaken regarding expenditure that would have been utilized on the project thus far, and at the completion of that exercise the administration would be in a better position to say how much was spent for bandwidth never used.
The Brazil cable was to have been connected to a fiber optic network that was strung along Guyana’s coast (Moleson Creek to Charity) and allow for the transmission of high speed data, video and voice communication.
That came at a cost of an additional US$60M that was invested by Jagdeo from the national coffers.
The data network project is committed to the establishment of one centralized facility, which will host most of the government’s ICT applications, offer internet service and support operational and maintenance services. The Data Center will be established in Georgetown.
“Our immediate task is to operationalize the eGovernance network, which will bring connectivity to all government ministries and agencies between Charity in Region Two and Springlands, Region Six,” said Levi.

 

October 2, 2015

$2.5M radio licence fee to be reviewed – GNBA Chairman

By Abena Rockcliffe

Whether the Board will agree is another matter, but for Chairman of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) the 2011 distribution of radio licenses and the annual licensing fee that poses as a burden to most broadcasters are two things that need urgent review.
Consumer advocate, Leonard Craig, was appointed about a month ago to chair the all important GNBA.
Craig is known for taking on telecommunication companies like GTT and Digicel, and representing himself before the Public Utilities Commission.
Craig noted that even though there is “much to be done” he is settling in nicely.
Kaieteur News asked a ranged of questions, amongst which were questions about the “criminal and unfair” distribution of radio licenses back in 2011.
Craig said, “Criminal is not the word I would use but there seems to be forms of arbitrary decision making where that (the distribution) was concerned. Wherever that is detected it is a matter for the board to correct but, I, in my sole authority, cannot do so.”

Even as he admitted that he cannot make any decision on his own, Craig vowed to take the matter to the Board. “It is a matter that was well ventilated in the media yet there are many who still feel aggrieved.”
Craig said that he hopes that the licences of all radio broadcasters will be reviewed on a case by case basis. But before this review happens, Craig wants basic benchmarks to be set.
He said that in this regard, he hopes to call a conference for broadcasters. At such a forum, existing broadcasters will set the benchmarks themselves. Craig indicated that when the benchmarks are set, those very principles will be used as a guide for the board to determine the next steps.
The Chairman indicated that the Board has not met since its appointment. This, he explained, is due to the fact that all members are not immediately available for some reason or the other. However, Craig said that the Board is likely to meet sometime within the next two weeks. “I do not see it going past two weeks from now.”
Craig told Kaieteur News that the Board will also address outstanding radio applications. He said, “That is something that will be defiantly brought to the attention of the Board.”
He said, too, that the Board will most likely seek to put mechanisms in place to ensure that there is fair play.
Broadcasting fee
Craig also indicated that he wants a review of the fee set for broadcasters. Broadcasters currently pay an annual licencing fee of $2.5M.
In 2013, a PPP Cabinet decided that the annual licence fee for all licenced broadcasters, radio, TV and Cable, will pay either 3.5 % of their gross income or $2.5M yearly.
The Chairman said that he met with most broadcasters individually and many are asking for a review of the fee.
He said that based on that, “I have no choice but to bring this to the Board’s attention; as to how they will deal with it is still left to be seen.”
Craig said that he wants the Board to make all decisions in accordance with the law. “But whatever changes the Board proposes, I will be bold enough to implement all of them.’
Six broadcasters had initiated a court action after being told that they were required to pay the $2.5M fee. The broadcasters were CNS Channel 6; HBTV Channel 9; RBS Channel 13; HGTV Channel 16; MBC Channel 42 and SKAR Channel 102. Chang had ruled that the imposition should not have applied to existing broadcasters.
“The court holds that regulation 3 of the Broadcasting Regulations 2013 is valid to the extent that the minister has fixed a grant fee of $2. 5 million on first-time broadcasters but is invalid to the extent that the minister has purported to fix a percentage of 3.5% of gross revenue of the previous year for existing broadcasters,” the Chief Justice ruled.
GNBA is the regulatory body tasked with overseeing the operations of radio and televisions stations in Guyana. Established three years ago, the body was under immediate pressure after news came out that former President, Bharrat Jagdeo, before ending his two terms in office in 2011, approved several radio and cable television licences for mainly friends and his party members.
In so doing, he sidelined applications from several prominent media houses including Kaieteur News, Stabroek News, Capitol News, HBTV Channel Nine and CNS Channel Six.
This was despite a standing agreement for no new licences until new broadcasting regulations and the GNBA were in place.
Jagdeo’s best friend, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, received one with multiple frequencies. Also receiving a similar number of frequencies was The Mirror, a newspaper which belongs to the ruling party and Telcor, a company with close links to serving Natural Resources Minister, Robert Persaud.
The disclosures of the licences, which also included approval for two cable TV operations, sparked court cases and several days of protests, as well as local and international condemnation.

 

October 7, 2015

No automatic Telecoms Licences under new laws – Patterson

The new coalition government is in the final stages of the liberalization of the local Telecommunications Industry, as the draft laws are nearing completion.
But unlike its previous version, which was set to automatically grant telecommunications licences to a select few, all interested in such will now have to re-apply.
This position was disclosed by Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson, who met with media operatives on Monday last at his Wight’s Lane, Kingston Office and said that the two related Bills are almost completed and will shortly be laid in the National Assembly. He did not provide a more detailed timeline.
“I can’t say if it will be done next week but it will be done this year,” Patterson said. He said, government had retained two consultants to put together a draft of the new Bills and this has been completed and returned to the administration.
“Both the draft of the Telecommunications Bill and the draft amended PUC (Public Utilities Commission) Bill is right now with our Cabinet Sub-Committee, it is being circulated,” Patterson disclosed.
According to the Public Infrastructure Minister, the drafts will now have to be vetted to ensure they are compliant with the provisions required by the administration.
Patterson explained that, “as long as it passes through that process, it goes to the CPC (Chief Parliamentary Counsel) and then to Cabinet and then soon after we will lay it in Parliament.”
The Public Infrastructure Minister reiterated that government is looking to have the legislation and inherent liberalization approved of the sector by the end of the year.
Minister Patterson was also asked to respond to whether the automatic licensing of named companies will be kept in the draft legislation.
He told media operatives that all aspirants will be required to re-apply for their telecommunications licences.
“From the draft Bill that we have, everyone is eligible to re-apply,” according to Patterson.
Under the previous administration, a similar Bill was crafted which revealed one of the most shocking and unprecedented occurrences anywhere in the world.
It identified companies which would automatically be handed a Telecommunications Licence when the legislation is passed.
GT&T and Digicel are already holders of Telecommunications Licences.
A Telecommunications Licence is a valuable document as it allows its holder to provide any internet-related service, including the sale of bandwidth, cable television and mobile/cellular.
Two of the companies named in the then proposed law to be automatically handed Telecommunications Licences are E-Networks and Quark Communications Inc.
E-Networks have as its shareholders, Vishok Persaud and his sister Member of Parliament, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, both the children of former PPP Bigwig, the late Reepu Daman Persaud; Keith Evelyn and Rakesh Puri.
Quark Communications has as its shareholders as former President Bharrat Jagdeo’s niece, Subrina Singh, Winston Brassington and Brian Yong, a close friend of the former President.
Interestingly, Quark has its base of operations in a compound at Versailles, West Bank Demerara, which belongs to none other than Jagdeo’s best friend, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop.
Another private company slated to be handed a Telecommunications Licence is iNet Communications Inc.
This company has as its principals, Dr. Bobby Ramroop, his secretary Valerie Khan and one of his Directors, Roopnarine Ramcharitar, among others.

 

October 11, 2015

PPP Govt. hid satellite uplink equipment in NCN storeroom

– paid Ramroop’s TVG millions monthly for Learning Channel

In a major development this week, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has launched an investigation into the discovery of special satellite uplink transmission equipment that has been sitting unused in boxes at the National Communications Network (NCN) Headquarters for the last two years.
During those two years, the Donald Ramotar administration released tens of millions of dollars to Television Guyana (TVG), a company controlled by Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, for transmitting the Learning Channel across the country. But all the time NCN had the capacity to do so.
Ramroop is a close friend of former President Bharrat Jagdeo under whose watch the Learning Channel was started up.
The present coalition Government, when they were in the Opposition until the May 11 General and Regional Elections, had accused the previous administration of deliberately positioning TVG and Ramroop to receive $3.6M monthly ($43.2M annually) for transmitting the signals.
Why NCN did not install the equipment since acquiring it in 2013 is what officials at OPM want to know now.
The matter has reportedly also been brought to attention of the Cabinet of Ministers.

According to NCN officials familiar with the investigations, the new David Granger administration had been reviewing the contract with TVG and recently approved $23M for the purchase of transmission equipment for NCN so that it can take over the satellite uplinks for The Learning Channel.
This was before the Cabinet of Ministers received the shocking news that all the required equipment, to the tune of millions of dollars, had been already purchased by NCN since 2013, and were still in its unopened boxes at the NCN Homestretch Avenue headquarters.
Deliberate?
“What this means is that the previous government had been knowingly paying $3M a month to the Ramroop Group (owner of TVG) when these monies could have been paid to NCN instead,” an incensed senior Government official said yesterday.
It is understood that the NCN management did not inform the new Government of the equipment it had on hand. It was only discovered when a former staff tipped off senior officials and an investigation was launched by OPM, which has the portfolio for public information and oversight of the state media.
The disclosures would continue to raise serious questions over the management of state agencies and assets by the previous administration of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic.
NCN itself had been described as a hotbed for corruption and fraud with evidence emerging that the previous Government frequently interfered in the day-to-day operations.
In April 2011, months before he ended his constitutional two terms in office, Jagdeo announced the launch of The Learning Channel.

That same month, the then Government also announced that it will be using Cable Channel 80 as The Learning Channel for broadcasts in the city and its environs. Different channels are being used for outlying areas.
The juicy deal with TVG was not made known until two years later, in April 2013, when former Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, in response to questions by then Opposition MP Jaipaul Sharma, disclosed that $3.6M was being paid monthly to Jagdeo’s best friend.
Manickchand had said then that for The Learning Channel to send the signal to the satellite, it would have had to set up a commensurate service that would have required an initial capital outlay of US$150,000 ($30M) plus monthly recurring costs of over $4M in bandwidth rental and associated services.
She insisted that The Learning Channel was using “the only teleport capable of up-linking video-signals in existence in Guyana,”
She added that because the Learning Channel’s bandwidth is bundled with the bandwidth of TVG they are able to negotiate better rates from the satellite operators.
It was widely believed that Ramroop, coincidentally, moved to establish his satellite uplink ahead of the 2011 launch of The Learning Channel.
Contract to End
Last month, Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, indicated that Ramroop’s contract comes to an end in December and that his government had no intention of renewing it.
The Minister had noted that The Learning Channel is not being accessed all over the country as it was intended to. He added that NCN is already able to reach all across Guyana so he can see no problem with NCN being able to fulfill this mandate once the other facilities are put in place.
The Alliance For Change (AFC), which forms part of the Government coalition, had made it clear that it is convinced that the TVG deal for $3.6M monthly, was one of the many schemes by Jagdeo to further enrich his close friend.
TVG, it has been reported, collected $70M in 2011 for the transmission of the channel throughout the country, using a dish network receiver system for remote communities.
The Learning Channel is described as a non-commercial, apolitical educational television broadcast network, focused on education, since it started up on April 2011.
It has been producing local programmes including Maths lessons and broadcasting them.
These latest developments surrounding The Learning Channel and its arrangements with TVG would call to mind the drug storage facility that was controlled by New GPC, another company owned by Ramroop.
Government had been paying millions of dollars to rent a facility from New GPC before the shady deal was brought to light.
Several of Ramroop’s companies have reportedly benefited, under questionable arrangements, from billions of dollars in contracts and even state properties over the years from the PPP/C governments.
Opposition MPs, questioning Ministry of Health officials a few years ago, were shocked to learn that New GPC which was supplying drugs to the then Government was being paid to store it.
A new storage facility has since been built in Diamond, East Bank Demerara.

 

October 13, 2015

NCN satellite uplink can be operational within 2 weeks

…$20M in equipment was left still wrapped in plastic for two years
Satellite uplink facilities purchased by the National Communications Network (NCN), two years ago and capable of broadcasting ‘The Learning Channel’ can be made operable in as little as two weeks.

This is according to a senior official in the Department of the Director of Public Information, a unit that has since taken on oversight of NCN.
According to the official who spoke to this newspaper on the condition of anonymity, the equipment which was purchased at a cost of in excess of $20M only requires a ‘base station’ and a ‘hut’ to house it at which point in time it can be brought online.
Kaieteur News, over the weekend, broke the news that NCN had purchased the equipment two years ago but the then government instead of using it, opted to continue to pay TVG 28, now owned by Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, a whopping $3.6M monthly, to broadcast The Learning Channel.
The insider told Kaieteur News that while it is difficult to ascertain specifically on whose instructions the equipment remained idle, the fact is that it is only a small circle in the then government that could have effected such a situation.
It was pointed out too that a $23M purchase of equipment had to be approved at a senior level. As such the previous administration cannot claim ignorance. It had to have known that the equipment was lying idle.
Further this publication has since learnt that not only does NCN own its satellite uplink, it is also capable of having any event occurring locally broadcast live not only across Guyana but throughout the Caribbean Region and even in North America.
This publication was told that while there is currently not in train any plans to have the equipment brought online with any haste, it will be made operational by the end of the year.

The contract with TVG 28 comes to an end in December and the administration has already signaled its intention to not have the contract renewed.
The present coalition Government, when it was in the Opposition had accused the previous administration of deliberately positioning TVG and Ramroop to receive $3.6M monthly ($43.2M annually) for transmitting the signals.
“What this means is that the previous government had been knowingly paying $3.6M a month to the Ramroop Group (owner of TVG) when these monies could have been paid to NCN instead,” an incensed senior Government functionary told Kaieteur News over the weekend.
But Ramroop was renting satellite bandwidth at a cost of $3 million per month.
In April 2011, months before he ended his constitutional two terms in office, former President Jagdeo announced the launch of The Learning Channel.
That same month, the then Government also announced that it will be using Cable Channel 80 as The Learning Channel for broadcasts in the city and its environs. Different frequencies are being used for outlying areas.
Details of the deal with TVG were not made known until two years later, in April 2013, when former Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, in response to questions by then Opposition Member of Parliament Jaipaul Sharma, disclosed that $3.6M was being paid monthly to Ramroop’s TVG.
TVG, it has been reported, collected $70M in 2011 (some $5.83 million per month) for the transmission of the channel throughout the country, using a dish network receiver system for remote communities.
The Learning Channel is described as a non-commercial, apolitical educational television broadcast network, focused on education, since it started up on April 2011.

 

October 14, 2015

Only Fuzzy, 3 others knew about NCN’s satellite uplink

…no trained personnel to operate sensitive equipment – Hassan  

The staff of the National Communication Network (NCN) at most levels, with the exception of four persons, had been kept in the dark about the presence of satellite uplink facilities lying still in plastic wrapping in the compound. According to an audit, it was only the former Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed ‘Fuzzy’ Sattaur, then Programme Manager Martin Goolsarran, the Finance Controller and a technician Kenneth Jones, who were aware of the presence of the multi-million dollar equipment.
Sattaur resigned from his post at NCN following a massive corruption scandal that rocked the entity. The scandal involved millions from the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T).
Goolsarran was also suspended after it was discovered that he had deposited millions of dollars from the GT&T transaction, into his personal bank account. He subsequently resigned his post.
Recently appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NCN, Molly Hassan, has since said that there was no plan documented for the use of the equipment which also includes nine satellite dishes. The dishes, used in the down link aspect of the project, are currently lying in the compound.
The monies for the purchase, according to Hassan, came from NCN’s 2013 Capital Budget but the equipment was identified in 2012. It began arriving early 2013. Ms Hassan when contacted for an update into the brouhaha, said that there is currently no staff at the NCN that can operate the sensitive equipment.
According to Hassan, the company will now have to conduct an evaluation of the pieces of equipment and secure the services of competent personnel to bring the facility online.
Kaieteur News, since the discovery of the satellite uplink facilities purchased two years ago and capable of broadcasting ‘The Learning Channel,’ has learnt too that it can be made operable in as little as two weeks. However, specialists have dubbed this as hopelessly false and inaccurate.
Kaieteur News over the weekend broke the news that NCN had purchased the equipment two years ago but the then government instead of using it, opted to continue to pay TVG 28, now owned by Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, $3.6M monthly, to broadcast The Learning Channel.
Further, this publication has since learnt that not only does NCN own its satellite uplink, it is also capable of having any event occurring locally broadcast live not only across Guyana but throughout the Caribbean Region and even in North America.
This publication was told that while there is currently not in train any plans to have the equipment brought online with any haste, it will be made operational by the end of the year. The contract with TVG 28 comes to an end in December and the administration has already signaled its intention to not have the contract renewed.
The present coalition Government, when it was in the Opposition had accused the previous administration of deliberately positioning TVG and Ramroop to receive $3.6M monthly ($43.2M annually) for transmitting the signals.
“What this means is that the previous government had been knowingly paying $3.6M a month to the Ramroop Group (owner of TVG) when these monies could have been paid to NCN instead,” an incensed Senior government functionary told Kaieteur News over the weekend. In April 2011, months before he ended his constitutional two terms in office, former President Jagdeo announced the launch of The Learning Channel.
That same month, the then government also announced that it will be using Cable Channel 80 as The Learning Channel for broadcasts in the city and its environs. Different frequencies are being used for outlying areas.
Details of the deal with TVG were not made known until two years later, in April 2013, when former Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, in response to questions by then Opposition Member of Parliament Jaipaul Sharma, disclosed that $3.6M was being paid monthly to Ramroop’s TVG.
TVG, it has been reported, collected $70M in 2011 (some $5.83 million per month) for the transmission of the channel throughout the country, using a dish network receiver system for remote communities.

 

October 16, 2015

Unused $23M satellite uplink…Sattaur implicates Finance Ministry, OP, NCN Management

As the fallout over the latest scandal to rock the National Communications Network (NCN) continues, the Former Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed ‘Fuzzy’ Sattaur, is distancing himself from the purchase of the $23M satellite uplink facilities. In the process he is implicating the hierarchy of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Government.

Sattaur, yesterday, issued a public missive in an attempt to clear his name. He is contending that budget teams from NCN, the Ministry of Finance, the Office of the President and the Members of Parliament who were present for the budget debates all had to have known about the purchase of more than $20M in satellite equipment that has never been used for the state-owned station.
According to Sattaur, who left NCN at the end of June 2012, he could not have had anything to do with the capital budget of 2012 since the budget process starts in July/August of each year with a submission of a wish list to the board of directors.
Explaining the process, Sattaur said that a list of items proposed for purchase is prepared in order of importance and once approved by the board, is submitted to the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the President.
According to Sattaur, each item on the list has to be justified by a written plan and a verbal presentation by each agency head several times at the Ministry of Finance and Office of the President. A figure is then determined for capital budget support to each agency each year.
“That figure is applied to the capital budget submission and whatever is prioritized above the line established by the agency’s allocation is approved and the rest is discarded…The person making the presentation for 2012 was certainly not me as I had left before the process started.”
According to Sattaur, the allocation then has to be taken to Parliament for approval as part of the capital budget presentation and is documented in the annual estimates with reasons for each line item and verbal presentations to the committee of supply.
“Once the capital budget is approved in April/ May of the following year, the items are purchased and installed,” said Sattaur.
Sattaur posits that the failure here “seems to be on the part of the Board of Directors and the Management team at NCN at the time of the receipt of the equipment in the third quarter of 2013.”

He suggests that it was either they were not aware of the purpose of the purchased equipment or they simply dropped the ball and failed to proceed with the implementation of the system.
Sattaur is adamant, “Clearly the blame for this cannot be placed on my shoulders as I was not part of the Management team or the Board of Directors for the last three and one half years.”
This publication had reported that it was only the former Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed ‘Fuzzy’ Sattaur, then Programme Manager Martin Goolsarran, the Finance Controller and a technician, Kenneth Jones, who were aware of the presence of the multi-million dollar equipment.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NCN, Molly Hassan, had also said that there was no plan documented for the use of the equipment which also includes nine satellite dishes. The dishes, used in the down link aspect of the project, are currently lying in the compound.
The monies for the purchase, according to Hassan, came from NCN’s 2013 Capital Budget but the equipment was identified in 2012. It began arriving early 2013.
According to Hassan, the company will still have to conduct an evaluation of the pieces of equipment and secure the services of competent personnel to bring the facility online.
Kaieteur News, over the weekend, broke the news that NCN had purchased the equipment two years ago but the then government instead of using it, opted to continue to pay TVG 28, now owned by Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, $3.6M monthly, to broadcast The Learning Channel.
Further, this publication has since learnt that not only does NCN own its satellite uplink, it is also capable of having any event occurring locally broadcast live, not only across Guyana but throughout the Caribbean Region and even in North America.
This publication was told that while there is currently not in train any plans to have the equipment brought online with any haste, it will be made operational by the end of the year.
The contract with TVG 28 comes to an end in December and the administration has already signaled its intention to not have the contract renewed.

 

October 22, 2015

NCN’s satellite uplink facilities superior to TVG’s

…as PM Nagamootoo labels state of affairs downright criminal

 “We believe either there has been collusion or a massive recklessness with regard to assets purchased with the tax-payers money”—Nagamootoo   

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo wants to await a decision by the Board of Directors at the National Communications Network (NCN) on the way forward regarding the many glaring allegations that would have surfaced in recent weeks.

More recently there has been the purchase of millions of dollars in satellite uplink facilities that have been lying unused for two years now.
Nagamootoo, commenting on the issue, yesterday, said that based on preliminary findings, it appears that the equipment in stock may in fact be superior to the ones used by TVG 28 to broadcast the signal for The Learning Channel.
Government has been paying TVG—a television station owned by Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop—a whopping $3.6M monthly to broadcast The learning Channel, even as its own uplink facilities were never ever brought online.
The NCN, equipment according to Nagamootoo, would allow the State-owned television station to have a greater reach in the broadcast of the signal.
Nagamootoo told media operatives that the new board which has been installed at NCN and headed by Bish Panday, is taking the matter very seriously.
He lamented that the equipment was lying at NCN’s compound having never been activated, while revenues from the people of Guyana were being paid over to a private entity to broadcast the signal for the Ministry of Education.
“We believe either there has been collusion or a massive recklessness with regard to assets purchases with the taxpayers’ money…The new board will have to enquire what really happened,” said Nagamootoo.
Asked about the capacity of NCN to utilize the satellite uplink equipment, Nagamootoo said he would need to be advised on the matter before pronouncing definitively.
“I am advised that there are two sets of equipment there that have a superior advantage.’
Nagamootoo explained that should the two sets of pieces of equipment be utilized, The Learning Channel could then be taken to all parts of Guyana. “There won’t be a part of Guyana that won’t be covered.”
According to Nagamootoo, the equipment that has been left to idle and rot, “Was for me a criminal neglect not to be able to service all the areas….Why this has not been done requires a lot of investigation.”
Asked to outline Government’s plan for the future operations of NCN and its management, the Prime Minister lamented the physical state of affairs at the entity before expressing a desire to see new energy at the operations.
The matter of NCN management, according to Nagamootoo, ought to be addressed by the new Board.
He drew reference to the fact that a number of the glaring revelations being made public would have been unearthed as a result of an audit that was ordered.
The place, he said, “Has been badly managed and it is for the Board to deal with the management, even the CEO (Chief Executive Officer).”
Asked if he believed that the entire management of NCN should be changed, Nagamootoo retorted, “I have an opinion that I will not mention here, but if I am asked by the Board I will give an opinion but let the Board decide what it wants to do.”
According to the Prime Minister, “I think it (NCN’s Management) needs new energy, that’s what I feel; it needs new energy and it needs new direction.”

 

November 28, 2015

Committee set up to review legality of radio licences

By Abena Rockcliffe
The Board of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) has set up a special committee to review all issues relating to broadcasting licences as well as examine the validity of some licences.

Head of the Authority, Leonard Craig, told Kaieteur News yesterday that the Board had already discussed licences, but did not look into them in detail. He said that the Board recently made the decision to set up a sub committee which is mandated to submit a report on Thursday, December 10. That committee is chaired by veteran broadcaster, Anthony Vieira.
The committee is expected to recommend to the Board, which broadcasting licences definitely need to be revoked and those that need further review. However, the final decision lies with the Board.
Craig said that the issues relating to broadcasting licences are taking priority for the Board along with some internal management issues.
When contacted, Vieira gave Kaieteur News further details as to what is expected of the committee. He said that it has on its agenda a task to look, in-depth, at the entire fee structure.
Vieira said that the fee has to be adjusted reasonably so that it can be in harmony with the different classes of licences. He explained that the fee attached to a class of licence for a Broadcasting station operating in Georgetown should not be the same as one operating in New Amsterdam.
The committee Chairman listed the four classes of licences – primary, secondary, tertiary and community.
He said that licences to operate in Georgetown will be classified in a Primary class as the capital is definitely the largest zone for income. Meanwhile, someone who wants to operate in the town of New Amsterdam will need a Secondary licence and a broadcaster who wants to operate in Linden or Lethem will need a tertiary licence. A broadcaster seeking to operate out of Mahaicony will need a community class licence.
Vieira explained that the Broadcasting Act 2011 stipulates such a system so that different licences will attract different fees.
“A licence to operate in Georgetown should not attract the same price as one in Mahaicony, that’s just wrong,” said Vieira.
The Chairman pointed out that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration never bothered to ensure such systems were in place, even though it is mandated by the Broadcasting Act.
The said Act also mandates the Authority to carry out surveys and investigations of broadcasters’ income, so as to set a fair broadcasting fee. Therefore, it should not be an across the board fee.
Vieira said that because he is a broadcaster and he is chairing the committee, no investigations will be carried out by that committee.
He, like Craig, said that the committee will look at all radio licences distributed by former President Bharrat Jagdeo before he left office, with an eye to determine whether they were legally granted or not. That committee will also look at the $2.5M radio licence fee and review applications for licences that were ignored during the reign of the PPP.
Bharrat Jagdeo, before ending his two terms in office in 2011, approved several radio and cable television licences for mainly friends and his party members. In so doing, he sidelined applications from several prominent media houses including Kaieteur News, Stabroek News, Capitol News, HBTV Channel Nine and CNS Channel Six. This was despite a standing agreement for no new licences until new broadcasting regulations and the GNBA were in place.
Jagdeo’s best friend, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, received one with multiple frequencies. Also receiving a similar number of frequencies was The Mirror, a newspaper which belongs to the ruling party and Telcor, a company with close links to the then Natural Resources Minister, Robert Persaud.
The disclosures of the licences, which also included approval for two cable TV operations, sparked court cases and several days of protests, as well as local and international condemnation.
Craig, during a previous interview, had told Kaieteur News that he will also address outstanding radio applications. This was confirmed by Vieira.

 

January 05, 2016

All Jagdeo-issued radio licences to be revoked – GNBA

By Abena Rockcliffe
The Board of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) has found that the conditions under

which former President Bharrat Jagdeo granted 11 radio licences in 2011 contradicts the law as well as political agreements that were in place at the time.
Arriving at such a conclusion, the GNBA has decided that it will soon move to revoke all the licences issued in such a manner.
GNBA had set up a special committee to review all issues relating to broadcasting licences as well as examine the validity of some licences.
That committee is chaired by veteran broadcaster, Anthony Vieira. The committee looked at all radio licences distributed by Jagdeo before he left office, with an eye to determine whether they were lawfully granted.
Vieira spoke to Kaieteur News yesterday about the findings of the sub-committee after a series of meetings.
He said that the committee found that it would be wrong to allow those licences to stand.
Vieira told Kaieteur News that the committee considered that fact that in 2001, as a result of the dialogue between Jagdeo and then opposition leader, the late, Desmond Hoyte, it was agreed that no new licenses for either radio or television would be issued until an impartial and autonomous Broadcast Authority was formed.
Further, he said that the communique between Corbin and Jagdeo ratified this arrangement that no licenses will be issued until the Broadcast Authority is formed.
Vieira said that between 2001 and 2011, this provision was used by the government to deny anyone a TV or radio licence. He said that even existing stations were denied expansion since it would mean granting them additions to their licences.
Channel seven’s Rex Mc Kay and Mr. Enrico Woolford and numerous others had also applied for radio license but were not given.
Contrary to the understandings of both the dialogue and the communique every one of the licenses issued by Jagdeo was to his personal friends and supporters and to the People’s Progressive Party.
Vieira said that this was not among the recommendations of the 2001 bipartisan board, which was convened as a result of the dialogue, that board recommended that ownership should be balanced and should reflect the ethnic composition of the areas which they will serve.
Additionally, Jagdeo broke the law by not consulting with the Advisory Committee on Broadcasting (ACB) or the Broadcasting Authority, both of which were not operational at the time he granted the contentious 11 licences.
The ACB was established on November15, 2001 as a semi-autonomous body, pursuant to regulations made under the Guyana Postal and Telegraph Act, Chapter 47:01.
It comprises a chairman and two members, nominated by the President, the Leader of the Opposition, and Private Sector. Its tenure should have extended until the establishment of a Broadcasting Authority.
The ACB by law is supposed to advise on the issuance, suspension and/or termination of television broadcasting station licences (including termination of unlicensed broadcasts); monitor the adherence to or breach of broadcast standards relating to content by licences, and to receive and investigate public opinion or complaints on broadcast standards
The ACB was also supposed to maintain a working relationship with such bodies as are established by the industry to enforce broadcast standards; advise on appropriate action in cases of violations of the conditions of the licence after due process of investigation and perform any other duties the responsible Minister may ask it to assume within the confines of these regulations and the Act.
Vieira said that the general understanding was that the Committee would advise on appropriate action in cases of violations of the conditions of the licence which is in fact the role usually performed by a Broadcasting Authority.
However, the ACB was dissolved by Justice James Bovell-Drakes in June of 2011 on a motion by the then leader of the opposition Robert Corbin. Jagdeo issued the licences in November long after the dissolution of the ACB and before a broadcast authority was formed.
As a result of the judge’s decision dissolving the ACB, there was no ACB in place to advise Jagdeo to grant the radio licences in October 2011, and the Broadcast Authority was not formed until 2012.
Vieira said that the committee concluded that since Jagdeo was required by law to be advised by that body as such, it can easily be construed that he broke the law again.
“They were illegally granted by a Minister, Jagdeo, responsible for Broadcasting, in contravention of our laws in the absence of an ACB which was the only entity that could have legally advised him to issue those licences and there was no Broadcast Authority.”
The Committee found that the radio licences were issued in violation of the law, the dialogue and the communiqué and cannot be allowed to stand.
Jagdeo, before ending his two terms in office in 2011, approved several radio and cable television licences for mainly friends and his party members.
In so doing, he sidelined applications from several prominent media houses including Kaieteur News, Stabroek News, Capitol News, HBTV Channel Nine and CNS Channel Six. This was despite a standing agreement for no new licences until new broadcasting regulations and the GNBA were in place.
Jagdeo’s best friend, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, received one with multiple frequencies. Also receiving a similar number of frequencies was The Mirror, a newspaper which belongs to the ruling party, and Telcor, a company owned by Robert Persaud’s wife, Kamini Persaud and his sister.
The disclosures of the licences, which also included approval for two cable TV operations, sparked court cases and several days of protests, as well as local and international condemnation.

 

January 07, 2016

Govt. extends Ramroop’s $$M contract for Learning Channel

By Abena Rockcliffe
Despite previous statements to the contrary, the government has renewed the contract for the Guyana

Learning Channel.
“For another two months or so” Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, the owner of TVG, will continue to receive a monthly $3.6M to facilitate airing of the learning channel.
This was related to Kaieteur News yesterday by Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine at his Brickdam office.
Last September, Dr. Roopnaraine told Kaieteur News that the multi-million-dollar contract that would have expired in December would not have been renewed. He had said that “strong recommendations” were made at the level of Cabinet. The Minister noted that Government wanted to move towards self- sufficiency.
Three months later, the Minister is now saying that there is still much to be decided.
He said that lots of details are still to be worked out and so he has decided to extend the life of the contract.
Dr. Roopnaraine said that his Ministry is interested in getting the best out of the learning channel and therefore has to maximize its use.  Dr. Roopnaraine indicated that he had asked technical members of staff to develop proposals on how to get the best out of the facility.
He said that there is a need for more instructive classes and other such learning programmes to be aired on the channel.
The Minister said that after receiving those proposals, he would be in a better position to say definitively, the direction in which the Learning Channel is heading.
Asked if the National Communications Network (NCN) will then facilitate the channel after the proposals have

been handed in and evaluated, the Minister said, “I do not want to preempt the proposals. Let’s just wait and see.”
This gives the impression that the proposals will include recommendations as to how the channel should be facilitated.
Back in September, Roopnaraine had said that instead of paying Dr. Ramroop $3.6M per month, his government decided to make the necessary investments to establish a satellite uplink facility.
Dr. Roopnaraine added that his administration will prefer to have the Learning Channel function in such a way that it can be deemed a government asset as opposed to a rented facility.
Dr. Roopnaraine said that his government will make all necessary arrangements for NCN to host the Learning Channel.
It was later made public that NCN had purchased more than $20M in satellite uplink equipment but this too was never installed and instead was left lying in the compound for two years now. This resulted in the former government being able to hand the contract to Ramroop.
The staff at NCN, with the exception of four persons, had been kept in the dark about the satellite uplink equipment. This publication was also told that there is no staff at the NCN that can operate the sensitive equipment.
Not only does NCN own its satellite uplink, it is also capable of having any event occurring locally, broadcast live not only across Guyana but throughout the Caribbean Region and even in North America.
The Learning Channel is intended to reach all communities in Guyana by way of satellite. But, that is not what is happening. That was one of the reasons which Dr. Roopnaraine had said informed Cabinet’s decision to not renew the contract. He had insisted that a wider reach is needed.
Dr.  Ramroop is the best friend of former President Bharrat Jagdeo. The Learning Channel initiative came into being four years ago, during the tenure of then President Bharrat Jagdeo.
Even though it was lauded as a good initiative, many had labeled the deal behind it “sour.”
When Ramroop was given the contract, his television station was said to have been the only one in the country with the capacity to facilitate the Learning Channel.
Politicians, who were sitting on the opposition side at that time, had opined that Ramroop benefitted from insider trading.
A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)’s Joseph Harmon had said that Guyana needs to move its legislation forward to prosecute those who use privileged information for the enrichment of their friends. Alliance For Change (AFC) leader, Khemraj Ramjattan had made similar comments.

 

January 17, 2016

Code of Conduct underway for broadcasters

Given the widely perceived biased coverage and “unhealthy content” of some of the stories reported by radio broadcasters during the May 2015 General and Regional Elections, the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) is pursuing a Code of Conduct for broadcasters.
This is according to reliable sources close to the officials on the GNBA. The source said that given the “toxic reporting” from certain broadcasters during that time, there is certainly a need for there to be a code of conduct to guard against this in the future. The source said that preparation of the document is already underway. The code will contain some strict penalties.
“Some of it caters for election time and the law gives us the authority to monitor for balanced reporting. So they can get warning letters from us if they report stories that are not substantiated. If they don’t follow the warning they can face legal corrective action from us.”
During the elections, former President Bharrat Jagdeo’s controversial approval of radio licenses to close friends and party members in 2011, came back to haunt the APNU+AFC.
The first report of the elections watchdog body, the Media Monitoring Unit (MMU) of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), for the period of March 1 to March 31, 2015 was the first to document how this occurred.
Monitoring coverage of the radio stations revealed that they were overwhelmingly in favour of the Government and the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).
Four radio stations were monitored- NTN 89.1 FM owned by Anand Persaud; I’Radio 90.1 Love FM owned by the sister of Minister Robert Persaud; 93.1 Real FM owned by Maxwell Thom and the Government-owned NCN 102.5FM.
MMU did not explain, in its report, why it did not monitor Radio Guyana Inc. (RGI) 89.5/87.5 FM, a radio station owned by Dr Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, and accused of being heavily biased in favour of Government. However, the first three stations were the ones approved by Jagdeo.
According to the MMU report issued this week, NTN 89.1 radio news gave Government and the PPP/C more than 75 percent coverage with only a small portion going to the then Opposition A Partnership For National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC). Its general programmes were 100 percent positive for Government during the period March 1- March 31.
With regards to I’Radio 90.1FM, its general programming was 97 percent coverage for Government and PPP/C with three percent coverage, all negative, for the APNU+AFC.
That station, while its newscasts gave Government and the PPP/C some 70 percent coverage, it did allow some amount of positive for the then Opposition – 10 percent.
The talk shows/interviews were more positive to the then Opposition, giving them 39 percent positive coverage and 26 percent negative. Government and the PPP/C received 19 percent coverage.
The general programming of Thom’s 93.1 FM gave Government full coverage, with nothing for the Opposition.
I’Radio 90.1FM gave Government 60 percent positive coverage with the then Opposition getting the rest.
The state-owned 102.5 FM news saw Government and the PPP/C receiving 70 percentage of the coverage with APNU+AFC receiving 22 percent negative.
The station’s talk shows and interviews did not include the Opposition. Only 14 percent of the content was deemed negative to Government.
In terms of 102.5 FM general programmes, some 88 percent of them concentrated on Government issues with 12 percent considered negative coverage for the then Opposition.
The issue of new radio stations was an embarrassing one for the Donald Ramotar administration, after revelations that Jagdeo bypassed a standing agreement with the Opposition and unilaterally granted several radio and cable licences to not only his friends but also to close party members and even to the ruling PPP newspaper, The Mirror.
It was widely seen as part of a bigger plan by Jagdeo to gain control of the airwaves.
Several prominent media houses were ignored by Jagdeo, leading to condemnation locally and internationally, and to protests.
Among those granted approvals for radio licences were Telcor and Cultural Broadcasting Inc, the former owner of I’Radio 90.1 FM, the company closely linked to Minister Persaud.
Five frequencies were granted to Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, Jagdeo’s close buddy. He was also allowed to buy over a television Channel (28), from its former owner Tony Vieira under controversial circumstances.
The Mirror, owned by the PPP, was also granted five frequencies through applications from Dharamkumar Seeraj, a senior member of the ruling party.
Single frequencies were granted to Thom, singer Rudy Grant, Hits and Jams, and NTN, among others.
The approvals came two months after signing the Broadcasting Act in September 2011. It was not until months later that the regulatory Broadcasting Authority was appointed and even then, it was lined with government MPs, and other party officials.
The granting of licences has been roundly condemned by media associations.
Several media houses like HBTV, Kaieteur News, Stabroek News, RBS Channel 13, CNS Channel 6, MBC Channel 46, WRHM Channel 7, GWTV 2 and Capitol News, were among those that complained about being sidelined by Jagdeo.
The APNU+AFC had expressed alarm over the licences, saying that the stations will be used as propaganda weapons against them.
Since those approvals by Jagdeo, Government has not issued any other radio licence. The Broadcasting Authority is continuously saying it is considering new applications.

 

January 23, 2016

Nagamootoo satisfied with GNBA progress

–    says “I did not expect different at this point”  
While observers comment on the slothfulness of the Board of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, has said that he is satisfied with the work done so far.

Though Cathy Hughes has been appointed Minister of Communications, Nagamootoo still has responsibility for GNBA.
The Board has been in existence almost five months now.  It met on several occasions but has not been able to do what the coalition had promised the people of Guyana—a review of the Radio Licences.
Nagamootoo said that he was totally satisfied with the work of the Board thus far.
Further questioned as to whether he would have, by now, expected a full review of the licences and a decision as to the next step, Nagamootoo responded in the negative.
The Prime Minister said, “I do not think they would have had anything definitive because their remit was to review and they had a large pile of applications that were in backlog and so they would have to settle in a little and do review.”
The Board has said nothing definitive about the stalled applications nor has it made a clear statement about the legality of the existing licences.
Nagamootoo referred to a sub-committee headed by Anthony Vieira that was set up to review the legality of the licences.  But said, “At this point and time, as Minister with responsibility for that sector I would rather wait until they give me a report on what they are doing.”
Vieira had said that GNBA found that the conditions under which former President Bharrat Jagdeo granted 11 radio licences in 2011 contradicts the law as well as political agreements that were in place at the time.
He said that the committee found that it would be wrong to allow those licences to stand and as such the Board decided that it will soon move to revoke all licences.
However, following Kaieteur News’ publication of such, the Chairman of the Board, Leonard Craig told other sections of the media to disregard what Vieira said as he was just an over exuberant member of the Board.
The Broadcast Act does not provide for the independence of GNBA, therefore, it can very well receive instructions from the ruling administration.
Nagamootoo said that he may meet with the Board “some time soon.” He also said that he is expecting a report from the Board “some time soon.”
However, the Prime Minister said that he has no intention to ask the Board to endeavour to move faster with its work.
Nagamootoo was very vocal about the unfair and unlawful distribution of Radio Licences before he entered office.
At an elections rally, the coalition held at Golden Grove, Nagamootoo had said that the state media would be liberated and questionable frequency transactions would have been investigated as priority if the APNU+AFC was elected.
“We have a plan. We will review all those television stations, and those radio stations that were given to friends. We will ensure that they are re-distributed to those who deserve to have and who are responsible,” he said.
He also spoke of the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU), which he said would be reorganized to ensure fairness in the distribution of media ownership.
Before that, on April 8, 2013, Nagamootoo said that there was a serious conflict of interest with regard to the allocation of frequencies. “It is disgraceful and scandalous. This is naked nepotism,” Nagamootoo declared. He had stood in the National Assembly calling for a reverse.
Jagdeo, before ending his two terms in office in 2011, approved several radio and cable television licences for mainly friends and his party members.
In so doing, he sidelined applications from several prominent media houses including Kaieteur News, Stabroek News, Capitol News, HBTV Channel Nine and CNS Channel Six. This was despite a standing agreement for no new licences until new broadcasting regulations and the GNBA were in place.
Jagdeo’s best friend, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, received one with multiple frequencies. Also receiving a similar number of frequencies was The Mirror, a newspaper which belonged to the ruling party at the time and Telcor, a company owned by Robert Persaud’s wife, Kamini Persaud and his sister.
The disclosures of the licences, which also included approval for two cable TV operations, sparked court cases and several days of protests, as well as local and international condemnation.

 

January 26, 2016

Govt. faces pressure to pass Telecoms law for new players

By Leonard Gildarie
The administration is facing increasing pressure to pass critical laws that will open up the telecommunications sector for new players and services.
The legislations have been in limbo for five years now moving between the National Assembly and two main players in the industry- GTT and Digicel.
In a full page advertisement in Kaieteur News on Sunday, Digicel (Guyana) said that the country “welcomes the end of the GTT phone monopoly”.
Allowing newer players will see faster mobile internet, reduced rates for overseas calls, availability of a quality landline services, higher speed home internet and modern and affordable solutions for businesses, the company promised.
The company is readying to land its own fibre-optic cable to bring internet and other data services, similar to what GTT has.
The telecommunications business is one of the biggest in the country and has been recording steady growth in recent years especially with the craze over smart phones and other streaming devices.
However, since being announced before 2012, new laws that will break the almost 25 years landline and international calls monopoly of US-owned GTT, have been pushed back time and again.
GTT had initially insisted that it has a contract with the Government of Guyana, dating back to 1991.
Any breakage to allow new players will have to see negotiations. There was the threat of legal action if attempts were made to sever the contract without negotiations.
The proposed legislations had ended up before a Parliamentary select committee but little progress was made and when the bill made its way back to be debated in the National Assembly, the previous government asked for more time as the parties involved wanted to iron out a few details.
GTT itself has said that it has no problem with new players; that it welcomed competition.
Currently, Digicel is its strongest competitor in the mobile market.
However, consumers for both Digicel and GTT have been facing several problems with the data speed offered by both companies.
This is because the legislation is still in limbo, delaying a decision to allow more spectrum that will introduce new technologies to allow phone users to even watch YouTube videos or video chat.
Yesterday, Digicel said it is eager for the market to open to allow for four-generation (4G) networks to be introduced as well as its entrance in the landline market.
There are still a significant number of landline residents in Guyana without service.
”The new Government gave a commitment to liberalize the telecoms sector and we are confident that this will be done. Unfortunately, the  GTT monopoly has held the country back from growing economically  for many years, restricting Guyana‘s growth in so many ways- jobs, investment, infrastructure to name a few -leading to poor services for Guyanese citizens.”
Digicel said that the proposed legislation will create competition between companies, enabling Guyanese to benefit from lower overseas calling rates, faster internet on the mobile, greater choice of services at their residence for internet and landline.
“The end of the GTT Monopoly will bring significant inward investment into the country, creating hundreds of quality jobs and allowing Guyana to compete on a level playing field with its neighbours.”
Digicel, an Irish-owned mobile company with significant presence in the region, insisted that everyone is in favor of ending the monopoly including GTT.
“…so why is the legislation not passed by now and allow all Guyanese to enjoy the same competitive services and lower prices that people in other countries enjoy across the Caribbean?”
Yesterday, Minister Cathy Hughes, who has responsibilities for the telecoms industry, said that new legislations remain a priority one for the administration.
Several companies are also on standby to enter the local market.

 

February 11, 2016

After over $1B spent …$240M more to resuscitate Fibre Optic Cable Project

—$1.9B investment to position ICT sector as alternative economic driver

By: Kiana Wilburg
Deliberations in the National Assembly about the difficulties facing the sugar, rice and gold industries have been sobering reminders to the nation’s policy makers that alternative economic drivers must be sought.

Telecommunications Minister, Cathy Hughes, contributing to the budget 2016 debates yesterday in the National Assembly,   advocated that the ICT sector and the knowledge management industries will be the ones that will have to be cornerstone of this country’s future.
The Minister listed a number of investments that will be made in the ICT sector.
The Telecommunications Minister said that in keeping with this thrust to expand broadband connectivity and the integration of Ministries, Government shall invest $240M to resuscitate the troubled Fibre Optic Cable Project.
She explained that $140 million has been allocated to consolidate, monitor, maintain and extend the existing eGovernment Fibre Optic and LTE Network around Georgetown and along the coast from Moleson Creek to Charity.
Government will spend a further $100 M to repair and upgrade the Georgetown–Linden Fibre Optic Cable, Hughes said.
She recalled that this project was abandoned by the previous Administration after it had spent $1B.   Hughes said that the lack of a feasibility study, poor planning, absence of effective project management and the use of inexperienced contractors are some of the major contributing factors that led to the failure of this project.
Hughes said that Government will move to correct all this so that the people of Guyana, regardless of their socio-economic status or remoteness will be digitally connected and socially included.
The Parliamentarian asserted that the strengthening of the eGovernment system is critical in imparting added value to processes that characterise good governance. She said that improved connectivity within government will permit joint planning and assessment resulting in Government’s business processes becoming more efficient.
Minister Hughes noted that the eGovernment expansion will also serve to facilitate connectivity between Government and citizens thereby strengthening accountability, connectivity between government and citizens and connectivity between and within communities’ thereby building social cohesion and economic development.
Government’s tangible commitment to the ICT sector’s development which she revealed will benefit from a whopping $1.9B investment catered for in the 2016 budget.
She said that in achieving greater collaboration among Government Ministries and Agencies, $80 million is budgeted to acquire Office productivity, email and collaboration software for the Public Sector.
Additionally, $105 million has been allocated for the creation of an off-site data centre and secure electronic document storage solutions for Ministries and Government Agencies.
The Minister said that this combined system will serve to enhance Government business processes, improve service delivery in terms of timeliness and heighten document security.
She said that $326M is also earmarked to design and implement interconnections among Government Ministries, Agencies, State buildings and educational facilities, and to pilot interventions to support access to ICTs in hinterland, poor and remote communities.
The Minister explained that this amount will fund the setting up of ICT Hubs in communities which will be identified on the following criteria: level of poverty, remoteness and social vulnerability.  This sum will also fund the provision of Internet access to hubs set up in the indigenous communities.
She said, “In 2016, we therefore intend to leverage the capabilities of ICTs in transforming our economy, thus making it more competitive and productive.  To this end, Government will set up Public Internet Access Points (PIAPS) at Government Ministries and Agencies to increase citizens’ access to information and e-Services.
She also noted that Government intends to invest $60M to setup ICT Business Incubators in all regions.
Hughes told the House that Government also plans to expend an initial $25 million towards the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in Information Technology (CEIT).  This Centre, she explained, will provide training for public sector ICT professionals.
Hughes recalled that the Official Gazette of January 18, 2016 highlights the creation of a new Ministry of Public Telecommunication which now encompasses the original responsibility for tourism and a series of important agencies.
She noted that the new ministry now has responsibility for Telecommunications, Tourism and Postal and Telegraph Services. She said, too, that the departments of the new ministry include; E-Government, National Data Management Authority, National Frequency Management Unit, Guyana Post Office Corporation and the Public Utilities Commission.
As a country, Hughes said that it is imperative to recognise the importance of developing the ICT sector and the placing it at the centre of the development plan.
The Minister noted that fundamental to this is providing internet access and connectivity across all regions of our country, designing a national broadband policy and implementing a supporting strategy.
To lend more credence to the importance of the ICT sector, Hughes referenced the socioeconomic impact of broadband in Latin America and Caribbean countries as stated in an Inter-American Development Bank’s 2012 report.
That document she revealed highlights that a 10 percent increase in broadband penetration in 2005 was associated with a 1.34 percent increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP); in 2007, with a 2.29 percent increase; and in 2009, with a 3.19 percent increase.
Hughes said that these findings corroborate that the greater the number of broadband subscriptions in a country over time, the greater impact it will have on that country’s GDP.
The politician said that this is why the United Nations advocates that “we significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2020.”
She added, “Regrettably, over the years in Guyana, the development of ICT as a contributing, productive sector has been slow.”
Hughes noted that the high cost of supporting infrastructure, absence of enabling legislation, limited skill sets has been a significant contributor to this state of affairs.
Hughes noted that traditional ways of incorporating technology, such as importing machinery and equipment or direct foreign investment, are not enough to confront the challenges of inclusive economic development.
She said that it is the effective implementation and utilization of ICT to modernize Guyana to the benefit of its citizens, which will have to be done.
“We have several fundamentally goals and objectives. We must, as a national imperative, utilize ICT to improve the delivery of Government services to all our citizens. We must be able to process our various applications online quickly and get immediate responses to our queries via electronic and live helpdesks.
“Visits to Government offices to collect a form and having to return to drop it off must become a thing of the past.”
“It means that our children in Annai attending the Bena Hill Institute or in Aranaputa for example, must be able to benefit from the knowledge and tuition of the biology teacher at Bishops’ High School or Queen’s College.
Today’s technology makes this easy with Skype. Distance or location must not be an impediment to this goal…”
The Telecommunications Minister said that the Government will ensure that affordable universal broadband access is available for all citizens, private sector, Government and civil society, thereby eliminating the digital divide.
The Telecommunications Minister noted that the liberalisation of the sector has been on the agenda for several years. She recalled that a revised Telecommunications bill was tabled in the House and has been subjected to scrutiny of a select committee.
She said that both government and opposition seemed united in the search for a model piece of legislation to bring an end to the monopoly in this sector.
“But there are several consequential matters that remain to be settled, and for which further consultations with a major player, GT&T, are on-going. It is hoped therefore that the process of liberalisation would be completed during this year and that the national spectrum will be opened to all strategic partners and we promise to have an even playing field.”
Hughes also noted that comprehensive intellectual property is fundamental for the development of a successful knowledge economy.

 

February 12, 2016

Frequency Management Unit transferred $700M to Consolidated Fund –Telecoms Minister
While informing about the investments being made into ICT sector, Public Telecommunications Minister,

Cathy Hughes, also informed the National Assembly on Wednesday about plans for various departments which fall under her purview.
She noted that the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU), of which she has control over, transferred some $700M to the Consolidated Fund in 2015.
Hughes also noted that for last year, the NFMU carried out a range of its mandated functions such as Radio Inspection, Monitoring, Licencing and Number Administration.
The Public Telecommunications Minister said that the agency reviewed the proposed Memorandum of Agreement between the Governments of Guyana and India on the Centre of Excellence for Information Technology and made recommendations for its enhancement.
Hughes said that the NFMU also spearheaded the procurement of emergency telecommunications equipment for the Civil Defence Commission, through a grant from the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
The Parliamentarian said, too, that the unit also made a direct impact in fostering and promoting gender balance in the industry through its “Girls in ICT Day Activities” which is a programme that seeks to encourage more female participation in the ICT sector, and which is a staple in the NFMU’s calendar of activities.
In 2016, the Minister said that the National Frequency Management Unit will continue preparation for the liberalization of the Telecommunications Sector, and upgrade spectrum monitoring and management capabilities.
She said that the agency will support further development and deployment of Broadband networks/services; continue participation in the Harmonized Caribbean Spectrum Planning and Management Project; continue promoting and supporting the use of ICTs for Disaster preparedness/mitigation; and promote the use of ICTs to achieve the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals in Guyana.
Minister Hughes said that the Unit will intensify the process to transition from Analogue to Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting. She promised that public consultations will be held to discuss the roadmap for the transition and choice of digital standard will be carried out.
Hughes told the National Assembly that 2016 will see commencement of the implementation of the Roadmap. Further, the politician said that the NFMU will plan, organize and execute activities to raise the awareness regarding opportunities and encourage more females to consider careers in the ICT field.
She said that the Unit will continue working with organizations such as the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre to promote the use of ICTs for differently-able persons.
The Minister also stated that the NFMU will also Re-Tender for and commence the building of its Head Office.
NDMA
The National Data Management Authority (NDMA) is another agency within the Public Telecommunications Ministry. Under the supervision of its newly-appointed board, Hughes said that the NDMA will develop work programmes to satisfy its mandate.
She said that the NDMA, which is the government agency responsible for data processing and information systems in the Public Sector, will focus on improving the Public Sector’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) preparedness.
Towards this end, the Minister said that the Authority will be revamped to better support the eGovernment Unit and the ministry in its ICT capacity development.
She said, “NDMA’s contribution will be directed towards developing knowledge, through training, of workers who are capable of optimizing the use of office productivity suites and collaborative tools, through the soon-to-be established Centre of Excellence in Information Technology (CEIT).”
The Minister added, “NDMA will conduct a training needs assessment to identify skills requirements in the Public Sector, and design suitable training programmes and deliver appropriate training courses to satisfy these needs.”
In addition, Hughes said that the NDMA will continue to provide data processing services and will monitor and review plans of the various ministries with the aim of determining its data processing requirements, and based on these findings; provide guidance, advice and direction where necessary.

 

March 11, 2016

Broadcasting Authority considering new fees for TV, radio operators

-warns of stricter monitoring on programs
The Board of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) said it last week successfully hosted a session with television broadcasters to update them of new developments.

GNBA is the body that regulates the operations of television and radio stations in the country.
The event was hosted by the authority’s recently appointed Public Relations Officer (Acting), Joel Ally, who welcomed broadcasters and introduced the chairman, Leonard Craig.
The Board of Directors was officially introduced. Present were Anthony Vieira, Jocelyne Josiah, Vic Insanally and Ex-Officio Member, Valmikki Singh, the Managing Director of the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU).
Directors Ameena Gafoor and Abiola Wong-Inniss were not in attendance.
According to the GNBA, the names of the Sub-Committees of the Governing Board were introduced.
Josiah will chair the Monitoring and Compliance Committee (MCC); Vieira- the Chair of the Legal Matters, Fees and Licensing Committee (LMFLC) while Insanally will chair the Finance Committee (FC).
Broadcasters were briefed on the various zones and the proposed annual fee structure for

each zone. These include Primary Zone- which takes in Mahaica/Mahaicony district to parts of the Essequibo Island and parts of the Linden Highway: $1.2M; Secondary Zone which takes in New Amsterdam, Corriverton,  parts of the Essequibo Coast, Charity and the Pomeroon: $600,000M and Tertiary Zone covers areas in Parika, Linden and Lethem-$300,000.
GNBA said that it is important to note that each of the zones fall under two categories- profitable and non-profitable.
“To this end, during the consultative process, it was decided that Community Radio Stations should be encouraged hence a category for this was necessary.”
GNBA also announced intentions to utilize the US Federal Communication Commission (FCC) TV Ratings System for determining content for broadcast in Guyana.
“Television broadcasters will be monitored to ensure their content adheres to the broadcast policy outlined in the Broadcast Act with respect to offending taste; as such, programs will be allowed to be aired only in a time slot for which it is suitable.”
With regards to GNBA’s finance, it was noted that there is a large outstanding balance which must be liquidated.
The authority is toying with the idea of a significant fee reduction and amnesty period being granted and all broadcasters who settle their outstanding amounts within the period be considered for the 2016 license.
“Broadcasters were told that the authority wants to know how they are operating their stations with the intention of helping them. To this end, broadcasters were assured that efforts are being made to level the playing field as far as possible.”
Discussed also were TV ratings such as TV-MA (Mature Audience) and the content of lewd music videos were also raised with the issue of advertising coming up.
“Specific emphasis was placed on monitoring and compliance. All broadcast media will be monitored based on approved guidelines. A review of those guidelines will be done in an effort to give advice on issues relating to the said guidelines,” the GNBA said.
On the important point of finance, it was noted that licence fees need to be reviewed.
“The current board inherited a situation where there had been no monitoring, regulating or enforcing; hence these matters are to be addressed. To this end, broadcasters were assured that efforts are being made to level the playing field as far as possible,” GNBA disclosed.
This event saw participation from a wide cross-section of television broadcasters who expressed personal concerns faced within the broadcast industry.
“Some of these concerns included unfair practices among broadcasters, fee structure, signal interferences and the expressed need for protection by the GNBA.”
As part of the reforms to ensure that broadcasters are regulated, new laws had mandated the establishment of the GNBA.
However, there were protests after ex-president, Bharrat Jagdeo, shortly before he ended his tenure in 2011, named several close friends and his party as being the recipients of broadcast licences for radio stations.
Among those benefitting were Jagdeo’s close friends, his party’s newspaper and a relative of one of his ministers.
Sidelined were several prominent media houses including Kaieteur News, Stabroek News, Capitol News and CNS 6.
The previous GNBA board had said it was moving to correct the situation but did little during the last few years.
A new board was announced by the David Granger-led administration shortly after it took office last year.

 

March 12, 2016

Four years later… Broadcast Authority readies to issue more radio, TV licences

More than four years after several radio, television and cable licences were doled out under questionable circumstances to close friends of the Bharrat Jagdeo administration, there appears to be significant moves to correct the situation.
Yesterday, Government announced that the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) has committed to speed up the processing of applications for a number of media houses and others.
The applications have been pending for years now with the GNBA, under the last administration, appearing to have dragged its foot in the processing. In so doing, the previous Government allowed a number of operators to cement their place with some of them even refusing to pay their annual licensing fees.
A new board was appointed under the chairmanship of Leonard Craig, after the David Granger administration took office last May following early general elections.
Within the last few days, the authority which regulates the airwaves, has met with television broadcasters, warning of the need for them to toe the line with regards to programming.
A review of the fees is underway with disclosures that many broadcasters, including those granted licences by Jagdeo, owed millions of dollars, placing the authority in a financial bind.
Yesterday, Craig was present at the National Communications Network (NCN) along with Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo for the commissioning of the entity’s satellite east station multimedia teleport.
Speaking with reporters, Craig disclosed that earlier the day, he and other members of the GNBA board met with PM Nagamootoo.

“…We gave an undertaking that we will speed up the issuance of new licences based on applications that we currently have on file,” the GNBA official disclosed.
Currently, the authority has over 25 applications for television, radio and cable licences in file.
Craig did not immediately disclose the names of the applicants.
However, it is known that several of them are prominent media houses, including Kaieteur News and Capitol News.
Two Months?
While the board of GNBA has not set a timeline for the issuance of the licences, Craig when questioned, said he is hoping the process could take between six to eight weeks.
Also discussed with the PM were proposed changes to the current fees charged by GNBA to operators.
The annual fees for television stations will likely go down. There will not be much change for radio operations.
Community radio stations will likely, because of their very nature of non-profit operations, be charged a flat fee of $150,000.
Craig insisted that the authority has the capacity to deal with the increased work likely as a result of changes in the country’s broadcast sector.
Meanwhile, PM Nagamootoo said that idea of issuing more licences is to create competition.
The PM, who came from a media background, said that he has urged GNBA’s board to pull out all stops to process the applications on file.

“I urge them to refresh our channels. I urge them to provide new vigor in what appeared to be a very putrid…and contaminated televisions (operations), particularly the television scenario in Guyana.”
Nagamootoo pointed out that licences were granted to persons who never held a camera in their hands or have track records in broadcasting.
There were abuse in the programmes and “where we have not love, not unity but the putrid air, the scent of hate and division and rancor.”
Nagamootoo said that he is not calling for the closure of the stations that were wrongfully granted licences. This was the job of GNBA, he added.
“I am just saying I would rather see that more stations come on board with people who have the wherewithal…”
The official added that the entrance of new operators will come with a competitive edge and possible cheaper cost for services. It could also see better technology being introduced.
The issue of licences has seen accusations being leveled against operators, over time, with the previous GNBA board not even collecting the fees it is owed.
Protests
The radio licences issue has been a burning one, sparking protests and criticisms from local and international bodies for the sidelining of prominent media houses like Kaieteur News and Stabroek News.

Several frequencies went to close friends of the party and even to the sister of former PPP Minister of Natural Resources, Robert Persaud. Five were given also to the publisher of The Mirror, the PPP newspaper.
Independent media entities, which were sidelined, were requested to submit fresh applications.
Indeed, Jagdeo’s close friend, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, was the beneficiary of five frequencies.
Former US Ambassador, D. Brent Hardt, had said that he believed that the radio licence issue is a critical one that should be examined again by the administration.

President Ramotar had promised to examine the issue but three years after entering office, there was no word from him.
The former Opposition, now forming the coalition Government, has also been complaining that it has been targeted in a hostile manner by the state media, including the Government Information Agency (GINA) and state TV’s National Communications Network (NCN), TVG Channel 28 and Guyana Times- the last two are media outfits with close links to Jagdeo and the ruling party.
Places like Berbice and Linden were subjected to news coming from the state-owned NCN.
In East Berbice, only Ramroop was allowed to extend his signals.
He was one of several television broadcasters summoned to the GNBA meeting recently.

 

 

 

March 12, 2016

Ramroop’s TVG collected over $225M from Learning Channel

– NCN’s once hidden teleport facilities now operational

A questionable four-year deal that cost taxpayers over $225M has finally ended with Government yesterday commissioning an earth station that has the capacity to transmit programmes of the Guyana Learning Channel (GLC) throughout the country.
The commissioning will mean that TVG 28, an operation owned by Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, will lose over $40M in revenues annually that came from the contract acquired under the previous administration.
The teleport facility commissioned yesterday is expected to raise capacity of the state-owned National Communications Network (NCN) to transmit live events. And that is only the beginning. NCN has already acquired more equipment to transmit from anywhere in Guyana-— live.
The contract with TVG was a secret one until a Parliamentary Committee learnt a few years ago that Ramroop’s company was being paid $3.6M monthly to transmit GLC’s programs, which targets students.
What was shocking was when last year it became know that NCN had for some time now had the capacity to also beam down the GLC programs to remote Amerindian and other communities.
The problem is that NCN never installed the equipment that was left lying, apparently deliberately, in several boxes in the compound of that entity.

It was only discovered last year when the David Granger administration took office.
Yesterday, it was disclosed that NCN managed to within a few weeks unpack the boxes and operationalize the teleport.
NCN’s Chief Executive Officer, Molly Hassan, made it clear that the teleport facility which is currently only transmitting GLC programmes, will serve as a springboard of more things to come.
Head of GLC, Dr. Seeta Roath, explained that programmes for the channel, transmitted in Georgetown on Channel 29/80, comes from National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), in Kingston.
Under the current system, signals are transmitted from Kingston to NCN compound where the teleport system bounces it to a satellite. This is, in layman’s terms, transmitted back down to the 12 locations in the different regions which have been equipped to receive.
According to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who has responsibilities for public information, the commissioning of the teleport facility has implications as it is about ensuring the security of the state.
It “is not only in keeping with the promise made to provide information to our Guyanese people but this is securing a defense capability, a security capability because the first line of defence in a situation such as ours is the ability to communicate.”
Government is hoping that additional upgrades to the teleport facilities will see even the 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations being beamed live to locations.
At the same time, the PM also urged NCN to move itself to a competitive area and clean up its operations.
Nagamootoo said he has seen wires and cables unsightedly bunched at NCN with several damaged vehicles found stored in the compound last year.

 

March 15, 2016

Ramjattan maintains that Jagdeo’s broadcasting licences must be revoked

Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Khemraj Ramjattan, said, yesterday, that he has said enough on

the campaign trail about the importance of the revocation of all illegally granted broadcasting licences and as such, will maintain those statements today.
His comments were in response to questions about Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo favouring the issuing of more licences as opposed to the revocation of illegal ones.
Ramjattan made it clear that he would not comment on Nagamootoo’s statements at this time but reiterated that his position on the matter, as expressed on the 2015 election campaign trail, will remain unchanged.
The Minister of Public Security had emphasized during that time that there is no doubt that the issuing of radio licences and the spectrum to certain people alone is something that is unconstitutional and is repugnant to any true democracy.
Ramjattan had said that former President Bharat Jagdeo’s calculated granting of the licences was political and deemed it “control freakism”.
He had recalled on numerous occasions how Jagdeo, weeks before leaving office, awarded his best friend, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop five radio frequencies; New Guyana Company Limited, five and Telcor and Cultural Broadcasting Inc another five.
Telcor’s contact person is Omkar Lochan, who happens to be the former Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment. That Ministry was headed by Robert Persaud. Lochan has since resigned.
It was also exposed that the owner of the radio station is Robert Persaud’s sister, Ruth Baljit.
New Guyana Company is the one that publishes the party’s newspaper, Mirror, and whose contact person is

PPP’s Member of Parliament (MP), Dharamkumar Seeraj.
Jagdeo also gave two cable licences to two of his closest friends, Vishok Persaud and Brian Yong.
Ramjattan has been protesting with private media houses, including Kaieteur News, against the unfair distribution of the radio and cable licences. During those protests, he also called for unlawful licences to be taken away.
In the mean time, Nagamootoo’s comments recently that he favoured more licences being granted as opposed to them being rescinded did not sit well with some members of the GNBA and other critics outside of the entity.
The officials who spoke with Kaieteur News on Sunday said that Nagamootoo would be making a big political mistake were he to follow through with such an approach.
They made it clear that the system has to be regularized. Towards this end, the officials emphasized that the illegalities in the Broadcasting sector, one of which includes the unlawful granting of radio and cable licences by Former President Bharat Jagdeo to his friends and “favourites”, must be addressed.
Significantly, Kaieteur News was also made aware by several officials within GNBA that all the prime spots for television channel frequencies, as well as cable are all gone because of the PPP’s ad hoc scheme.
They noted that while some space is still available in the radio spectrum for new applicants, some major spots are already taken up.
Considering this, some officials within GNBA and even critics outside of the entity are questioning Nagamootoo’s reasoning for favouring the award of new licences without addressing expeditiously, those illegally granted.
On several occasions, the Chairman of the GNBA Board, Leonard Craig, has been questioned on this state of affairs. Before Nagamootoo’s utterances to the media, Craig had failed to give any clear answer on the revocation of unlawful licences.

He would only say that the Board will host a press conference with the media. He made this promise last year and this year and it is yet to be fulfilled.
On Sunday, Craig told this newspaper that the Board has made no decision to rescind the licences but noted that legal advice suggests that it is better if the Board does not.
The Chairman also declined to reveal who the “legal minds are,” except to say that they are “well respected.”
Asked if the Board is inclined to follow the legal advice given, he responded, “The PM (Prime Minister) seems inclined. We work for him.”
With regard to the long awaited press conference, Craig said that the Board has a Public Relations Officer who will be handling that matter.
Speaking with this publication, University Professor, Dr. David Hinds said that his political view is that the licences should be rescinded.
The University Professor said that the capricious manner, in which the licences were granted by former President Bharrat Jagdeo, represents a grave injustice to those who were arbitrarily denied licences at the time.

 

March 17. 2016

PM Moses in favour of revoking illegal radio licences

…says it is for GNBA Chairman to explain to the nation how far he is with the matter
By: Kiana Wilburg  
Amidst mounting criticisms from various quarters, Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo clarified yesterday

his stance on the radio, television and cable licences which were granted during the Jagdeo regime.
The First Vice President stated that he is all for the revocation of those licences. He emphasized that it is the position he held during the election campaign and it is the same today.
Nagamootoo said that he has decided to clear the air on the matter because his comments at the commissioning of the teleport for the National Communications Network were “misinterpreted.”
The Member of Parliament said, “My comments were misconstrued. If they were reported on in the manner in which it was meant then we would not have all these different statements against me.”
Nagamootoo emphasized that his comments were in no way meant to signal to the nation that he is against the revocation of licences which were illegally awarded to certain individuals.
He noted that it is not his responsibility or job to do so. He said that this rests with the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA).
“GNBA has to do their job and revoking licences is their issue. If I interfere, I would be accused of political interference. I know that the board has set up a subcommittee to look into this matter and it is chaired by Anthony Vieira.
“He is knowledgeable in broadcasting and is capable and competent in this regard. But I cannot pronounce on the work of the board or the subcommittee on that matter. They would have to pronounce on that. They are

the ones who must explain where they are.”
He added, “You think if the board came to me tomorrow morning and showed me solid legal grounds for revoking the licences I would interfere?  I have been very careful with my language throughout this entire thing. The GNBA Chairman has to say what’s going. But I did urge them to give out the new licences to those who already applied…
“I did not instruct. I am concerned about how we are going to correct this.”
On several occasions, the Chairman of the GNBA Board, Leonard Craig, has been questioned on this state of affairs.
Craig had failed to give any clear answer on the revocation of unlawful licences. He would only say that the Board will host a press conference with the media. He made this promise last year and this year it is yet to be fulfilled.
On Sunday, Craig told this newspaper that the Board has made no decision to rescind the licences, but noted that legal advice suggests that it is better if the Board does not.
The Chairman also declined to reveal who the “legal minds” are, except to say that they are “well respected.”
With regard to the long-awaited press conference, Craig said that the Board has a Public Relations Officer

that will be handling that matter.
Weeks before leaving office, Former President Bharrat Jagdeo awarded his best friend, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop five radio frequencies; New Guyana Company Limited, five, and Telcor and Cultural Broadcasting Inc., another five.
Jagdeo also gave two cable licences to two of his closest friends, Vishok Persaud and Brian Yong.
GNBA Officials revealed recently that Jagdeo’s ad hoc approach has led to prime spots on the spectrum being taken up. All premium spots on the television and cable channel frequency are gone. There is little space left for new applicants on the radio spectrum.

 

March 18, 2016

Subcommittee recommended illegal radio licences must be revoked

“We have to start from scratch” –GNBA Member

By Kiana Wilburg
Chairman of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA), Leonard Craig continues to dodge questions

which require him to explain to the nation where the Authority is on the revocation of the illegally granted licences under the Jagdeo regime.
This is in spite of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo making it clear two days ago that Craig would be the one to set the record straight.
Yesterday Kaieteur News contacted Craig on the issue. He said, “I am not willing to make a statement on this matter just yet. We are meeting next week on it. I am not willing to speak on this today and I shall speak on this at a press conference after our meeting.”
The GNBA Chairman said that his Public Relations Officer would be dealing with the information on the related dates. It was since last year that Craig has been promising to meet with the media.
This newspaper also asked Craig if he received reports, whether oral or written, from the subcommittee that was established to look into the issue of the illegally granted broadcasting licenses, among other issues.
To this Craig said, “I guess they will do that at the meeting next week…But that is a matter for the press conference.”
He was also asked to say why the board is only having a meeting regarding the way forward on the matter, when the subcommittee would have been set up by him since last year.
Craig said, “Because now that certain things are being said in the press, it beholds the board to consider and reconsider the matter.”
When this publication contacted the Head of the Subcommittee, Anthony Vieira, he provided more clarity

on the issues.
Vieira said that it needs to be clarified first of all that Craig is not an Executive Chairman with special powers. He said that Craig is just a chairman, and what he does in relation to the Authority, has to be in harmony with the thoughts and decisions reached by other board members.
The broadcasting veteran said that there are a number of things wrong with Guyana’s broadcasting sector and as such, it becomes imperative for the entire system to be revamped, so that an environment of fairness can be had.
“And I have said several times let’s call in the media so that they can know what we are doing and what we have done so far, because the impression is that the Broadcasting Authority is not working, and that is not true. Additionally, the entire broadcasting authority needs restructuring. Even the Act also needs restructuring. But it is time we talk to the media, and I will be inviting them next week.”
While Craig was not willing to say if he received reports from the subcommittee on the illegal radio licences, Vieira said that this was in fact done since last year with the understanding that revocation must be done. He noted, however, there are still some kinks which have to be ironed out regarding the way in which it will be accomplished.
“But the whole broadcasting sector, from the licences to the Act, needs to be regularized. We need to start from scratch,” Vieira asserted.
Weeks before leaving office, Former President Bharrat Jagdeo awarded his best friend, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop five radio frequencies; New Guyana Company Limited, five, and Telcor and Cultural Broadcasting Inc., another five.
Jagdeo also ordered the grant of two cable licences to two of his closest friends, Vishok Persaud and Brian Yong.
GNBA Officials revealed recently that Jagdeo’s ad hoc approach has led to prime spots on the spectrum being taken up. All premium spots on the television and cable channel frequencies are gone. There is little space left for new applicants on the radio spectrum.

 

March 19, 2016

Government’s first priority is to uphold the rule of law – Ram

-Must have a united position on revoking radio licences
Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram, has decried the inconsistency of the Government’s position on

the granting of radio licences, following comments by Prime Minister and Minister of Information, Moses Nagamootoo. He also made it clear that Government’s first priority is to uphold the law.
Speaking about the radio licences which were granted by former President Bharrat Jagdeo to his associates and best friend just before he demitted office, Nagamootoo recently said that he would prefer to see new licences being issued as opposed to the revocation of others.
Noting that it seemed as though Nagamootoo’s own colleagues had problems with his statement, Ram stated that this is an issue on which Cabinet must have a united position.
“It also seems as though his own colleagues have problems, because (Minister Khemraj) Ramjattan clearly does not agree with him,” Ram stated. “And I would have thought this is something that Cabinet should have had a position on.”
“And we have the Attorney General,” he also noted. “You would have expected a consistent position would have been taken.”
Ram also noted that the radio spectrum was a technical issue. He said that instead of bringing some kind of clarity to the issue, Nagamootoo’s comments have introduced an element of confusion.
He also stated that since the issuance of the radio licences is currently under judicial consideration, inappropriate policy statements must be avoided.
Ram added, “For the Prime Minister to announce a completely new policy position is extremely surprising.”
. He made it clear that a Government’s first priority is to uphold the rule of the law.
“I have also heard this thing about legitimate expectation, that these people have spent money,” Ram noted.

“Legitimate expectation does not apply where there is an illegality. Of course an illegality has to be proven and that is exactly what is taking place in the court.”
“So what we ought to be doing is getting the matter in the court expedited and (for) the broadcasting authority to have a review of the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU). They need to explore and expedite this matter.”
Just before Jagdeo demitted office in 2011, he approved several radio and cable television licences for mainly friends and his party members. In so doing, he sidelined applications from several prominent media houses including Kaieteur News, Stabroek News, Capitol News, HBTV Channel Nine and CNS Channel Six.
Jagdeo’s best friend, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, received multiple frequencies. Also receiving a similar number of frequencies was The Mirror, a newspaper which belongs to the ruling party, and Telcor, a company with close links to the then Natural Resources Minister, Robert Persaud.
The disclosures of the licences, which also included approval for two cable TV operations, sparked court cases and several days of protests. They also attracted local and international condemnation.
Former President Ramotar had promised to review the issue but never did.

 

 

March 20, 2016

If radio, cable, TV licences not revoked, Guyana loses

“If beneficiaries of criminal actions by state officials continue to enjoy the benefits, then corruption is unlikely to be ever stamped out.” – Foreign Affairs Minister

By Kiana Wilburg

Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge, has now added his voice to the debate over the revocation of the granted radio and cable licences under the Jagdeo regime.
Greenidge said that as far as he is aware, the coalition party has not changed its position on this matter.
He made it clear that his support for the revocation of those unlawful licences during the 2015 election campaign remains the same.
The Foreign Affairs Minister said, “I most certainly do hold the same view and, of course, stand by my earlier comments on the matter.  Nothing has occurred by way of new information to persuade me to change my mind. The act by former President Bharrat Jagdeo was improper, reprehensible and illegal.”
The Member of Parliament said that as a President, one should not use the position to hand out state assets to family, associates’ families and or political parties. He said that it was wrong in 2011 and it is still wrong.
Greenidge said that if the illegal radio and cable licences are not revoked then Guyana would lose.
“If it were my personal or your property that had been stolen and misappropriated, you would not think it necessary to ask if the wrong committed should be corrected. We should stop regarding national assets and state property as free goods which involve no loss if misappropriated. If we do, then we all lose.”
The Foreign Affairs Minister said that he believes legal grounds do exist for the revocation of the radio and cable licences.
He said that there is always a legal basis on which to challenge actions that public officials are empowered to take under the law.
The Member of Parliament said that such actions are subject to administrative law and are to be exercised in the public interest unless a specified category of beneficiary is named in the law.
Greenidge said that the decision is not to be exercised arbitrarily but on the basis of advice from the relevant competent authority and should not be for the benefit of the public official, his/her associates or relatives. The Foreign Affairs Minister said that officials with certain powers should know that their actions have to be exercised in good faith and for the purposes set out in the Broadcast Act, in a manner consistent with the relevant considerations such as citizens’ rights set out in the Constitution itself.
“Mr Jagdeo’s decision did not meet this test so it should not stand. If beneficiaries of criminal actions by state officials can expect to continue to enjoy the benefits then corruption is unlikely to be ever stamped out. The risk of disclosure, exposure and reversal is itself a powerful deterrent,” expressed the politician.
He continued, “But if wrongdoers and the beneficiaries of wrongdoing know that the improper decisions are likely to be reversed even after the passage of relatively long periods of time they will not be so keen to be party to such behaviour again.”
The Foreign Affairs Minister said that as soon as Jagdeo’s decision was made public, everyone was aware of the fact that it was improper. He said that the beneficiaries, too, would have been immediately aware that they ran the risk of losing the licences and those who were foolish enough to purchase it from them did so in the full knowledge that they ran the risk of loss.
Greenidge said that he would argue for the law to be invoked.
In the meantime, Chairman of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA), Leonard Craig, continues to dodge questions which require him to explain to the nation where the Authority is on the revocation of the illegally granted licences under the Jagdeo regime.
This is in spite of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo making it clear a few days ago that Craig should set the record straight.
Kaieteur News had contacted Craig on the issue. He had said, “I am not willing to make a statement on this matter just yet. We are meeting next week on it. I am not willing to speak on this today and I shall speak on this at a press conference after our meeting.”
The GNBA Chairman said that his Public Relations Officer would be dealing with the information on the related dates. It was since last year that Craig has been promising to meet with the media.
This newspaper also asked Craig if he received reports, whether oral or written, from the subcommittee that was established to look into the issue of the illegally granted broadcasting licenses, among other issues.
To this Craig said, “I guess they will do that at the meeting next week…But that is a matter for the press conference.”
He was also asked to say why the board is only having a meeting regarding the way forward on the matter, when the subcommittee would have been set up by him since last year.
Craig said, “Because now that certain things are being said in the press, it behoves the board to consider and reconsider the matter.”
When this publication contacted the Head of the Subcommittee, Anthony Vieira, he provided more clarity on the issues.
The broadcast veteran said that there are a number of things wrong with Guyana’s broadcasting sector and as such, it becomes imperative for the entire system to be revamped, so that an environment of fairness can be had.
While Craig was not willing to say if he received reports from the subcommittee on the illegal radio licences, Vieira said that this was in fact done since last year with the understanding that revocation must be done.
He noted, however, there are still some kinks which have to be ironed out regarding the way in which it will be accomplished.
Weeks before leaving office, former President Bharrat Jagdeo awarded his best friend, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, five radio frequencies; New Guyana Company Limited, five, and Telcor and Cultural Broadcasting Inc., another five.
Jagdeo also ordered the grant of two cable licences to two of his closest friends, Vishok Persaud and Brian Yong.
GNBA Officials revealed recently that Jagdeo’s ad hoc approach has led to prime spots on the spectrum being taken up. All premium spots on the television and cable channel frequencies are gone. There is little space left for new applicants on the radio spectrum.

 

March 21, 2016

Illegally issued radio, TV, cable licences…Govt. must have clear agenda on tackling corruption under PPP – Dr. Hinds

“Every day we are finding out how Guyana has been divided up among a tiny cabal. For me, this represents a crime against the Guyanese people that should not be left untouched..” – Dr. Hinds

By Kiana Wilburg

The  recent support by certain Government officials for the revocation  of radio, television and cable licences arbitrarily granted under the Jagdeo regime, is a positive development in the direction of justice and fairness, said University Professor, Dr. David Hinds.

He noted however that the endorsement for the revocation as expressed by Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge and Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan is not enough.
Dr. Hinds said that the Government must have a clear agenda on tackling this issue and corruption as a whole under the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C). He is also challenging the Government to come forward with a statement to set the record straight.
In examining the issue, Dr. Hinds asserted that the legality of the giveaway of those licences by former President Bharrat Jagdeo is much more complex than meets the eye.
“Mr. Jagdeo may be deemed to have acted lawfully and within the limits of his authority as President, but that does not make his action politically, morally and even constitutionally correct.”
The University Professor said that a Government is expected to balance presidential authority with natural justice. With this principle in mind, he is convinced that Jagdeo did not do that.
Dr. Hinds said that the giveaway of the licenses is also part of a larger “heist” of Guyana. The political activist asserted that the wholesale transfer of common resources through so-called “lawful” but dubious means had become part and parcel of the mode of governance under the previous government at all levels, from the national government right down to the local authorities.
He opined that the scale of transfer of the national patrimony into selected private hands also has negative consequences for the ability of government to carry out its basic functions and responsibilities.
Dr. Hinds contended that the government now has direct access to fewer resources. Furthermore, he said that the economy is now at the mercy of those private entities and individuals that disproportionately benefited from the heist of the prime parts of the broadcasting sector.
“They can decide, as some have done, to sell the assets to others for astronomically more than they acquired them for. People have got rich by pilfering from the rest of us. It has to stop.”
Dr. Hinds also contended that there are ethnic implications of the giveaway of the licenses and other State assets. He explained that most of those assets were given to the elites of one ethnic group.

The University Professor added, “In our fragile ethnic environment, the notion of ethnic injustice is bound to raise its head at some point. Every day we are finding out how Guyana has been divided up among a tiny cabal. For me, this represents a crime against the Guyanese people that should not be left untouched.”
Dr. Hinds argued that the number one item of this government’s mandate should be to recover those assets. He said that is why there is a State Asset Recovery Unit (SARU), headed by Professor Clive Thomas. He said that SARU should be handling such matters.
“And that is why I found the Prime Minister’s (Moses Nagamootoo) initial comments troubling. You set up an Asset Recovery Unit but then Nagamootoo turns around and urges for the Guyana National Broadcasting Unit (GNBA) to issue more licences instead of urging them to recover what represents one of the most barefaced instances of misappropriation of State Assets,” expressed Dr. Hinds.
He said, “It is against that background that I find the stances of the three senior ministers (Greenidge, Ramjattan and Roopnaraine) to revoke the licences, comforting. It shows that the Prime Minister was not speaking for the government.”
Dr. Hinds noted, however that Ramjattan, Roopnaraine and Greenidge are also not speaking for the government, even if their views may represent a majority in the Government.
He said what is needed is a clear, unequivocal position by the government not only on this matter of the license, but more importantly on how it intends to deal with the larger issue of what Professor Thomas calls “criminalization” of the State by the former Government.
He asserted that Greenidge’s position that corruption must not be left unchecked is absolutely correct.
Dr. Hinds said if Government does not confront and root out that level of corruption which obtained under the PPP, then it would be signaling to the nation that it is complicit in institutionalizing a new level of corruption in the State for decades to come.
He said that the possibility that the Government may have to pay compensation to the beneficiaries of State Plunder should not stand in the way of the course of Justice and the de-criminalization of the State.
The University Professor said it is for the aforementioned reason that he is challenging the Government to make a clear statement on the matter.
“One continues to get the feeling that the governing parties have not yet hammered out a cohesive vision. There seems to be no clear and consistent sense of how to approach these big issues. If they are to govern effectively they would have to do that sooner rather than later.”

The political activist said that it appears as if the Cabinet is the only real effectively functioning institution of the Coalition. He noted however that vision and general political strategy and tactics cannot be framed in Cabinet; they have to be worked out away from the day to day governance of the country.
In fact, Dr. Hinds said that Cabinet deliberations should be informed by this larger vision. He said that the inability to arrive at this cohesive vision is one of the problems of Partnership Government as consensus takes longer to be arrived at. He said that this should not be a deterrent. The Buxtonian stressed that it should be an incentive to try harder.
“I still believe that President David Granger’s last address to the National Assembly is a good document to begin that conversation. A government without a large vision could survive, but its survival would always be tenuous,” concluded Dr. Hinds.
Weeks before leaving office, former President Bharrat Jagdeo awarded his best friend, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, five radio frequencies; New Guyana Company Limited, five, and Telcor and Cultural Broadcasting Inc., another five.
Jagdeo also ordered the grant of two cable licences to two of his closest friends, Vishok Persaud and Brian Yong.
GNBA Officials revealed recently that Jagdeo’s ad hoc approach has led to prime spots on the spectrum being taken up.
All premium spots on the television and cable channel frequencies are gone. There is little space left for new applicants on the radio spectrum.

 

March 25, 2016

There was ethnic, regional balance when I gave out radio licences – Jagdeo

– says Gov’t can revoke licences but may face courts

By Jarryl Bryan
Former President Bharrat Jagdeo is defending the decision he took in 2011 to grant some of his family

members and favoured friends, prime spots on the radio spectrum. In the face of calls for those licences to be revoked, he is stating that the Granger administration “can do what it wants.”
The Opposition leader is claiming that there was ethnic and regional balance when he granted those radio and television licences. He made these statements during a press conference at Freedom House yesterday.
During his conference, there seemed to be a “tit-for-tat’ approach. Jagdeo used examples of the current administration’s handling of contracts, including contracts for the cleanup of the city and the specialty hospital, to substantiate his claim that there is less transparency under this current administration compared to his.
“When we talk about transparency, at least I made it clear. There was a committee that was set up that recommended them to me. As Minister of Information, the committee recommended. You had regional and ethnic balance because of the 12 licences; six went to non-Indo Guyanese.”
“I ensured ethnic balance across the country and geographic balance. I had criteria,” Jagdeo declared. “The present Government can do what it wants. If it wants to revoke those licences, that is the Government’s decision.”
However, Jagdeo said that if the Government took this line, it would become a legal matter since the licence holders would likely go to the court. Jagdeo also said that Government did not need approval from his party, save and except for when it came to connecting it to corruption.
“I didn’t know the Government needed approbation from the PPP to do anything, excepting when it wants to connect us to corrupt acts. Like the (Specialty) hospital. (Government’s position) was they are not going to go (ahead) with it. And then we found out they are giving it to a person who was very close to (Minister Khemraj) Ramjattan with no public tender.”
This is a reference to the Government’s decision to not engage in a new bidding process for a contractor to complete works on the Specialty Hospital. This project was started under the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). However, the previous contractor, Surendra engineering, ‘skipped’ the country prematurely.
“They said that the PPP had evaluated this bidder and ranked him second. And so, since the first rank bidder is in court now, they had to go with the second ranked bidder. And then they lied about it too. In fact the evaluation report disqualified this company.”
Weeks before leaving office in 2011, then President Bharrat Jagdeo granted his best friend, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, five radio frequencies; he also gave New Guyana Company Limited, five frequencies. In addition, Telcor, a company with close links to his nephew-in-law and former Minister, Robert Persaud and Cultural Broadcasting Inc. received another five.
Jagdeo also ordered the grant of two cable licences to two of his closest friends, Vishok Persaud and Brian Yong. In addition The Mirror, a newspaper which belongs to Jagdeo’s party, received multiple frequencies.
The disclosures of the licences, which also included approval for two cable TV operations, sparked court cases and several days of protests, as well as local and international condemnation. Former President Donald Ramotar had promised to examine the issue but never did.
Jagdeo was mandated by law to consult with the Broadcasting Authority which was not operational at the time. Between 2001 and 2011, it was this provision that was used by Jagdeo’s government to deny anyone a TV or radio licence.
It is understood that even existing stations were denied expansion since it would have meant granting them additions to their licences.
Channel Seven TV’s Rex Mc Kay, Veteran Television personality Enrico Woolford and numerous others had also applied for radio licences, but were not given.
GNBA Officials have recently disclosed that Jagdeo’s ad hoc approach has led to prime spots on the spectrum being taken up. All premium spots on the television and cable channel frequencies are gone. There is little space left for new applicants on the radio spectrum.
During a post cabinet press briefing yesterday, however, Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman revealed that the radio licences imbroglio will be up for a policy decision by Cabinet in mid April.

 

March 29, 2016

SARU intends to investigate illegally granted radio, cable licences

By: Kiana Wilburg

Head of the State Asset Recovery Unit, Dr. Clive Thomas recently expressed that he is heartened by the comments expressed during the latest debate over the revocation of the radio, television and cable licences issued by former President Jagdeo before he demitted office in 2011.
The Presidential Advisor on Sustainable Development recalled that political activist Dr. David Hinds noted that the matter is one which should be looked into by SARU as it involves the arbitrary granting of the spectrum which is a valuable national asset.
Dr. Thomas said that indeed it is a matter of national importance and should be treated with expeditiously. He also agreed with the contention by Dr. Hinds that the issue is one that should be looked at by SARU.
Professor Thomas said, “I agree that it is a matter that we should look into because the grant of the radio licences was done in a way that is not consistent with the laws. It is one of those matters that goes against the principles of equitable distribution, fairness and justice.”
The SARU Head added, “It was improper and I have always held that view. But we do understand that the Guyana Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) as the responsible agency for the sector is expected to take some moves in this regard. We don’t know what those moves are but we are watching everything with regard to this matter.”
Professor Thomas noted however that he was not happy to hear statements which suggest that there should be the issuance of new licences. Dr. Thomas is of the view that the licences which were arbitrarily awarded need to be rescinded first.
In this regard he said, “If you just go ahead without rectifying the corruption that took place then you would be setting a dangerous precedence for the way forward. Setting it right allows you to move forward on a clear and defined path. The sector and the system have been tainted with Jagdeo’s actions and to issue new licences without rectifying that, I am afraid, will send a dangerous message.”

The Head of SARU insists that a standard and direction must be set for the way forward or else it is likely that the same “wretched mistake is going to be repeated.”
He noted that while the matter is one which SARU has strong interests in as it involves premium state assets, time will be given for GNBA to decide on what it will do with regard to the matter.
“But GNBA’s action would not affect how we intend to deal with this matter or our intention to look into it. We are responsible for such things, that is, state assets which have been misused or granted to persons illegally,” the Head of SARU noted.
In the meantime, Dr. Thomas said that they are waiting until his department, which falls under the Ministry of the Presidency, becomes a legally constituted agency, to attack the matter.
He said that moves in that regard are swift. He said that the unit has been in receipt of the revised version of its proposed laws and the United Nations and World Bank are expected to continue some works on it.
The SARU Head said that the proposed Act is expected to be circulated by the end of the month and that will be followed by several stakeholder consultations on it.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge, was one of the Government officials who had added his voice to the debate over the revocation of the granted radio and cable licences under the Jagdeo regime.

Greenidge said that as far as he is aware, the coalition party has not changed its position on this matter.
He made it clear that his support for the revocation of those unlawful licences during the 2015 election campaign remains the same.
The Foreign Affairs Minister said, “I most certainly do hold the same view and, of course, stand by my earlier comments on the matter.  Nothing has occurred by way of new information to persuade me to change my mind. The act by former President Bharrat Jagdeo was improper, reprehensible and illegal.”
The Member of Parliament said that as a President, one should not use the position to hand out state assets to family, associates’ families and or political parties. He said that it was wrong in 2011 and it is still wrong.
Greenidge said that if the illegal radio and cable licences are not revoked, then Guyana would lose.
“If it were my personal or your property that had been stolen and misappropriated, you would not think it necessary to ask if the wrong committed should be corrected. We should stop regarding national assets and state property as free goods which involve no loss if misappropriated. If we do, then we all lose.”
Weeks before leaving office, former President Bharrat Jagdeo awarded his best friend, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, five radio frequencies; New Guyana Company Limited, five, and Telcor and Cultural Broadcasting Inc., another five.
Jagdeo also ordered the grant of two cable licences to two of his closest friends, Vishok Persaud and Brian Yong.
GNBA Officials revealed recently that Jagdeo’s ad hoc approach has led to prime spots on the spectrum being taken up.
All premium spots on the television and cable channel frequencies are gone. There is little space left for new applicants on the radio spectrum.

 

April 24, 2016

Revoke radio licences granted by Jagdeo first or issue new ones?

You cannot correct the wrongs by multiplying the cases –President Granger

By Kiana Wilburg
Much has been said in the media about the need for the coalition administration to right a number of the

irregularities in the local broadcasting sector.
But there seems to be some confusion at the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA).
The Authority seems to be undecided on whether it should revoke licences which were awarded by former President Bharrat Jagdeo to a select few or to issue new licences first.
President David Granger was asked on the show, “The Public Interest” whether he believes the promise by the administration to correct such irregularities has proven too hard to keep.
The Head of State said that he does not believe such a promise was difficult to keep.
“We need to adopt a policy or principle. The principle is, if something is wrong, it is wrong and it has to be corrected.”
Granger said that the wrongs in the broadcast sector cannot be corrected by multiplying the cases “hoping that they will even out.”
The President gave the assurance that “things which are wrong or outside of the law will be rectified.”
Chairman of the GNBA, Leonard Craig, continues to dodge questions from the media regarding the stance of the Authority as it relates to those licences which were arbitrarily awarded to a select few under the Bharrat Jagdeo regime.
When Kaieteur News called upon Craig last year and even up to last month to give an explanation, he made

it clear that he would not be issuing a statement and that anything he had to say would be at a press conference. He is yet to honour his promise to host the press briefing.
This is in spite of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo declaring that Craig should set the record straight on the matter.
This newspaper had also asked Craig if he received reports, whether oral or written, from the subcommittee that was established to look into the issue of the illegally granted broadcasting licences, among other issues.
To this Craig said, “I guess they will do that at the meeting next week…But that is a matter for the press conference.”
He was also asked to say why the Board is only having a meeting regarding the way forward on the matter, when the subcommittee would have been set up by him since last year.
Craig said, “Because now that certain things are being said in the press, it behoves the Board to consider and reconsider the matter.”
When this publication contacted the Head of the Subcommittee, Anthony Vieira, he provided more clarity on the issues.
Vieira said that it needs to be clarified first of all that Craig is not an Executive Chairman with special powers.
He said that Craig is just a Chairman, and what he does in relation to the Authority, has to be in harmony with the thoughts and decisions reached by other Board members.
The Broadcast veteran said that there are a number of things wrong with Guyana’s broadcast sector and as such, it becomes imperative for the entire system to be revamped, so that an environment of fairness can be had.

“And I have said several times, let’s call in the media so that they can know what we are doing and what we have done so far, because the impression is that the Broadcasting Authority is not working, and that is not true.
“Additionally, the entire broadcasting authority needs restructuring. Even the Act also needs restructuring. But it is time we talk to the media, and I will be inviting them next week.”
While Craig was not willing to say if he received reports from the subcommittee on the illegal radio licences, Vieira said that this was in fact done since last year with the understanding that revocation must be done.
He noted, however, that there are still some kinks that have to be ironed out regarding the way in which it will be accomplished.
“But the whole broadcasting sector, from the licences to the Act, needs to be regularized. We need to start from scratch,” Vieira asserted.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge, had also added his voice to the debate over the revocation of the granted radio and cable licences under the Jagdeo regime.
Greenidge said that as far as he is aware, the coalition party has not changed its position on this matter.
He made it clear that his support for the revocation of those unlawful licences during the 2015 election campaign remains the same.
The Foreign Affairs Minister said, “I most certainly do hold the same view and, of course, stand by my earlier comments on the matter.  Nothing has occurred by way of new information to persuade me to change my mind. The act by former President Bharrat Jagdeo was improper, reprehensible and illegal.”
The Member of Parliament said that as a President, one should not use the position to hand out state assets to family, associates’ families and or political parties. He said that it was wrong in 2011 and it is still wrong.
Greenidge said that if the illegal radio and cable licences are not revoked then Guyana would lose.
“If it were my personal or your property that had been stolen and misappropriated, you would not think it necessary to ask if the wrong committed should be corrected. We should stop regarding national assets and state property as free goods which involve no loss if misappropriated. If we do, then we all lose.”
The Foreign Affairs Minister said that he believes legal grounds do exist for the revocation of the radio and cable licences.
He said that there is always a legal basis on which to challenge actions that public officials are empowered to take under the law.
The Member of Parliament said that such actions are subject to administrative law and are to be exercised in the public interest unless a specified category of beneficiary is named in the law.
The Foreign Affairs Minister said that officials with certain powers should know that their actions have to be exercised in good faith and for the purposes set out in the Broadcast Act, in a manner consistent with the relevant considerations such as citizens’ rights set out in the Constitution itself.
“Mr Jagdeo’s decision did not meet this test so it should not stand. If beneficiaries of criminal actions by state officials can expect to continue to enjoy the benefits then corruption is unlikely to be ever stamped out. The risk of disclosure, exposure and reversal is itself a powerful deterrent,” expressed the politician.
He continued, “But if wrongdoers and the beneficiaries of wrongdoing know that the improper decisions are likely to be reversed even after the passage of relatively long periods of time they will not be so keen to be party to such behaviour again.”
The Foreign Affairs Minister said that as soon as Jagdeo’s decision was made public, everyone was aware of the fact that it was improper. He said that the beneficiaries, too, would have been immediately aware that they ran the risk of losing the licences and those who were foolish enough to purchase it from them did so in the full knowledge that they ran the risk of loss.
Weeks before leaving office, former President Bharrat Jagdeo awarded his best friend, Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, five radio frequencies; New Guyana Company Limited, five, and Telcor and Cultural Broadcasting Inc., another five.
Jagdeo also ordered the grant of two cable licences to two of his closest friends, Vishok Persaud and Brian Yong.
GNBA Officials revealed recently that Jagdeo’s ad hoc approach has led to prime spots on the spectrum being taken up.
All premium spots on the television and cable channel frequencies are gone. There is little space left for new applicants on the radio spectrum.

 

April 30, 2016

GNBA seeks foolproof method to nullify Jagdeo-issued radio licences

By Abena Rockcliffe-Campbell
The Board of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) has explicitly and unanimously decided that former President Bharrat Jagdeo illegally distributed resources “belonging to the people of Guyana”

when he granted radio licences to his friends and family in 2011.
On the grounds of such a consensus, the Board has decided that it must and will make moves to make those licences null and void.
The Board held its first press conference yesterday at GNBA’s Kingston office. Members present at that forum were the Chairman, Leonard Craig, and Directors Anthony Vieira, Vic Insanally, Jocelyn Josiah, Abiola Wong-Inniss and Ameena Gafoor.
Craig said that the Board is cognizant that the issue regarding the licences issued by Jagdeo, shortly before demitting office and prior to the coming into force of the current Broadcasting Act No. 17 of 2011 has attracted the greatest interest relative to the Board’s function.
He said that the Board, at all of its statutory meetings, to date has discussed this issue and decided that the said licences appear to have been issued contrary to and in violation of good administrative practices. He pointed out that the licences have been arbitrarily issued to persons and entities with close ties to decision maker and without regard to prior existing applications.
Craig said that Jagdeo’s decision would have pre-empted the application of the Broadcasting Act which was already assented to but was awaiting a date to come into operation. He said that the operationalization of the Act was entirely within the authority of Jagdeo who held the portfolio of Minister of Information as provided for by Section 1 of the Broadcast Act.
Craig told the media that the issues relating to licences pose difficult questions “which ought only to be determined after deliberate consideration of the legal options available which includes but is not limited to litigation.”
The Chairman added that the Board has been in consultation with Senior Legal Practitioners on the issue. He also said that that it is the Boards intention—in keeping with its mandate to regulate, supervise and develop the National Broadcasting Systems—to make a decision “as soonest.”
Kaieteur News questioned the Board about the hold up in the decision-making process and whether the public would have to wait another six months for a clear-cut decision.
Director Wong-Inniss told the press conference about the intricacies surrounding the matter. She also sought to make it clear that is not a case where the Board is undecided on its view of the matter, but one where it is forced to consider all possible counteractions to actions that the Board might want to take.
Wong- Inniss reiterated that the radio spectrum belongs to the people of Guyana.
It is the belief of the Board that the distribution process used by Jagdeo, or the lack thereof, made the licences vulnerable and subjected to challenges, she added.
She said that the Board is well aware of its inheritance and is looking to address such. However, she said that the problem is to select the most suitable method to do so.
She said that both legislation and litigation face the possibility of being time consuming.
Making her point about the delay in the court system the Director said that one applicant for a radio licence, Enrico Woolford, had long filed a complaint in Courts, but that matter is still to be heard.
“I can assure you that a decision will be made shortly…A decision has been made to challenge it. The question is the manner in which we can go about doing so,” said Wong-Inniss
She also said that since the composition of the new board, no licence fees have been accepted from any Broadcaster.
Director Vieira said that there is an absolute need to make strong moves, moves that cannot see the GNBA being defeated on this issue.  He said, “The moment we move to revoke a licence we are going to receive an injunction restraining us from stopping this person from broadcasting…  We are trying to put together a case to avoid that.”
Vieira said that himself, Director Insanally and Director Wong-Inniss have been in constant consultation with Queen’s Counsel, Sir Fenton Ramsahoye on the issue “and within a week or two you can start seeing the result of the advice received.”
He said that it was Sir Fenton who recommended the parliamentary route “but that can be a long drawn out procedure so we are up for a clear cut case to take the bull by the horn and go to the High Court.”  But, Vieira said that in doing so the Board wants to makes sure that it develops the strongest possible case.
“That is what is holding things up, we want to make sure that it is not easy for anyone to file an injunction to set aside our decision to withdraw the license,” said Vieira.
When the dust is settled, and GNBA has its way, all those desirous of having a licence will have to reapply.
Chairman Craig said, “My expectation is that everybody will have to reapply and in the re-application process you will be considered on the merit of your application.”
He explained that the licensees would not have to physically reapply “Will not give you a new form and say well you have to full this up again.” He said that reapplication in this case simply means that existing applicants will be reevaluated solely based on merit that has been clearly set out in guidelines for granting of such licences.
The reevaluation process is not limited to radio broadcasters. Craig said that the same will go for cable and television operators. This, he said, will be done in keeping with the GNBA’s plan to reorganize the local broadcasting landscape.
Craig said that this process can result in a number of the stations ending up on different area of the plan.

 

 May 02, 2016

GNBA mulls amnesty for TV broadcasters, reduced fees

The Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) has announced plans to grant amnesty to all television broadcasters.
At the recently held inaugural first press conference since the new GNBA Board was appointed, Chairman, Leonard Craig said that “with regard to television, we are recommending that an amnesty be offered for all outstanding fees due to the Authority.”
Craig said that the Authority is owed $121M outstanding fees.
He also indicated that a new commercial zoning system is recommended, namely primary, secondary and tertiary zones with a special category for community stations.
Craig said that Region Four is considered the Primary Zone. This includes Georgetown and environs and will attract a $1.2M fee, yearly. Berbice, Bartica and Essequibo are considered Secondary zones and will attract a $600,000 yearly fee. The Tertiary Zones will be Linden, Lethem and Mabaruma and Broadcasters operating in that zone will only pay $300,000 while Community TV Stations will pay $150,000.

As for Radio licence fees, the GNBA has decided to retain the existing $ 2.5M for the Primary zone while operators in the Secondary Zone will have to pay $ 1.25M. Broadcasters in the Tertiary Zone will have to pay $625,000 and Community Radio Stations will pay $312,500.
The fee for each zone is 50% less than the preceding zone. Nevertheless, Craig said that the policy of 3.5% of gross income whichever is greater, will still stand.
The Chairman said that all operators who desire their signals extended to more than one Region will, on the approval of the Authority, be allowed to extend to additional zones but will be required to pay the annual fee applicable to the additional zone/s.
Recognizing the varying levels of earning potential in different areas, Craig said that the Board has placed considerable emphasis on Community broadcasting, particularly for marginalized and Hinterland areas.
Craig told the media that those decisions emerged after careful consideration of the frequency allocations in existence in the industry for the past 15 years.
He said that members of the Licensing Committee also examined the marketplace, including the annual accounts of the state-owned broadcast entity, NCN, all of which clearly indicate that income for radio exceeds television and operational expenses costs are less. As a result, the fees for television were also reduced in keeping with the ability of broadcasters to pay.

 

May o3, 2016

GNBA against political parties holding Broadcast Licence

By Abena-Rockcliffe-Campbell  
The Board of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) is not in favour of political parties holding Broadcasting Licences. Therefore, it is unlikely that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C)

will be in the Radio Broadcasting business much longer.
The GNBA made its stance known at a recent press conference held at its Kingston office.
At that forum, the Board said that it is looking for a foolproof way of going about revoking the radio licences granted by former President Bharrat Jagdeo days before he demitted office.
The Board said that after it would have successfully revoked the licences, all potential broadcasters will be made to reapply. The applications will be reevaluated and licences will be redistributed based on merit.
However, other pronouncements made by the Board have led to the conclusion that the PPP would definitely not be able to recover its licence.
Director, Anthony Vieira said, “We are against political parties having Broadcast Licence.” He explained the Board’s position is that it would be unsustainable to do so.
“If you are going to have PPP operating from Freedom House then APNU (A Partnership for National Unity), AFC (Alliance For Change) and WPA (Working People’s Alliance) ask for a similar facility you cannot deny them. On that basis alone we cannot allow this to stand because there would not be space to put all these other people.”
The Director said that denying other parties can lead to court action. “You simply cannot do that because other parties (that are not given the same privilege) can easily carry you to court for violating their right to freedom of speech.”
Vieira also reminded that the Radio Spectrum is a “limited national resource so we cannot hand it to political parties”.
The former broadcaster said that he is not aware of any other country in the world where political parties are given radio frequencies. Director Vic Insanally also weighed in on the matter.
He told the media that he is against political parties being given Broadcast Licences because of the potential threat of certain messages being sent out to society.
Insanally said, “We will also have to do 24-hour monitoring of these stations because almost every minute—from what I have been listening to—you are finding something that can cause a problem.
Freedom Radio is owned by People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPPC). It is the only political party that has a Broadcasting Licence. Freedom Radio operates out of PPP headquarters located on Robb Street, Georgetown.
Jagdeo basically granted radio licences to his friends, family and Party.
The GNBA’s Chairman said that the Authority currently has 44 pending applications for radio, television and cable services. However he did not give a breakdown of how many applications are pending for the respective areas of Broadcast.

 

May 04, 2016

Complete review of cable industry imminent – GNBA Chairman

A complete review of the cable industry is imminent, says Chairman of the Guyana National Broadcasting

Authority (GNBA), Leonard Craig. At a recent press conference held at GNBA’s Kingston office, Craig, in the presence of the other Board members told the media that the Board is not comfortable with the current state of affairs.
The Chairman said that deliberations are still in process with respect to fees for the cable systems. He also indicated that the Board is in dialogue with the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) on issues relating to the allocation of frequencies.
“The board is of the opinion that an unfair advantage exists with respect to spectrum use, creating virtual monopolies for the certain favoured individuals. A complete review is recommended.”
Last evening the Chairman told Kaieteur News that the Board has already started the review process. He said that it has been decided that the review will be done in stages. First, the Board will be looking at the industry as a whole with a view to developing a way forward for the industry in the interest of the people of Guyana.
“We are looking at the make-up of the industry in Guyana, comparing it to the rest of the world to see how we can make Guyana better in this regard.”
Craig said that the Board will then move on to addressing individual companies and the “favoured ones.”
The Chairman said that the Board has given itself a timeline. “By the end of the month we as a Board will be able to face the media and say where we are in this process and how we will go about clamping down on certain issues.”
Craig was keen to note that there can be variances with the timeline, but said “that is my estimation.’
A little before former President, Bharrat Jagdeo, stepped down from office, he gave a gift to a few, some of whom are now cable operators. None of the established cable television operators were considered. Rather, two newcomers, E-Networks Inc. and Quark Communications Inc., were both granted permission to broadcast cable TV over the 2.5GHz frequency band.
E-Network is controlled by Vishok Persaud, son of former PPP Parliamentarian, Reepu Daman Persaud, while Quark Communications is owned by Brian Yong, a candidate for the ruling party in the 2011 General and Regional Elections. Both are close friends of Jagdeo.
Frequencies are limited resources under strict monitoring by governments worldwide.

 

May 21, 2016

NFMU Forensic Audit report reveals…Quark, E-Networks owe NFMU $60M

A forensic audit report into the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) has revealed that two companies with close links to the political opposition owe the state entity millions of dollars in fees.

The report which was prepared by Ram and McRae , Chartered Accountants, noted that E-Networks Inc. and Quark Inc., “companies controlled by persons with a strong political connection to the PPP/C Administration”, were not invoiced on a timely basis and ignored the NFMU invoices for long periods of time without any follow up action by the NFMU.
The auditors said that following their request, the NFMU estimated that fees owed by E-Networks Inc. and Quarks Inc. at December 31, 2014 amounted to $31 million and $29 million respectively. E-Networks is owned by Vishok Persaud. Quark Inc. is managed and controlled by Brian Yong.
Both individuals benefitted generously from the arbitrarily granted frequency licenses under the Jagdeo regime. The forensic team stressed that these users should be billed and their outstanding debt resolved.
Junior Finance Minister, Jaipaul Sharma, had spoken on this issue before the forensic audit report was released yesterday.
Sharma had said that it was clear that the NFMU was giving “PPP’s big boys big waivers.”
Minister Sharma continued, “There was just no proper management at this unit. There were instances where you could see that they just lost out on millions of dollars worth in fees that they should have ensured they collected. There were some defaulters as well, and the agency just took no action against them.”
He added, “(NFMU) could have collected a lot more revenue. Instead (the entity) allowed a lot of favouritism to take place and as such they lost millions of dollars in revenue. They allowed their big PPP boys to slip under the radar while others were called upon to pay their dues.
“In fact, they weren’t collecting from two of their PPP big boys for some time. It was a lot of unfairness that was going on at that agency.”
Sharma said that the level of corruption which was taking place at the agency points to the incompetency of those who are managing it while reminding that the Head of the entity is Valmiki Singh.
The Junior Finance Minister said that the revelations of some of the forensic audits thus far, vindicate the concerns the APNU+AFC had regarding the lack of accountability under the previous administration as well as the stench of corruption in some agencies.

 

May 21, 2016

Forensic audit report reveals…NFMU secretly funded E-Governance Project 

…APNU/AFC administration repeated act in 2015 budget
By: Kiana A. Wilburg
A forensic audit into the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) has exposed just how “cunningly” officials there were able to hide the fact that they were secretly funding two Jagdeo-inspired projects.

The forensic auditors from Ram and McRae, Chartered Accountants, made this eye-opening discovery as they scrutinized the budget of the NFMU. The NFMU appears in Guyana’s National Budget as a statutory body under the formerly named Office of the President.
The expenditure that NFMU would need to carry out its operations for the year is also listed in the National Budget. The Forensic auditors however found it strange that the single largest line item in the NFMU’s budget is Rates and Taxes and Subvention to Local Authorities.
In fact, the auditors observed, too, that NFMU is the only statutory body whose budget is included in the National Budget that has such an item.
Upon analysis, the forensic auditors were able to discover that this item, “Rates and Taxes and Subvention to Local Authorities” is nothing but a disguise to make payments from public funds to the E-Governance initiative and the One Laptop Per Family project. They stressed that there is no way that a project can by any definition be classified as a Local Authority.
The auditors said that this represents a violation of Article 217 of the Constitution of Guyana. The Ram and McRae team also found it interesting that this violation does not appear to have engaged the attention of the country’s Auditor General, Deodat Sharma who is expected to be a diligent observer of how funds are used by state agencies.
What was also surprising to the auditors was that a review of the 2015 National Budget exposed that the

APNU/AFC administration continued the common practice of including the expenditure of other entities under Rates and Taxes and Subventions to other entities within the budget of the NFMU.
In fact, the auditors discovered that a total of $538 million was included in the 2015 Budget for the NFMU under the category in discussion, as compared to $443 million that was included in the 2014 Budget which was presented under the PPP administration.
The forensic auditors recommended that no additional funds be budgeted under the above stated category.
Junior Finance Minister, Jaipaul Sharma, had told Kaieteur News that he was appalled when he discovered during the initial stages of the forensic audit that “almost 90 percent of the funds of the Frequency Management Unit dating back to 2012, 2013 and 2014 were spent on two projects that had absolutely nothing to do with the agency.”
Sharma said that he found NFMU’s investment into PPP’s E-Governance Project which involved the failed Fibre Optic Cable from Brazil and the One Laptop project to be “very strange and downright deceitful.”
The fibre optic cable which was started in 2011 under former President Bharrat Jagdeo was intended to bring another source of internet connectivity to Guyana. It should have been completed by 2013, but turned out to be a major embarrassment for the previous administration, after it faced delays due to damage and other technical issues.
It was part of a bigger initiative to advance Guyana’s e-governance drive and equip 90,000 poor families with laptops and link state agencies into an efficient internet site.
The One Laptop Per Family and the E-Governance projects along with the Brazilian fibre optic cable initiative, reportedly cost taxpayers in excess of US$70M.
“It is unbelievable that (the NFMU) were hiding expenditure on these projects. It goes to show the kind of financial lawlessness that was allowed to take place at these agencies. I just don’t understand how monies could be spent on these two programmes which had nothing to do with the Frequency Management Unit from the beginning.
“The auditor has already made it clear that about $100M has to be recovered in this regard for it goes against the financial regulations of the company,” said the Junior Finance Minister.

 

May 22, 2016

GRA never sought over $1B in owed taxes from NFMU

Another case of gross violation of Guyana’s financial laws has been identified by forensic auditors as

they combed through the accounts of the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU). Auditors found that the entity has never paid taxes to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). What is worse is that it appears that GRA never bothered to press the Unit to pay up.
The forensic auditing team from Ram and McRae, Chartered Accountants, said that even as a body established under the Public Corporations Act, the NFMU does not enjoy any tax exemption. They noted in their report that over its existence however, the NFMU has never paid any on its net profits.
For accounting purposes, the auditors said that the expenses for other agencies are treated as expenses of the NFMU which is incorrect. They said that these amounts should have been shown as advances to the Government.
The auditors said that after adding back these expenses which in any case are not allowed for tax purposes, a preliminary calculation suggests that the NFMU has a liability to taxes of more than $1B, not including penalties and interest.
To comply with the law, the forensic auditors suggested that the tax liabilities should be determined and a set-off made for payments on behalf of the Government. They said that the government should then consider whether the relevant legislation should be amended to provide any exemption from taxation.
The auditors said, too, that they saw no evidence that the Guyana Revenue Authority made any effort to access

the NFMU and get any taxes.
The GRA under the leadership of former Commissioner General, Khurshid Sattaur, had spoken many times about the need to clamp down on tax evasion. In fact, Sattaur had pointed to auditors as being the major players in such an illegal activity.
In a previous interview, he said, “The root of the illegal practice is the executives of major companies who are allowed to live extravagant lifestyles due to the aiding and abetting that takes place between them and their auditors.” He also denounced comments that tax evasion was rampant under his watch.

 

May 27, 2016

NFMU did not bill Quark for using Cable spectrum for five years

…claims law does not provide a method to calculate such fees

After being cornered by forensic auditors from Ram and McRae, the National Frequency Management Unit

(NFMU) headed by Valmiki Sigh attempted to justify why it has not billed a cable television operator for five years. The entity proffered the excuse that the law does not provide a method to calculate such fees.
Concerned with this state of affairs at the company, the forensic auditors recalled the genesis of this matter and made strict recommendations.
The auditors highlighted that in December 2010, former President Bharrat Jagdeo granted Quark Inc. (Broadband)/ Movie Star permission to broadcast television signals on the 2.5 GHz band, which allows for cable TV operations and internet-related services. Quark Inc. is owned and managed by Brian Yong.
The auditors said that they are not aware, nor were they provided with any evidence that the President had any such authority. Additionally, since 2010, the auditors said that Quark Inc. also known as Movie Star has been providing cable TV and wireless internet services.
The forensic auditing team from Ram and McRae stated that since the NFMU did not have an application form tailored to cable TV operators, Quark Inc. wrote the NFMU requesting the use of frequency spectrum, but complete information was not provided to complete the application process.
Also, reviews and enquiries by the auditors revealed that Quark Inc. did not pay any spectrum fees to the National Frequency Management Unit for the 2.5 GHz band used to broadcast for the period 2010 to 2015.
It was explained that the reason the NFMU did not invoice Quark Inc. was due to the fact that the law does not

provide a method to calculate fees for cable TV operators.
To compound the matter, the auditors emphasized that since Quark Inc. has made no payment to the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA), it is not a licenced broadcaster.
Notwithstanding the fact that the entity has debts to the NFMU dating back to 2004 for spectrum used to provide broadband internet services, the auditors said that NFMU has failed to issue any invoice to that company for spectrum usage since May 23, 2007.
Management estimates an amount of $29 million is owed by Quark Inc. to the NFMU. It was also explained to the auditors that management at NFMU was awaiting a determination of the fee structure by the relevant Minister.
The forensic auditors stated that the amount owed is substantial and recommends that immediate steps be taken to determine and recover this money.

 

June 03, 2016

GNBA ignites plan to nullify existing broadcast licences – Chairman

By Abena Rockcliffe- Campbell
The Board of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) has finally set in motion a plan that

will see all broadcasters having to reapply for licences to operate.
Even before the new Board of the Authority was appointed, the APNU+AFC government had said that it will make good on its promise to regulate the Broadcast industry and revoke all those radio licences that former President Bharrat Jagdeo had granted days before demitting office.
Today, the licences remain valid. GNBA said that it was caught between a rock and a hard place when it tried to maneuver ways and means to revoke the licences without legal implications.
The new GNBA board was appointed in September. Leonard Craig was named Chairman. In April, the GNBA held its first press conference. At that forum, strong statements were made to the effect that the Board intends to act forcefully in the best interest of Guyana.
The media was told that within two to three weeks it would have received information about the way forward with regards to revoking the radio licences. Nothing was heard.
However, yesterday Craig said that the Board has been working despite not announcing the strides made. He indicated that all the glorious plans previously announced by the Authority cannot be implemented unless the necessary regulations are in place.
Craig said that a few weeks ago, the Board wrote Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo informing him of the “critical” changes to be made in Broadcasting as the Board sees fit. These included proposed rate structures and mechanisms for zoning.
Craig said that the Prime Minister, finding no issues with the proposals, has since written to Attorney General, Basil Williams, communicating the need for a legal input.
Craig said that the Attorney General’s Chambers have since undertaken the task of crafting the regulations in legal language.
The Chairman indicated that he made contact with the Chamber earlier this week and was told that the first draft of the regulations is well underway. Craig said that the Attorney General Chambers communicated with him that the draft may be ready within a week.
When it is completed, the draft will be sent to the Authority. Craig said that once the Board is satisfied that what has been translated into legal language is an adequate reflection of the will of the Board, the AG’s Chambers will then make it final. The regulations will then be published in the Official Gazette.
When that process is completed, GNBA’s Board will then ask all Broadcasters to reapply for licences that will now conform to the new regulations. “That course will necessitate reapplication from all Broadcasters; they will all have to reapply to fit into the new format,” said Craig.
Craig said that on file applicants will be asked to update their applications to also confirm with the new format.
“All applications will be judged based on merit, taking everything into consideration”, said Craig.
The regulations will include mechanisms for the implementation of new commercial zoning system namely primary, secondary and tertiary zones with a special category for community stations.
Region Four is considered the Primary Zone. It includes Georgetown and environs and will attract a $1.2M fee, yearly. Berbice, Bartica and Essequibo are considered Secondary zones and will attract a $600,000 yearly fee. The Tertiary Zones will be Linden, Lethem and Mabaruma. Broadcasters operating in that zone will pay $300,000 while Community TV Stations will pay $150,000.
As for Radio licence fees, the GNBA has decided to retain the existing $ 2.5M for the Primary zone while operators in the Secondary Zone will have to pay $1.25M. Broadcasters in the Tertiary Zone will have to pay $625,000 and Community Radio Stations will pay $312,500.
Nevertheless, Craig said that the policy of 3.5% of gross income whichever is greater, will still stand.
The Chairman said that all operators who desire their signals extended to more than one Region will, on the approval of the Authority, be allowed to extend to additional zones but will be required to pay the annual fee applicable to the additional zone/s.
At its press conference, GNBA Board told the media that it has explicitly and unanimously decided that Jagdeo illegally distributed resources “belonging to the people of Guyana” when he granted radio licences to his friends and family in 2011.
“We know that something has to be done to correct this wrong.”

 

June 12, 2016

Resuscitation of failed Fibre Optic Cable Project in limbo

…Project still under review –Hughes

Even though Government had set aside more than $200M to resuscitate the PPP’s failed fibre optic cable project, Telecommunications Minister, Cathy Hughes, said that the investment at the moment is stalled.

She said that two independent studies on the project were commissioned by Government.  She said that these were a forensic audit which focused mainly on the financial operations and functioning of the eGovernance Unit over the period January 1, 2012 to May 31, 2015.
Hughes said that this was done by Ram and McRae Chartered Accountants and submitted on December 18, 2015. The Minister said that the second audit was done on the Georgetown to Lethem fibre optic cable project which was done by a team of telecommunications specialists.   She said that a draft report was submitted on May 6, 2016 but it has not yet been accepted as final.
Hughes made it clear that while Government is in receipt of both audit reports, no decision has been taken to rehabilitate the Georgetown to Lethem fibre optic cable project. She said that the Project is still under review.
The Telecommunications Minister added that her administration is committed to transparency in public procurement; as such, any continuation of this project will conform to the National Procurement and Tenders Administration process.
In the National Assembly, Hughes articulated on several occasions that the ICT sector and the knowledge management industries will be the ones that will have to be cornerstone of this country’s future. On this premise, she made it known that Government intends to make a number of investments in the ICT sector.
The Telecommunications Minister said that in keeping with this thrust to expand broadband connectivity and the integration of Ministries, Government plans to invest $240M to resuscitate the troubled Fibre Optic Cable Project.
She explained that $140 million has been allocated to consolidate, monitor, maintain and extend the existing eGovernment Fibre Optic and LTE Network around Georgetown and along the coast from Moleson Creek to Charity.
Government will spend a further $100 M to repair and upgrade the Georgetown–Linden Fibre Optic Cable, Hughes said.
She recalled that this project was abandoned by the previous Administration after it had spent $1B.   Hughes said that the lack of a feasibility study, poor planning, and absence of effective project management and the use of inexperienced contractors are some of the major contributing factors that led to the failure of this project.
Hughes said that Government will move to correct all this so that the people of Guyana, regardless of their socio-economic status or remoteness, will be digitally connected and socially included.
The Parliamentarian asserted that the strengthening of the eGovernment system is critical in imparting added value to processes that characterize good governance. She said that improved connectivity within government will permit joint planning and assessment resulting in Government’s business processes becoming more efficient.
Minister Hughes noted that the eGovernment expansion will also serve to facilitate connectivity between Government and citizens thereby strengthening accountability, connectivity between government and citizens and connectivity between and within communities’ thereby building social cohesion and economic development.

 

August 17, 2016

GNBA Board holds “emergency meeting” to resolve burning issues

The Board of the Guyana National Broadcasting Agency (GNBA) on Monday held an emergency meeting

in an effort to resolve some burning issues.
Kaieteur News spoke to the Board’s Chairman, Leonard Craig who said that “all issues regarding the business of GNBA were discussed.” He said that specific attention was placed on issues of importance “which will help us, as a Board, to move forward.”
Asked if all members were in attendance, Craig refused to be specific. His only response was, “we had a quorum.”
Pressed for more information as to the outcome of the meeting, Craig said that he has to be temporarily tightlipped about the meeting. Reason being, Craig said, that the Board has decided to issue some press statements before the end of this week. The chairman insisted that speaking to the media now on the matters discussed in the meeting would be preempting the statements.
However, Kaieteur News was subsequently able to confirm that Anthony Vieira was not in attendance at Monday’s meeting.
The GNBA has been having some serious problems. Craig and Vieira, a key member of the Board, just cannot seem to get along. As a result, the work of the Board has been stalled for some time. Monday’s meeting is the second in recent times that Vieira has not attended ever since he staged a protest and stormed out a Board meeting.
Information reaching this newspaper is that Vieira will not return to any meeting until such time as

Craig is no longer “a concern.”
Vieira is the Chairman of a sub-committee that has been set up to deal with some very important business of the GNBA. That Committee is referred to as the Legal matters and Fees Committee.
Currently, regulations that are supposed to prompt major changes in the broadcasting industry are stuck in that committee, as Vieira is insisting that he cannot work with Craig.
Despite it not being within his power to appoint or remove a Board member, the Broadcasting entrepreneur thinks that Craig is not fit to be Chairman of the Board. Thus, he is refusing to fully corporate.
Kaieteur News understands that the rift between Craig and Vieira has been longstanding.
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo recently told Kaieteur News that he did not know about any discord on the Board. Nevertheless, he was quoted in sections of the state media calling on the GNBA to sort out its internal issues and put the business of the public first.
While Vieira refuses to work with Craig, critical issues are not being attended to, including the lowering of Broadcasting fees and the existence of illegal radio licences.

 

 

August 21, 2016

GNBA Board members to put aside differences, work together for greater good – Nagamootoo

There is now a ray of hope that the Board of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) may

finally move forward and make some much needed changes in the Broadcasting sector.
For quite some time, the Board has been plagued by discord. It became so bad between two key members of the Board—Leonard Craig (Chairman) and Anthony Vieira—that they began refusing to work with each other.
This situation has been allowed to go on for quite awhile and the nation suffered as a result. Illegalities in the broadcasting sector continue to exist and broadcasting fees remain high.
However, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who has responsibility for the Board, has finally stepped in to put an end to the impasse.
Kaieteur News understands that the Board of the GNBA recently had a meeting with the Prime Minister.
At that meeting, Nagamootoo reminded the members of their duty to serve Guyana to the best of their ability. He encouraged them to move ahead with activities that can reflect major changes for Guyana.
The Prime Minister told Kaieteur News that the Board members renewed their commitment to serve Guyana.
“They have pledged to move forward and committed that they will review the regulations in an expeditious manner.”
The Prime Minister continued, “Craig and Vieira saw me and we addressed their differences. They assured me too that in spite of their differences they will work for the greater good of the country and to have the

regulations completed, so as to lead to the review of the controversial radio licences.”
Vieira is the Chairman of a sub-committee that has been set up to deal with very important business of the GNBA. That Committee is referred to as the Legal Matters and Fees Committee.
Regulations that are supposed to prompt major changes in the Broadcasting industry remain stuck in that committee as Vieira was insisting that he could not work with Craig.
It was in April that the GNBA held its first press conference. That was eight months after the Board was appointed.
At that press conference, the Board laid out the glorious plans for the broadcasting industry in Guyana. These plans are to be of major benefit to broadcasters and consumers alike. This includes zoning, improved monitoring, a broadcasting fee reduction and a redistribution of radio licences

 

September 04, 2016

Goolsarran asks…Will persons responsible for failed Fibre Optic Cable Project be sanctioned?

Chartered Accountant Anand Goolsarran believes that those in authority need to provide an answer

to whether the persons who were responsible for the mismanagement of the Fibre Optic Cable Project, thereby causing a loss of taxpayers’ money, will be sanctioned for their actions.
The management team responsible for the $7.9B project were Project Manager Alexei Ramotar, son of former President Donald Ramotar; Deputy Project Manager Anil Singh and Technical Advisor, the late Walter Willis.
Ramotar and Singh were hired by the Office of the President and Willis by the Ministry of Public Works, now the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.
Based on an audit into the project conducted by Chartered Accountants Ram and McRae, it was reported that the incomplete state of the project was primarily due to ineffective planning, management and inadequate oversight. Also, it was reported that adequate supervision was not conducted and acts of negligence resulted in damage to fibre optic cables and equipment which were expensive to replace.
In an interview with Kaieteur News, Goolsarran, a former Auditor General, said that he is aware that the lack of a feasibility study, poor planning, and the absence of effective project management and the use of inexperienced contractors are some of the major contributing factors that led to the failure of the project.
“In particular the cable running from Linden to Lethem has been badly damaged because it was improperly laid in a terrain that is subject to quite a lot of erosion, especially during the rainy season.”
It is against this backdrop which Goolsarran believes that Government authorities should address the issue regarding possible sanctions against those who were responsible for the severe cases of mismanagement which plagued the project resulting in its failure.
Moreover, Goolsarran said that one has to be careful in deciding whether it is worthwhile to salvage the project. “We do not want to spend that kind of money only to realise that the problems have not been fixed.”
The Auditors who looked into the project said that notwithstanding the principle that sunk costs are irrelevant; this Project should be continued to completion.
Recently the government, through its Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes had announced that the resuscitation of the Georgetown to Linden Fibre Optic Cable Project has been stalled, pending the results of two independent studies.
The first study was the financial audit done by Chartered Accountants Ram and McRae and the second study was done by a team of communications specialists.
Hughes explained that a draft report of the second study was submitted on May 6, 2016, but it has not yet been accepted as final. The Minister said that the two reports have been received, but no decision has been taken, it is still under review.
The government had allocated $140 million to finance the consolidation, monitoring, maintenance and extension of the existing E-Government Fibre Optic and Long Term Evolution (LTE) Network.
Additionally, a sum of $100 million was set aside to repair and upgrade the Georgetown to Linden Fibre Optic Cable.

 

September 10, 2016

Damning allegations at NFMU … Defence by entity’s head under review –Telecoms Minister

About four months ago, Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes gave a commitment to inform the nation, within a matter of days, on whether Valmiki Singh would continue to head of the National Frequency Management

Unit (NFMU).
In a forensic audit report that was conducted on the Unit, a number of allegations were made against Singh, all of which speak to breaches of the nation’s financial laws.
Specifically, in June last, Hughes had told Kaieteur News that Singh was asked to defend the said accusations. In that same period, she promised that a statement on the way forward would be provided. This however, was never honoured.
At a press conference yesterday which was held by the Alliance For Change (AFC) after some 15 months of being in office, Hughes was questioned on whether she has finally decided on the way forward regarding Singh’s continuation on the job.
“Singh has responded and he has given me a series of responses to some of the issues raised in the audit. I do feel, as in any court of law, he is entitled to due process…It is my hope that we would be able to act on those comments,” Hughes said.
The AFC Executive Member added, “We are reviewing it right now and I would commit that at an appropriate time I would be bringing further information on that.”
The forensic audit report on the NFMU, which was prepared by auditors attached to Ram and McRae, Chartered Accountants, had cited numerous areas where Singh was found in breach of financial laws.
Based on its examination of the employees’ personal records at NFMU, forensic auditors found, for example, that there was “gross abuse” by Singh, regarding the annual leave system.
In the audit report, the forensic team said that records show that Singh sought and obtained payment for leave not taken over an 11-year period.

The auditors said that the NFMU Head did so less than two weeks before the May 11, 2015 elections. At that time, they said that he wrote a letter to Dr. Roger Luncheon, former Head of the Presidential Secretariat, requesting payment for what he claimed to be 326 leave days accumulated over the years between January, 2004 and December 2014.
They said that attached to the letter was a computation of Mr. Singh’s outstanding leave days which was prepared by the NFMU’s Finance Controller.
The auditors however noted that the unavailability of documented application and approval of the leave carryover prevented any effort to verify the accuracy of the number of accumulated leave days.
The forensic auditing team said that under the Public Service Rules, leave may be deferred and added to the following year’s vacation. The deferral was “required in writing”.
Dr. Luncheon approved Mr. Singh’s request via letter dated April 30, 2015 and a total of $6.7 million was remitted to Mr. Singh after income tax totaling $2.9 million was deducted from the gross amount of $9.6 million.
The auditors said that it is considered dangerous to the organization as well as unhealthy for individuals, particularly those in a position of trust and responsibility, not to take their annual leave. They therefore recommended that this practice be discontinued forthwith.
They also recommended that the services of the Accountant be otherwise utilized or transferred, since that individual’s only responsibility was to manage the expenses of other government entities, a practice which the auditors believe should cease.
In another instance, it appeared as though Singh thought that he had more power than was actually allocated to him as Head of the National Frequency Management Unit. Auditors said that, perhaps, the organizational structure of the entity contributed to him acting outside of his authority in various instances.
The auditors noted that while the Minister – who has oversight for the NFMU – is the person designated to determine the remuneration of persons employed, after consultation with the relevant union, Singh – who was the Managing Director – arbitrarily determined the salaries of the workers.
The auditors revealed that NFMU was established as a “corporation sole”. This means that the entity does not have a Board like other companies would. It meant that the Managing Director operates as the Board.
Ram and McRae auditors also commented that such an organizational form is subject to minimal accountability and is precluded from benefitting from the range of skills typical of a Corporation with a Board of Directors.
Given the nature and scope of the work required to be done by the NFMU, the auditors emphasized that this type of organizational structure is completely inappropriate. As such, they recommended that it be governed by a Board of Directors with a range of skills and qualifications and offering some insulation of the management from the political functionaries.
They said that the entity’s only reporting obligation is to a Minister of the Government, who, for much of the NFMU’s existence, has been the President, which, even with delegation, does not offer sufficient opportunities for oversight and consultations.
The auditors revealed, too, that while such a Corporation may employ a Secretary, and other officers and employees it considers necessary, their remuneration and terms and conditions of employment are to be determined or varied by the Minister.
They said that the Minister is required to consult with the trade union, which represents the majority of officers or class of employees, and the Corporation in setting the terms and conditions of employment.
The forensic auditing team noted, however, that except for the position of the Managing Director, this requirement has not been complied with. In this regard, the auditors highlighted that Singh took it upon himself to establish the remuneration packages for other levels of employees. The auditors said that Singh acted ultra vires – that is, outside of his legal power.

 

September 12, 2016

$100M spent on of 50 radio sets… Manufacturer says GECOM inexplicably cancelled its tender

– contract awarded to “non-compliant” supplier

The manufacturer of a number of radios supplied to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is complaining that his company was rejected when it tendered for a multi-million dollar contract last year.
According to BARRETT Communications, an Australian-headquartered firm, it tendered for the supply of new radio equipment for the 2015 General and Regional Elections last year, but the order was strangely cancelled.
Instead, the contract was awarded to Mobile Authority, a Water Street-registered business owned by Michael Brasse, which was not the official local dealer.
BARRETT has a local partner in Guyana – Advanced Office Systems, which it used to tender for the contract.
Those radio purchases are now the subject of a major investigation by the Audit Office of Guyana.
The manufacturer’s European office wrote Kaieteur News over the weekend clarifying the role it played in tender.

 

“With respect to the procurement for the 2015 election, we did indeed tender through the Advanced Office Systems for the supply of new radio equipment for the 2015 Guyana elections.”
According to Andrew Burt, General Manager of BARRETT’s European office, GECOM cancelled the order.
The manufacturer made it clear it was not involved in the supply of the radios. The delivery would have happened days if not hours before elections.
As far as BARRETT is concerned, the supply of the radios, which were to be used by GECOM to communicate with outlying areas during the elections period, were given to a business that not compliant with the specifications.
“We had subsequently been informed that another OEM (original equipment manufacture), non-compliant with the tender specification, was inexplicably selected and purchased.”
BARRETT’s claims over the weekend would not only raise questions as to where Mobile Authority sourced the radios from, but whether GECOM officials, including its accountant and procurement personnel, conducted due diligence.
Not ordering from an authorized supplier or agent has implications on warranties and even spare parts, among other things.
GECOM is supposed to ensure that the equipment comes with the necessary warranties and even security of spare parts.
Investigators from the Audit Office of Guyana are currently probing the radio purchases which were delivered shortly before the elections, but apparently were never put to use. GECOM has declined to comment, saying that the probe is ongoing.
There are questions on whether the radios are even working. Last year, Brasse’s businesses collected around $290M in payments for supplying items to GECOM, sparking suspicions of sole sourcing, a form of public procurement which has been heavily frowned on in recent times because of the possibilities of corruption involved in the process.
The Audit Office of Guyana started an investigation two weeks ago to determine the procurement procedures used and whether the radios can be accounted for.
The audit is also to determine whether the equipment is working.
Shortly before the elections, on April 5th, 2015, Mobile Authority was paid $99,560,000. This was for HF radios. From indications and GECOM’s insiders, Mobile Authority and its sister companies, M-Tech Business Solutions, and to an extent, Mibra Trading, received the hog’s share of contracts from GECOM for the May 11th, 2015 election – some $290M.
Payment records from Government suggest that some amount of contract-splitting was involved, so as not to alert auditors and others who would have been watching.
In addition to supplying things like photo paper, stationery and office furniture, Brasse even ventured to delivering electrical items.
His transactions eased to a trickle after the elections when a new Government, under President David Granger, took office.
With regards to the radios that were delivered, there are indications that while GECOM had asked for 50 HF radios, it received 20 of those obsolete Barrett radios and 30 of what is known as ICOM radios.
Assuming that each Barrett radio that was delivered last year cost $2M each, it appeared that GECOM paid at least seven times the purchase price for each ICOM radio.
The ICOM radio is available on the local market for around $300,000 each.
A list of questions had been sent to GECOM’s public relations department, but the entity had said the state audit was ongoing and it would not comment.

 

September 20, 2016

NFMU head denies corruption allegations, Telecoms Ministry seeks legal advice

By Abena Rockcliffe-Campbell
The Ministry of Public Telecommunications is seeking legal advice on how to deal with the findings of

a forensic audit into the affairs of the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) and the responses given by those implicated.
Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes, recently told Kaieteur News that Head of the NFMU, Valmiki Singh, had furnished her with a statement in an effort to set the record straight on a number of shady actions that implicated him during his management of the Unit.
Hughes said that she was always concerned about the findings of the report which was prepared by the auditors attached to Ram and McRae, Chartered Accountants but wanted to ensure due process.
The Minister said, “Strong allegations were made in the audit report and I thought it was only fair that the party and the agency be given an opportunity to respond. I could not, in good conscience, automatically consider dismissing the individual on information that was in there.”
Hughes stated, “I met with him (Singh) and he said that there were a lot of inaccuracies in the report.”
The Minister said that the inaccuracies are documented in the statement he gave to her, and she will provide the media with Singh’s response.
She said that she will also be handing the statement to Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Jaipaul Sharma, the Audit Office and other colleagues in government.
Hughes said that she is seeking advice as to whether “criminal charges may or may not need to be laid based on the findings of the audit.”
She said that the challenge is that the forensic audit goes only to a certain extent.

“Then there is the problem of the explanation given. Explanations were given in the context that these officials work for a previous government that government issued instructions some for actions on specific thing which are today documented in the audit as not acceptable.”
Hughes said that while she is pursuing the matter, “I am not a lawyer, the police force, so I do not feel as if I am in a position to make a decision.”
The Minister said that she is looking to revamp the unit to ensure that this kind of thing does nto take place again.
The NFMU forensic audit report had cited numerous areas where Singh was found in breach of financial laws.
Based on its examination of the employees’ personal records at NFMU, forensic auditors found for example, that there was “gross abuse” by Singh, regarding the annual leave system.
In the audit report, the forensic team from Ram and McRae said that records show that Singh sought and obtained payment for leave not taken over an 11-year period.
The auditors noted that the NFMU Head did so less than two weeks before the May 11, 2015 elections. At that time, they said that he wrote a letter to Dr. Roger Luncheon, former Head of the Presidential Secretariat, requesting payment for what he claimed to be 326 leave days accumulated over the years between January, 2004 and December 2014.
They said that attached to the letter was a computation of Mr. Singh’s outstanding leave days which was prepared by the NFMU’s Finance Controller.
The auditors however, noted that the unavailability of documented application and approval of the leave carryover prevented any effort to verify the accuracy of the number of accumulated leave days.
The forensic auditing team said that under the Public Service Rules, leave may be deferred and added to the following year’s vacation. The deferral was “required in writing”.
Dr. Luncheon approved Mr. Singh’s request via letter dated April 30, 2015 and a total of $6.7 million was remitted to Mr. Singh after income tax; a total of $2.9 million was deducted from the gross amount of $9.6 million.
The auditors said that it is considered dangerous to the organization as well as unhealthy for individuals, particularly those in a position of trust and responsibility, not to take their annual leave. They therefore recommended that this practice be discontinued forthwith.
They also recommended that the services of the Accountant be otherwise utilized or transferred since his only responsibility was to manage the expenses of other government entities, a practice which the auditors believe should cease.
In another instance, it appeared as though Singh thought that he had more power than was actually allocated to him as Head of the National Frequency Management Unit. Auditors said that perhaps, the organizational structure of the entity contributed to him acting outside of his authority in various instances.
The auditors noted that while the Minister who has oversight for the NFMU, is the person designated to determine the remuneration of persons employed, after consultation with the relevant union, Singh who was only the Managing Director, arbitrarily determined the salaries of his workers.
The auditors noted that Singh acted ultra vires, that is, outside of his legal power in many instances including establishing remuneration packages for employees.

 

September 20, 2016

$100M paid for GECOM radios…Opposition demands audit findings be made public

A number of questionable multi-million-dollar transactions by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) last year have drawn in the Opposition.
Over the weekend, the Office of the Leader of the Opposition called for the findings of an investigation currently being conducted by the Audit Office of Guyana to be made public.
“The Office of the Leader of the Opposition notes with deep concern the allegations of irregularity and the implications of corruption in the procurement by GECOM of a number of radio communication sets which were intended to be used in the 2011 and 2015 General and Regional Elections and the corresponding silence of the Chairman of the Elections Commission, Dr. Steve Surujbally, and the Chief Elections Officer, Mr. Keith Lowenfield, in respect of these allegations,” a statement said.
It was pointed out that as an independent constitutional body, GECOM enjoys financial, functional and operational autonomy and like every agency which is financed with public funds, must account in a transparent manner for the expenditure of these funds.
The Office of the Leader of the Opposition said the revelations would come at a time when there is an elections petition filed by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, that is before the courts.
“We are aware that GECOM has seen it fit to expend herculean efforts and a tremendous amount of time in attempting to dismiss and/or delay the hearing and determination of the Elections Petition filed on behalf of the PPP/C because it will expose the electoral machinery and system administered and managed by GECOM to public scrutiny – an exercise which they fervently wish to avoid,” the office charged.
“In the circumstances, we welcome the decision to conduct an audit of these transactions by the Office of The Auditor General and we demand that the findings of this audit be made public.”
The $100M radio purchases became public a few weeks ago after it became known that the Audit Office had started an investigation.
Just over a week before the May 11, 2015 elections, the then administration of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) approved $99.5M for the purchase of 50 high frequency (HF) radios.
From documents seen by Kaieteur News, local suppliers were asked to submit quotes in mid-April 2015. Cabinet granted the no-objection to the award of the contract in that same month, (April), leaving GECOM just days to have the supplier order and import the radios.
GECOM insiders and Government officials insisted that based on experience and other factors, it would have been nigh impossible for the radios to have been delivered by the supplier; checked to ensure that they are operational and then delivered to the outlying areas in time for use on Elections Day, May 11, 2015.
What makes observers and others more convinced that the whole deal was a clear plot to dump old radios, that had been brought years before, was the fact the equipment needed installation in the hinterland areas.
That $100M contract was awarded under questionable circumstances to Mobile Authority, a business owned by Water Street businessman, Michael Brasse.
Brasse’s Mobile Authority and his two other businesses, M-Tech Business Solutions and Mibra Trading, were awarded almost $290M in contracts last year. He supplied toners, stationery, office equipment, electrical items, Duracell batteries and even furniture, raising suspicions of sole sourcing.
From payment records, it appeared that several of the payments could be linked to what is known as contract splitting, an arrangements where contracts are deliberately kept below a certain amount to avoid attracting attention from oversight bodies like the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).
Several purchases for toners- for printers and copiers- by GECOM last year, supplied by Brasse are said to also be under the radar of state auditors.
It appeared that GECOM ordered the radios despite the fact that there were viable ones in its inventory.
From all indication the “new” radios, delivered last year, were never used. It is believed that those radios, bought since 2006, were dumped on GECOM in a deal involving officials there.
GECOM has remained silent on several published stories, only saying that it cannot comment as there is an active investigation by the Audit Office of Guyana.
According to top GECOM officials over the weekend, the allegations have rocked the entity.
Already, several staffers suspected of leaking information were reportedly sent on leave while others have been shifted around.
Following the breaking of the story of the radio purchases, the Australian manufacturer, Barrett Communications, through its European office, distanced itself from last year $100M transaction by GECOM.
Barrett said it did tender, but from its information the order was cancelled by GECOM.
From details seen, it appeared GECOM paid for some of the radios, at least seven times the amount that it is selling for on the local market.

 

November 14, 2016

Illegal granting of licences….Broadcast Authority Chairman hampered attempts to correct wrongs

– Inquiry

By Abena Rockcliffe-Campbell  

The Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) has failed to deliver key promises made to the Guyanese people. These promises were made by the very government that appointed the Board. Guyanese had expected that, by now, the Board would have at least made moves to dismantle the operations of those who were favored by the PPP/C administration and were fortunate enough to be granted licenses by former President Bharrat Jagdeo days before he demitted office. This reality was highlighted in the recently concluded report on an inquiry conducted into the operations of the Board of GNBA.  According to the report, GNBA Board Chairman, Leonard Craig was the stumbling block in the Board’s journey towards making things right in the broadcast industry, particularly with regards to the licences.
The Inquiry was conducted by Major General Joe Singh who worked along closely with the Legal Advisor from the Ministry of the Presidency, Geeta Chandan-Edmond.
The report, seen by Kaieteur News, has not yet been released to the public.
Singh stated that the Board was saddled with “legacy issues” from its inception which influenced its composition.
Singh said that the inheritance of the Board included problems with the Broadcasting Act which was “hastily” enacted with perceived arbitrary and inconsistent provisions.  He noted that the modus operandi of the previous administration led to subjective decisions being made, “which included allegations on the award of frequencies and licenses.”

Singh recalled that this distribution was frowned upon by the then opposition parties which now form the government. He noted that those parties pledged to correct these inconsistencies.
According to Singh’s findings, the matter of the illegal radio licences was discussed at the Board meetings. However, it was suggested that while other members of the Board were in favor of dealing with the matter and correcting the wrongs, Craig was not in favor of such undertakings. Singh said, “The intransigence of the Chairman inhibited the work of the Board…the members worked assiduously to correct the perceived wrongs of the previous administration.”
Singh said that Director Anthony Vieira, “with his institutional memory”, and other directors “with their passionate commitment pioneered these objectives and initiatives.”
Indeed, Vieira had once told Kaieteur News that the Board found the granting of the licences illegal and will be moving to revoke same. However, Craig, the very day that that story was published, said that Vieira spoke “out of turn.”
Vieira spoke to Kaieteur News as the head of a sub-committee set up by the Board. That Committee was mandated to look at the very issue.
In his report, Major General Singh said that at the committee level of the Board many issues were discussed. He said that there were discussions on limiting the powers of the Minister in the Act. Singh reported that the members were also “resolute in their opinion that Broadcast frequency should not be issued for cable operators. Furthermore, the distribution and management of Broadcast frequencies should be the responsibility of the GNBA and not the NFMU.” Singh noted that “the achievements at the level of the committee were many and the Directors worked well.”
Singh said that in order to promulgate the work of the Board, Director Vic Insanally designed a 10 point plan with the objectives and action to be taken, which the Board agreed to, and this was submitted to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo for consideration.
In this 10 point plan labelled “Outstanding matters” Insanally listed the need for a meeting with Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes and her Advisor, Enrico Woolford—on concerns with new the Telecoms Bill and issues with NFMU.
He also listed “ways to deal with the issue of illegal radio licence; Status of draft legislation for new licence fees and zones; discussions on proposals put forward for dealing with amounts owed by television licencees and the approach for 2017 licence; review of E-Network status, requests from unlicensed operations who wish to regularize and outstanding applications for national cable for Alphonso and any other.”
However, with all these plans to get things done, Singh said that the “Chairman was seen as having inhibited the initiatives designed to correct the perceived subjective decision made by the previous administration.”
Further, Singh said, “In the end the political constraints and prejudices resulted in the Chairman failing to aggressively pursue the mandate on behalf of the Board which consequently led to frustration among the directors, relating to the incompleteness of their work and the administration’s unfulfilled promises to the Guyanese people.”
Singh recommended the need for organizational reform at the GNBA. He said that this should include a reorientation towards a more collaborative approach to the implementation of the mandate. Singh further noted that the combination of certain factors “is indicative of the Directors having no confidence in the Chairman resulting in some adopting the position of not being willing to serve under his leadership.

 

November 15, 2016

Report clears GNBA Directors of corruption

By Abena Rockcliffe-Campbell

The Board of Inquiry set up to look into the affairs of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority has cleared Directors Anthony Vieira and Vic Insanally on all corruption allegations made against them by Broadcaster, Kenwin Charles.

The Inquiry was conducted by Major General Joe Singh who worked along closely with the Legal Advisor from the Ministry of the Presidency, Geeta Chandan-Edmond.
The report seen by Kaieteur News has not yet been released to the public.
The Board examined five allegations made by Charles and his lawyer, Nigel Hughes.
The Broadcaster said that Vieira and Insanally demanded that he relocate from Essequibo. He also said that Vieira was verbally abusive to him and wanted to take away his service. The broadcaster also said that Insanally encouraged him to sell his operation to businessman, Alfro Alphonso.
Charles’ Attorney said that Vieira exceeded the remit authorized by the Board and his conduct was unlawful and improper.
However, Major General Singh, in his report, stated that the allegations made by Charles against the directors are “unfounded and without merit.”
He said that there was an absence of direct evidence from Charles intending to prove improper or unlawful conduct by Directors of GNBA. Singh also said that Charles’s testimony was “riddled with several inconsistencies.
Singh found it apt to note that Charles made a deliberate decision to invest in broadcasting equipment. He said too that Charles misled the current GNBA Board as well as former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds on the location of his operations on the Essequibo Coast and secretly recorded a meeting with himself and Director Insanally. “The question then became how much credibility is to be accorded to such evidence?”
However, Singh said that in analyzing the evidence he was able to form a comprehensive picture which allowed him to arrive at his findings “with certitude.”

In his submissions to the Board of Inquiry, Nigel Hughes said that it would appear, from the minutes of the Board meeting, that there was no empowering of the sub-committee which Vieira headed, to make any offers to Charles or to suggest to him that he should cease operating or that he should move his operations or constrain them, reduce them or modify them in any way.
Hughes said that despite that fact, Vieira went ahead and did those very things. Hughes said that Vieira went as far as to indicate that he could assist with the transition by identifying a person who could provide Charles with a plot of land to operate. Hughes said that it was Charles’ refusal of this proposal that invited the “wrath of Mr. Vieira.”
In written statements both Insanally and Vieira denied “demanding” that Charles must move his operations. They said that they were just “offering options” to Charles to make his operations legal.
Violet Boyal, Company Secretary, who was present at the meeting, also provided a written statement. Boyal said that Vieira informed Charles that an offer had already been made to a person on the Essequibo Coast and it would not be profitable for both of them to exist. However, “for compensation he can relocate to Mahaica Mahaicony Abary where his subscriber base will increase.”
Boyal said that Vieira indeed offered to introduce Charles to a man by the name of Jeffrey Fraser who owns land in Region 5 and can make it available to him. Nevertheless, she said that Charles was assured that the Board was not trying to close persons down, but was trying to regulate them.
Orally, Boyal told the Board of Inquiry that Vieira became “emphatic” when Charles insisted that he wanted to stay in the Essequibo. She said at that stage Vieira began “banging his hands on the desk.”
Despite such submissions, Singh wrote, “Based on the facts presented there is no veracity in the allegation that Vieira was demanding that Charles must relocate from the Essequibo Coast.”
ABUSIVE AND UNLAWFUL CONDUCT
On the count of abuse, Boyal bore witness that Vieira raised his voice at Charles and slapped his hands on the table. However, according to the report, Boyal said that she did not consider Vieira’s behaviour abusive, but reflective of his frustration of the stance Charles was taking.
Rebecca Connelly, another GNBA worker was present during a short period of the meeting. She told the Board of Inquiry that “the thought never crossed my mind that there was something untoward or improper about his (Vieira) approach…it was more in keeping with his personality, forceful.”
Based on these submissions Singh found that Vieira’s conduct was “not abusive within the legal definition of abusive.
On behalf of his client, Hughes told the Board of Inquiry that Vieira exceeded the remit offered by the Board of GNBA and his conduct was improper.
However, Singh found that Vieira acted in “good faith” and in the best interests of the GNBA and Charles. He did this, according to the report, by pointing out to Charles that the Board was likely to take steps under new regulations drafted to redefine broadcasting and that channels used by Charles’ operations at Essequibo were UHF frequencies and that he should either offer services in Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service (MMDS) or consider the market opportunity to relate to Region 5.

 

November 19, 2016

Prime Minister takes ‘responsibility’ for state of GNBA

Despite the fact that he allowed the situation to fester for months before intervening, Prime Minister

Moses Nagamootoo is claiming that he did all he could to deal with the discord that plagued the Board of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA).
Nevertheless, he said that he is willing to take “political responsibility” for the “issues” facing the Board. Nagamootoo was at Alliance For Change (AFC) press conference yesterday.
At that forum, the Prime Minister was asked if he was willing to share responsibility for the unproductivity of the GNBA as well as the discord that he allowed to fester. He said that it was a difficult question to answer, yet he attempted to do so. The Prime Minister said that he had summoned the Board to a meeting where he was made aware “of the nature of the disputation.”
Nagamootoo said that he tried to address the situation and “at the end of the meeting the two disputants shook hands and pledged to work for the good of the authority and the country.” He continued, “So it cannot be said that I did not make an intervention to see that relationships are smoothed over.”
However, Nagamootoo said that the problems at GNBA were more than the interpersonal wrangling. He said that the outstanding issues that GNBA is faced with correcting are “perhaps” what is causing the problems.
“It is not so much the personality. The issue is whether you should have everyone’s license rescinded and everyone should reapply all over again and applications reassessed in terms of the standards prescribed by regulations. That is the problem.”
Nagamootoo, addressing questions by Directors of GNBA as to his Authority, said, “I have seen in sections of the report, some elements on the Board saying that the Minister has no right to recommend regulations.”
He said, however, that the law states that it is the responsible Minister that has the power to pioneer any proposed amendment to the law or the implementation of new regulations.
He admitted though, that “in this instance, I had not initiated the process of regulations.” He said that he was the one who told the Board that the best way to address the radio stations that are operating on licences granted under questionable circumstances was to formulate new regulations.
“The way to go is to allow everyone to apply in accordance with the new standards…I told them to draft the regulations, send them to me and we will talk about it.” He said that he reviewed several drafts of the regulations and was working with the Authority in this regard.
After chronicling the efforts he made, Nagamootoo said, “Do I assume responsibility for anything that went wrong? Yes. As the Minister assigned responsibility I assume political responsibility for what happened. But as to whether I could have done anything otherwise than what I did to bring the parties together and they shook hands etc, I am not aware.”
Nagamootoo said that the law has certain provisions that speak to the life of the Board, “so I couldn’t have taken measures to say I did not like what you did so I am knocking you off. I cannot do that unless (the reason) satisfy the requirement of the law which says there are certain specific things you have to do in order to be discharged from the Board.”
Nagamootoo did not mention the fact that GNBA Director, Anthony Vieira, who was one of the main characters in the feud, had offered his resignation. But this was not accepted.
Nagamootoo told the media that now that the Inquiry has been completed he has the opportunity to look at all the issues affecting the work of the Board and “if we believe the problems encountered by the Board are impeding the functions of the Board then judge me whether or not I will take certain actions.”
Nagamootoo said that he will soon be circulating the report of the Board of Inquiry to GNBA Board Members and the CEO. He said also that he will circulate it to the media.
The Board of Inquiry has recommended the dismissal of GNBA Board Chairman, Leonard Craig. It has been found that Craig impugned the characters of two other Board Members, Anthony Vieira and Vic Insanally. It was also said that Craig stood in the way of the execution of measures to address the illegal radio licences granted by former President Bharrat Jagdeo.
It has been reported that Craig resigned from the Board and went to China to pursue a Doctorate.
However, yesterday Nagamootoo said that he did not receive a resignation from Craig. He said however that he will soon have to meet with the Board of GNBA to discuss the recommendations of the Inquiry and to the filling of the vacancy.
Nagamootoo said that the report has brought out “very significant shortcomings in this important Authority that has critical functions to perform.”

 

November 19, 2016

Commissioner of Information fails to fulfill duties

-Prime Minister says, “I am not aware that he has done anything.”

By Kiana Wilburg
Since his appointment to the post of Commissioner of Information in 2013, Charles Ramson

Snr. is yet to produce a report regarding the workings of his office and the application of the Access to Information Act.
This fact was acknowledged yesterday by Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo.
At the bi-weekly press conference of the Alliance For Change (AFC), the Vice Chairman was questioned on the performance of the office of the Commissioner of Information. He was also asked whether he has made moves to ascertain why Ramson is yet to produce a report as stipulated by the law.
The Prime Minister said that he intends to write the Commissioner to ascertain whether he had submitted the information necessary for the compilation of the report in the National Assembly.
“I am not aware that any report had been submitted since his appointment I think in 2013 and none has been tabled in the House,” Nagamootoo added.
The Prime Minister expects that upon receipt of his letter, which has not gone out as yet, Ramson would be able to explain himself. He said that Ramson would be given a time frame within which certain information would have to be made available to the relevant minister.
Regarding the performance of the Office of the Commissioner of Information, Nagamootoo said, “I am not aware that this office has done anything really, so being pleased is very subjective.”
The Prime Minister said the Commissioner of Information is bound by law to carry out certain functions such as receiving complaints and facilitating inquiries.
Nagamootoo also responded to comments by Ramson in the media that since his office is not being fully utilized then there really isn’t anything to report on.
The Prime Minister stressed that there is a statutory requirement for a report to be lodged in the National Assembly.
He added, “We would only know the difficulties being confronted by him if he were to submit those in writing to the house and have them subjected to the scrutiny of the House.”
While Parliament is left in the dark about the work of the Commissioner of Information, Ramson Snr. continues to draw a salary of approximately $1.2M a month.

According to the Act governing Ramson’s office, the responsible Minister should “as soon as practicable but not later than nine months, after the end of each year lay a report on the operation of this (Access to Information) Act in the National Assembly.”
The Act also states that the said report should include the number of requests made to the Commissioner of Information; the number of applications for judicial review of decisions and the outcome of those applications; the number of complaints made to the Commissioner of Information with respect to the operation of the Act and the nature of those complaints; the number of notices served upon the Commissioner of Information and the number of decisions by the Commissioner which were adverse to the person’s claim.
Former Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds, was the one responsible for laying such a report once received from the Commissioner. But efforts to contact him regarding why this was not done, proved futile.
Chartered Accountant, Anand Goolsarran, also did his independent checks on the Commissioner of Information and the work of his office. Goolsarran noted that the handing over of annual reports to the National Assembly is a key requirement of the law.
He said that the failure of the Commissioner’s office in this regard stymies any effort to carry out an assessment on the effectiveness of the Access to Information Act. The former Auditor General said this is a significant shortcoming in attempts to provide citizens and organisations with access to information of government programmes and activities.
Since its establishment, there have been a few requests for access to certain documents from the Commissioner of Information.
Kaieteur News understands that based on a mutual agreement with the Government, Ramson has since moved from the Ministry of the Presidency and is currently operating from his East Street residence.
Additionally, there have been accusations to the effect that Ramson has not been forthcoming when requests are made to him by members of the public.
However, Ramson is of the opinion that it is the public that is not making use of him as he has received less than 16 applications since he assumed the position.

 

February 09, 2017

With no new board in place…Radio licence matter hangs in limbo

After the appointment of a new board in September 2015, the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) has not made any meaningful step forward regarding the revocation of radio licences that were awarded under the Jagdeo regime.

In fact, the Board which was led by AFC Member, Leonard Craig, earned nothing but harsh criticisms to the effect that it is, and continues to be, the most unproductive of the boards under the APNU+AFC administration. In addition to this, the board has done absolutely nothing of consequence since it was installed.
The Authority is actually months late on a promised implementation of new regulations that were to bring order to the Broadcasting sector. Those regulations were supposed to force broadcasters who are holding “illegal” licences granted to them by former President Bharrat Jagdeo, to surrender their licences and to reapply under a new structure which was supposed to be free from any form of corruption or nepotism.
With the GNBA being without a board since last year December, the matter of the radio licences now hangs in limbo.
Last month, Prime Minister and First Vice President, Moses Nagamootoo told this newspaper that he was receiving advice on the reconstitution of the board of directors for the GNBA.
Nagamootoo said that he is in the process of consulting on new names, but they would have to be taken to Cabinet for approval.
Until such time, Nagamootoo said that the Authority is well equipped with a competent Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Prudence Lewis-Bhola.
The Prime Minister reminded that Dr. Lewis-Bhola has a doctorate in Transformational Leadership along with a Bachelor of Laws and a Social Sciences Degree in Communication from the University of Guyana.
He said that it is his understanding that Dr. Lewis-Bhola is convinced that there is much to be done at this time and is eager to make a positive contribution to the Authority and the broadcast sector as a whole.
“Keenly aware of the issues and challenges of the local broadcast landscape, she is optimistic that much can be achieved from meaningful engagement and collaboration with all stakeholders in the broadcast industry.”
“The CEO plans to be proactive and diligent in her efforts to execute the GNBA’s statutory mandate. She has already commenced strategic planning sessions with GNBA’s senior management team and hopes to lead a series of consultative sessions with broadcast operators.”
Nagamootoo added, “So while the GNBA may be without a Chairman, there is a competent CEO in place. And in between the functioning of a board, the CEO would have to take those operational measures that are in the interest of the Authority.
“As CEO she can take operational measures to ensure basic functions are carried out, but let me make it clear that I have not forgotten about the authority. Moves are being taken on the names for the board and the names have to be given cabinet’s approval.”
To date, there has been no update on the appointment of a new board or the way forward on the issue of the radio licences; an issue that was deemed by GNBA and Nagamootoo, to be “unjust, indecent and illegal.”

 

February 18, 2017

Former Magistrate Leslie Sobers to head new GNBA Board

Cabinet has approved the appointment of a new board of directors for the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA). Chairing the board will be former Magistrate and practicing attorney-at-law, Leslie Sobers.

This was announced yesterday to the media by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon during a post-Cabinet briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency.
Harmon also disclosed that the other GNBA board members are Scheherazade Khan , Dr. Rovin Deodat, Jocelyne Josiah, Aretha Campbell, Joel Persid Edmond and a representative or nominee from the Opposition, People’s Progressive Party (PPP).
The new board will serve for a period of two years, from February 1, 2017 to January 1, 2019.
Kaieteur News asked the Minister if he had any indication as to who the PPP’s nominee might be for the GNBA Board. He answered in the negative. He is hopeful, however, that the Opposition will send the name of its nominee in due course.
The new board will have its hands full with not only repairing the image of the entity, but also continuing with crucial work that was left off by the previous board.
The previous GNBA Board was deemed to be the most unproductive of the boards under the APNU+AFC administration. In fact, the Board did absolutely nothing of consequence since it was installed.
The Authority is now months late on a promised implementation of new regulations that were to bring order to the Broadcasting sector. Those regulations were supposed to force broadcasters who are holding “illegal” licences granted to them by former President Bharrat Jagdeo, to surrender their licences and to reapply under a new structure which was supposed to be free from any form of corruption or nepotism.

 

February 24, 2017

New GNBA board urged to make compliancy a priority

Days after announcing a new Board of Director for the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA), a six-person group was sworn in Wednesday evening by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo.

The event took place at the official residence of the Prime Minister on Main Street. The new board members are Dr. Rovin Deodat, Scheherazade Ishoof -Khan, Jocelyn Josiah, Aretha Nichola Campbell, Joel Persid Edmond and Chairman, Lt. Colonel Leslie Anthony Sobers. One other member is still to be named by the opposition’s Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) and will be sworn in at a later date.
According to a government statement, Prime Minister Nagamootoo congratulated and thanked the members for accepting to serve on such an important state board. He explained that the previous board developed some difficulties along the way and as such this matter was discussed extensively at Cabinet.
The last board was faced with severe in-fighting that saw accusations of corruption leveled at two board members.
An inquiry cleared them but criticized former Board Chairman, Leonard Craig, of not helping enough to cool the tempers that flared in the authority.
The body is tasked with managing the broadcasting arena in the country, including operations of radio, television and cable.
“Prime Minister Nagamootoo charged the members of the board to ensure all standards are met and not to only issue licenses but also to review both future and current license holders to ensure they are compliant with all regulations,” the government release said.
“President David Granger and I,” the Prime Minister said, “place very high confidence in you, the board members.”
The GNBA new board of directors was effective from February 1, 2017 and will serve for two years ending January 2019.
With limited frequencies available, the operations of broadcasting houses took central stage in late 2011 after it was learnt that former President Bharat Jagdeo, in his last act before leaving office, approved licences for his party, friends and a few business friends.
Several prominent media houses who had applied were ignored.

 

April 11, 2017

Nagamootoo stalls appointment of Opposition nominee to GNBA Board

By Abena Rockcliffe-Campbell
The government and opposition seem to be playing with the business of the nation. For almost two years, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Opposition refused to take up seats on most of the State Boards including that of

the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA). Now that the PPP/C, for whatever unstated reason, has had a change of heart and decides to have representation on the GNBA Board, it seems as if Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo has chosen to stall the appointment.
This came to light during a press conference hosted yesterday by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.
A lightweight, a runner boy in the government and one who fails to handle the miniature tasks given to him is how Jagdeo described Nagamootoo.
The politician said that the GNBA will never fare well as long as it remains under the guidance of Nagamootoo.
Jagdeo said that “several weeks ago”, he received a letter from Nagamootoo inviting the opposition to submit a nominee to serve on the GNBA Board. Jagdeo said that the party decided that former head of the GNBA, Bibi Shadick, would best serve on the Board “for continuity; she can explain things.”
He said that he responded to the Nagamootoo submitting Shadick’s name only to be told that “(Nagamootoo) has to seek clearance from Harmon.”
“That’s what I am talking about. (The appointment) is provided for; they announced it. It is probably gazetted; now we can’t go ahead because he still needs to go and wait outside of Harmon’s office to get it approved,” said Jagdeo.
But Nagamootoo refuted Jagdeo’s claims. He said that a “procedure” is holding up the appointment.
“Usually the Cabinet has to approve the name of the person then the name has to be gazetted after which an instrument of appointment is issued. What was gazetted was opposition appointee; a name now has to be gazetted,” said Nagamootoo.
Nagamootoo was keen to note, “I followed the law and ensured that there is a place on the Board for an opposition appointee but when you have to make the appointment you have to appoint a person.”
Nagamootoo said that he acknowledged Jagdeo’s nominee but told him nothing about waiting on Harmon’s approval.
“I have since taken the name to Cabinet and Cabinet has given approval to the name.” He said that a Cabinet Memorandum has to be written and signed by Harmon then it will be gazetted after which Shadick will receive an instrument of appointment before she can start attending meetings.

Nagamootoo admitted that the other Board members’ names were gazetted several weeks ago.
He said that he could not remember how long ago the opposition submitted its nominee but said that he only took it to Cabinet last week which was the “earliest opportunity.”
“But there is a procedure that has to be followed, so I do not know why Jagdeo is running his mouth. He has to be familiar with the procedures,” said Nagamootoo.
Meanwhile the Board has been having meetings without Shadick. But Nagamootoo has no idea what progress the Board is making. All he knows is that “they have been meeting.”
He said that he met with the members when they were sworn in about two months ago. The Prime Minister has however received no report since then. He said that queries about the work of the Board must be directed to the Board Chairman, Leslie Sobers.
However, for no less than four weeks now, Kaieteur News has been trying to make contact with Sobers but to no avail.
The legacy of the last GNBA Board appointed by the APNU+AFC is poor. Its work was almost nonexistent and members mostly fought among themselves. The Board was also accused of corruption but a Commission of Inquiry into these allegations found that they were false. Nevertheless, there is nothing significant to that Board’s credit.
Meanwhile, the issues that need to be addressed in Broadcasting remain many. Mainly, the APNU+AFC promised that it will reverse the wanton distribution of radio licences to Jagdeo’s friends and family of Jagdeo. The distribution was made days before Jagdeo demitted office.

 

April 14, 2017

New GNBA Board looking into illegal radio licences – Harmon

Minister of State Joseph Harmon has assured that the new Board of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) is currently addressing matters surrounding illegally granted radio licences.
Harmon was one who, while in opposition, criticized former President Bharrat Jagdeo for granting radio licences to his friends and family. He even protested for the licences to be revoked. Now that Harmon is in government, changes are still to be made.
The Minister of State was asked yesterday if he has reminded Cabinet of the wrong committed, and the importance of having these issues addressed. He did not answer this question directly.
Instead, Harmon responded, “What I can say is that we have appointed a new board, and the authority understands the position of the APNU+AFC administration on the matter.” Harmon went further to say, “I can assure you that they are looking into it right now.”
On the issue of the non appointment of Opposition nominee, Bibi Shadick, to the Board, Harmon effectively said that she has to wait. He said that the Opposition cannot expect to submit Shadick’s name “today and expect to have her sit on the Board tomorrow.”
He said that the rest of the Board was appointed without Shadick, because the opposition had established that it was not interested in having representation on any State Board.
Meanwhile the Board has been having meetings without Shadick. But Prime Minister Nagamootoo has no idea what progress the Board is making. All he knows is that “they have been meeting.”
He said that he met with the members when they were sworn in about two months ago. The Prime Minister has however received no report since then. He said that queries about the work of the Board must be directed to the Board Chairman, Leslie Sobers.
However, for no less than four weeks now, Kaieteur News has been trying to make contact with Sobers, but to no avail.
The legacy of the last GNBA Board appointed by the APNU+AFC is poor. Its work was almost nonexistent and members mostly fought among themselves. The Board was also accused of corruption but a Commission of Inquiry into these allegations found that they were false. Nevertheless, there is nothing significant to that Board’s credit.
The issues that need to be addressed in Broadcasting remain many. Mainly, the APNU+AFC government promised that it will reverse the wanton distribution of radio licences to Jagdeo’s friends and family. The distribution was made days before Jagdeo demitted office.

 

April 21, 2017

GNBA notes several broadcasters operating without valid licences

…Anomaly to be addressed soon- Leslie Sobers

By Abena Rockcliffe-Campbell

The Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) has not turned a blind eye to the fact that

there are several broadcasters currently operating without valid licences. The Authority is simply looking to arm itself with the relevant legislation to govern the actions that it wants to take. The Authority’s position on this matter was conveyed by its Board Chairman, Leslie Sobers.
Sobers, an attorney-at-law, was appointed to serve as chairman a few months ago but had not been very vocal in the media. Kaieteur News made countless attempts to speak to him but all efforts proved futile until yesterday.
Sobers explained that it was not his intention to shy away from the media but he wanted to be in a good position to speak whenever he chose to do so. Also, he said that he preferred to speak to the media when he had solid and new information to share. In the meantime, the Chairman said that the Board continues to work tirelessly to complete regulations to govern the broadcasting industry.
“We are still in the process of working on the regulations…I am not stalling or brushing off the media; that is the truth. The truth is we are working assiduously to complete the regulation,” said Sobers.
He noted that the regulations being worked on are going to become law. “At present, we only have the parent law which says that the minister may make regulations to cover the broadcast industry. Those regulations will become law; they will be attached to the law, we call them subsidiary regulations.”
Sobers said that the regulations will set out the terms and conditions under which the Authority will be measuring the eligibility of persons who want to operate in the broadcasting industry along with that which is situated in the parent Act.
The Chairman said, “The parent Act is just half of the story. When we get the regulations in place we will now have the complete story and then we will turn our attention to examining those persons who have applied for broadcast licences be it for radio, television or cable and we will be examining those who are reapplying.”
Sobers said that there are currently a number of persons who are operating in the broadcast industry without valid licences. “Their licences have expired because (licences) are issued on an annual basis; so all those Broadcasters who have expired licences will have to reapply.”
The Chairman said that there are some television, radio and cable broadcasters who are holding expired licences. “This is the case in all sections but not everybody; there are some who are in that position.”
Sobers said that when GNBA addresses those broadcasters the authority will be equipped with the regulations that will be used to measure who should be reissued licences and who should be told no. “You must understand that the guidelines are in the regulations.”
The regulations spoken about by Sobers were touted by the previous GNBA Board which was chaired by Leonard Craig. That Board had claimed that it had completed a draft regulation document that it submitted to the Attorney General’s Office to be fine tuned and eventually gazetted.
But nothing ever came out of it. It is now unclear whether this Board started to draft new regulations or if it is continuing with that which was created by the previous Board.
The previous GNBA Board was plagued by discord and as a result accomplished very little or nothing at all. But, the work and expectation of any GNBA is huge. Former President Bharrat Jagdeo had issued several radio licences to his friends and family just days before existing office.
The Board, as promised by the APNU+AFC, was supposed to address the “illegal” licences and regularize the industry.

 

April 23, 2017

Irresponsible broadcasters will not go unpunished – GNBA Chairman

By Abena Rockcliffe- Campbell
Chairman of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) Leslie Sobers is putting Broadcasters on notice that the Authority will not be encouraging the continuous broadcasting of inappropriate content.

He made this assertion during a recent interview with Kaieteur News. The attorney at law said that broadcasting content will be examined as a prerequisite for relicensing of radio, television and cable stations.
“We are keenly monitoring what is going on the airways. They are some who feel they can play as they please, and say whatever they please on our national airways. They want to air all kinds of videos, some of which are intended to create racial disharmony or others that are corrupting public morals.”
The Chairman said that all infractions are being noted. He said that the Authority is compiling a dossier of the infractions “and when the relicensing period comes we will include that in the decision making process.”
“So you did all of this over the past year and now you are coming to be relicenced? Well we do not think you are a fit and proper person to have a licence in this country anymore.” That is what some broadcasters will be told.”
He continued, “So when you see them masquerading out there and they believe GNBA is doing nothing; they are wrong. We are waiting very quietly, because when the right time comes and we show them the file they cannot deny, because we are recoding what they are saying. It is only a matter of time.”
Recently Kaieteur News published that there are several broadcasters currently operating without valid licences. Sobers was quoted saying that the Authority is looking to arm itself with the relevant legislation to govern the actions that it wants to take.
The Chairman said that the Board continues to work tirelessly to complete regulations to govern the broadcasting industry. He noted that the regulations being worked on are going to become law.
Sobers said that the regulations will set out the terms and conditions under which the Authority will be measuring the eligibility of persons who want to operate in the broadcasting industry, along with that which is situated in the parent Act.
Sobers said that there are currently a number of persons who are operating in the broadcast industry – television, radio and cable – without valid licences. “Their licences have expired because (licences) are issued on an annual basis; so all those Broadcasters who have expired licences will have to reapply.”
Sobers said that when GNBA addresses those broadcasters, the authority will be equipped with the regulations that will be used to measure who should be reissued licences and who should be told no. “You must understand that the guidelines are in the regulations.”
The regulations spoken about by Sobers were touted by the previous GNBA Board which was chaired by Leonard Craig. That Board had claimed that it had completed a draft regulation document that it submitted to the Attorney General’s Office to be fine tuned and eventually gazetted. But nothing ever came out of it.
It is now unclear whether this Board started to draft new regulations or if it is continuing with that which was created by the previous Board. The previous GNBA Board was plagued by discord and as a result accomplished very little or nothing at all. But, the work and expectation of any GNBA is huge.
In what was deemed to be a highly controversial move, former President Bharrat Jagdeo had issued a number of radio licences just days before exiting office. The Board, as promised by the APNU+AFC coalition, was supposed to address those “illegal” licences and regularize the industry.

 

April 25, 2017

Way paved for Govt’s new broadcast legislations

Chairman of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA), Leslie Sobers, yesterday handed over, to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, the advice for the new regulations to better enforce provisions of the

broadcasting authority.
According to the Prime Minister’s office, Nagamootoo, who has the portfolio responsibility for broadcasting, is expected to complete the new regulations and lay them in the National Assembly.
Consultations on the broadcasting regulations started some time ago and have now been concluded.
The advice would be crucial as officials have pointed out a number of deficiencies in the past especially with regards to enforcement.
Attention is being paid to the GNBA and its activities as there were questions when the Bharrat Jagdeo administration in 2011 approved several radio and cable licences to close friends and associates.
Some of the frequencies even went to the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).
Several prominent media houses were overlooked, including Kaieteur News and Stabroek News, for radio licences.
The granting of those licences was done despite a standing agreement until new broadcast laws were in effect and an authority in place.
The approval by Jagdeo was done a few weeks before he ended his constitutional two terms in office.
Several broadcasters have since been found to be in breach of the current regulations.

 

May 11, 2017

$1.3B Fibre Optic Cable scrapped – Hughes

After months of conducting a series of inspections, the government is made to face the stark reality that like the Skeldon Sugar Factory, the Fibre Optic Cable from Lethem to Georgetown is just another humpty-dumpty.
This is according to Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes.
The Minister said that Government was optimistic about salvaging the cable. She said that even when checks were done and it was discovered that the cable was in a horrible state, there was still hope.
The Telecommunications Minister noted however those money that were allocated to repair the cable will have to go elsewhere.
Hughes told Kaieteur News that Government tried its best to save the $1.3B initiative but given its atrocious state, spending another cent would constitute a grave sin against hardworking taxpayers.
Hughes said, “We had to scrap this project. And it is frustrating to me and it is disappointing that here we have another project that has turned out to be nothing but a complete waste of taxpayers’ moneys. It is sickening.”
Hughes reminded that $240M was budgeted to resuscitate the troubled Fibre Optic Cable Project. She explained that $140 million was allocated to consolidate, monitor, maintain and extend the existing eGovernment Fibre Optic and LTE Network around Georgetown and along the coast from Moleson Creek to Charity.
Government had set aside $100 M to repair and upgrade the Georgetown–Linden Fibre Optic Cable, Hughes said.
She recalled that this project was abandoned by the previous Administration after it had spent over $1B.   Hughes said that the lack of a feasibility study, poor planning, absence of effective project management and the use of inexperienced contractors are some of the major factors that led to the failure of this project.
Hughes said that Government will move to correct all this so that the people of Guyana, regardless of their socio-economic status or remoteness will be digitally connected and socially included.
The Parliamentarian asserted that the strengthening of the eGovernment system is critical in imparting added value to processes that characterize good governance.
She said that improved connectivity within government will permit joint planning and assessment resulting in Government’s business processes becoming more efficient.
Minister Hughes noted that the eGovernment expansion will also serve to facilitate connectivity between Government and citizens thereby strengthening accountability, connectivity between government and citizens and connectivity between and within communities’ thereby building social cohesion and economic development.

 

May 22, 2017

Chinese Company does not want to pay full amount owed on GTT shares – Prime Minister

– Reminds Guyana about drawbacks of pursuing litigation

By Kiana Wilburg

The Chinese company that owes Guyana US$5M on the controversial GTT shares is not interested in clearing the debt in full. Hong Kong Golden Telecom Company (HKGT), the company that bought Government’s shares in GTT, wants to pay a reduced amount.
This is according to Prime Minister and First Vice President, Moses Nagamootoo.
The Parliamentarian said that a delegation from the Hong Kong Company was in Guyana and they acknowledged that the US$5M is owed.
The Prime Minister said that the Hong Kong team held talks with NICIL and they placed on the table, an offer to pay “x amount.”
The First Vice President said that while he does not know the exact offer, it is not the full amount.
“It is a reduced amount on the grounds that they were offered senior shares in the company. This was a side agreement with the previous government. I understand that the negotiation was near breaking point. NICIL representatives insisted that they wanted the full amount.”
Nagamootoo, a seasoned lawyer, said that he asked the team if they had an addendum to the contract or something written to support the claims of a side agreement.
“But they didn’t answer that,” the First Vice President added. He noted however that the team will be returning to Guyana soon.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister reminded that the contract regarding the controversial GTT shares had stipulated that any arbitration or court proceedings as regards the agreement should be done in England.

“The company’s fallback position is that if you had to go to trial, it will cost the Guyana government US$1.5 to take lawyers and so on and the court could make a judgment that would give them time. Therefore they are saying we are offering you upfront now. You don’t have to spend a lot of money and we can pay you as quickly as possible.”
The Prime Minister said that the company is of the realization that “Guyana needs money” but his “private feeling” is that the costs to pursue the case should not deter Guyana from going after what it is rightfully owed.
“You can’t possibly approach the matter this way (thinking) that litigation may cost you. We could very well win the case and the court could award in favour of us.”
Additionally, Nagamootoo is of the belief, that since the company is based out of China, there will be an inclination to “deal fairly” with Guyana.
He said that the companies from China would be under an obligation to “deal fairly with third world countries.” He said that “China wants to help countries like Guyana.”
“In official circles it would not look favourably trying to cut corners with a poor country. They would come under more pressure than us to pay up.”
It was last year that the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited announced that Guyana would be pursuing the route of arbitration in the United Kingdom in hopes of recovering the outstanding US$5M from the sale of Government’s shares in GTT.
This was according to Head of NICIL, Horace James.
James had said, “We are in the process of executing all the relief measures that are in the sales agreement in order for us to get it back. We have engaged our lawyers in the USA, and we are using the lawyer who was involved in the sales agreement process and who helped us to draft the agreement.”
“They recommended a company in the United Kingdom to help us in the arbitration whenever that time comes and when we are going there.”
The NICIL officer added, “It is important that we use a UK company because the arbitration will be held in London.”
James said that NICIL is not only going after the recovery of the US$5M, but also interest costs, legal fees, the signatory for the agreement and even the person who guaranteed it.
“So that process has started, and our lawyers have presented all the issues concerning the shares and said that it is a very good chance that we could get back the money.”

MYSTERY DOCUMENTS
James was reminded that Minister Joseph Harmon, who is also a NICIL director, had brought back some documents from his infamous China trip which he received from Hong Kong Golden Telecom Company (HKGT), the company that bought Government’s shares in GTT.
In this regard, he confirmed that Harmon indeed submitted such documents.
When Kaieteur News asked to see the document submitted by Harmon, James declined to share it, stating that it might be used as part of the arbitration proceedings.

INITIAL ARRANGEMENT
It was in 2012 that NICIL sold the Government’s investment in GTT for US$30M of which the sum of US$25M was received. The balance, US$5M, was to be paid within two years.
But there have been conflicting stories since that initial arrangement.
At one point, the nation was told that Guyana’s former Ambassador to China, David Dabydeen, facilitated a debt write-off to HKGT.
HKGT is a subsidiary of Datang Telecom International Technology (Hong Kong) Company Limited.
Kaieteur News understands that the purchase agreement between the Chinese company and Guyana was framed in such a manner that in the event of any legal issue, Guyana or HKGT would have to petition the United Kingdom courts.
NICIL had said that in an attempt to avoid costly and lengthy adjudication of the matter in the English Courts, it called on the government to encourage HKGT, through diplomatic channels, to honour its contractual obligations.
NICIL said that HKGT alleged that following a series of communications with the former Guyana Ambassador to China, HKGT was assured that it was not required to pay the balance of US$5M.
This was because HKGT had not been granted the same minority protection rights enjoyed by NICIL—that is, two representatives, instead of one, on the GT&T Board of Directors. HKGT alleged that it was initially promised two seats by the then Government of Guyana.
NICIL said that HKGT also alleged that the decision to waive the US$5M was contained in a side agreement.
NICIL noted that it has not been able to verify HKGT’s claim of waiver and has requested the assistance of the Government of Guyana to verify the validity of HKGT’s assertion and the documents they produced to support same.

 

August 01, 2017

Broadcast amendment Bill addressing illegally granted radio licences is finally here

By Abena Rockcliffe- Campbell
The Broadcast (amendment) Bill 2017, which addresses all existing broadcasting licences,

has been laid in the National Assembly.
The Bill was tabled in the name of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo. Nagamootoo was one who had promised to reclaim the valuable resource belonging to the people of Guyana but which he said was given away.
Essentially, this move is a fulfillment of a campaign promise to the people of Guyana, he said.
After the Bill is passed in the National Assembly and assented to by President David Granger all broadcasters, radio and television alike, will have to reapply for licences under the new regulations and provisions stipulated in the Bill.
Section 9 (1) of the Bill states, “Every person carrying on a broadcasting service immediately before the commencement of this Act for which a licence had been previously issued shall apply within thirty days of the commencement of this Act for a licence in accordance with the provisions of the Principal Act as amended by this Act for the continuation of the broadcasting service.”
The piece of legislation has been long awaited. The Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) has long been looking for a way to address the radio licences that were issued by former President Bharrat Jagdeo a short while before demitting Office in 2011. But the previous Board failed to get any real work done on this front due to internal discord.
In 2016, the then Board of the GNBA headed by Leonard Craig, said that it had explicitly and unanimously decided that former President Bharrat Jagdeo illegally distributed resources “belonging to the people of Guyana” when he granted radio licences to his friends and family in 2011.
On the grounds of such a consensus, the Board decided that it must and will make moves to make those licences null and void.
Craig said that the Board is cognizant that the issue regarding the licences issued by Jagdeo, shortly before demitting office and prior to the coming into force of the current Broadcasting Act No. 17 of 2011 has attracted the greatest interest relative to the Board’s function.
Craig pointed out that the licences have been arbitrarily issued to persons and entities with close ties to decision maker and without regard to prior existing applications.
Craig said that Jagdeo’s decision would have pre-empted the application of the Broadcasting Act which was already assented to but was awaiting a date to come into operation. He said that the operationalization of the Act was entirely within the authority of Jagdeo who held the portfolio of Minister of Information as provided for by Section 1 of the Broadcast Act.
Former GNBA Director Abiola Wong-Inniss has spoken about the intricacies surrounding the matter. She said that the Board was looking for a foolproof way to address the issue. Wong- Inniss reiterated that the radio spectrum belongs to the people of Guyana.
It is the belief of the Board that the distribution process used by Jagdeo, or the lack thereof, made the licences vulnerable and subjected to challenges, she added.
It was later announced that the GNBA found the formulation of new regulations and provisions to be the best way of addressing the issue. In that way everyone will have to reapply to come under the new umbrella.
Among the 11 persons and entities receiving permission to run radio stations back in 2011 are Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, Jagdeo’s best friend; the Mirror Newspaper, which belongs to the former ruling party; and Telcor Cultural and Broadcasting Inc.
The three received five frequencies each giving them countrywide control of the radio airwaves.
Currently, PPP is operating one of its frequencies.
Former Minister of Natural Resources, Robert Persaud relinquished ownership of iRadio 90.1 Love FM. Persaud sold to Ansa McAl-owned Guardian Media Group.

 

August 04, 2017

Media operators voice concerns over Broadcast Bill

Several media operators’- particularly representatives of Channel 93 – are highly concerned about some of the measures outlined in the Broadcast (Amendment) Bill 2017.
MBC Media, which is an agency that claims to represent Channel 93 and a consortium of Television and media operators, recently sent out a statement to this effect.
The release indicated that a number of media proprietors and operators met on Monday last to discuss the potential ramifications of the Broadcast (Amendment) Bill 2017.
The legislation was recently tabled in the National Assembly by Prime Minister & First Vice President, Moses Nagamootoo.
MBC Media said that the primary concerns of media owners are the negative impact it could have on sustainability of operations with regard to the licensing fee structure, the imposition on property and the infringement on the freedom to determine broadcast content.
MBC Media said that it is in the process of writing the Prime Minister Nagamootoo seeking an audience to engage and make the concerns of broadcasters known.
“Having been made aware that the Bill could be passed before the end of the week, the group is urging that it be deferred until meaningful consultations can be held.”
MBC Media said that none of the Broadcasters that are now concerned about the provisions of the Bill were consulted during the preparation of the Bill. Therefore they are now hoping that the authorities would afford the opportunity before the piece of legislation is passed. MBC Media believes “that the impact on freedom, livelihood and jobs compels the decency of having consultations with the allowance for inputs.”
The entity said that having examined the proposed Bill, “there are concerns of constitutionality of which clarification is being sought.” The body said that media owners are of the firm belief that the meeting requested and its call for a deferral would provide opportunities for key matters to be raised.
MBC Media is hoping that “in the interest of democracy and freedom of expression, the authorities would understand the magnitude of the impact the Bill in its current form could have on the future of television and radio broadcasting in Guyana. As such, the desire is for a Bill that can be reached through consensus.”
The explanatory memorandum of the Broadcast (Amendment) Bill 2017 says that it amends the Broadcasting Act 2011 to introduce three classes of broadcasting services, namely: commercial, non-commercial and community classes; and three types of broadcasting zones, namely, primary, secondary and tertiary broadcasting zones.
The Bill provides for public service programmes, the prohibition of programmes containing hate speech. It addresses an international agreement for broadcasting any channel or programme as part of the local service.
Clause Two of the Bill amends the Principal Act to clarify the definition of broadcasting service and gives a definition of public service broadcast.
Clause Three, in the inserted section 21A (1), provides for the classes of broadcasting services, namely, commercial, non-commercial and community classes. It provides for the eligibility of persons for the grant of a licence in respect of any class and mentions the programmes which a licensee of a community class broadcasting service shall provide.
The inserted section 21B provides for the broadcasting zones, namely the primary, secondary and tertiary broadcasting zones. There are one primary zone, four secondary zones and three tertiary zones. A licensee may be granted an amendment to his broadcasting licence to include one or more zones.
Clause four substitutes a new section for section 22 in the Principal Act dealing with form of application for licences and payment of fees. While Clause five amends the Principal Act to insert four new sections, sections 39A to 39D.
Section 39A provides for every broadcasting agency to broadcast public service programmes. Section 39B exhorts non-publication of programmes containing hate speech and racial incitement or terror threats. Section 39C provides for audited accounts. Section 39D deals with international agreement for broadcasting any channel or programme as part of our local service.
Clause Six of the Bill amends section 40 of the principal Act relating to the payment of fees. The applicant for a licence shall pay the fees provided for in the Second Schedule.
Clause Seven in the inserted section 49 empowers the Minister by Regulations subject to negative resolution of the National Assembly to amend the First and Second Schedules while Clause eight inserts the First and Second Schedules in the Principal Act.
Clause nine of the Bill deals with persons carrying on broadcasting services immediately before the commencement of this Act. It states that every person carrying on a broadcasting service immediately before the commencement of this Act has to apply for a broadcasting service licence. Clause 10 provides for the revocation of the Broadcasting Regulations 2014.

 

August 19, 2017

Broadcast Amendment Bill unconstitutional – GNBA Member

Even though the Government is insisting that there is no turning back regarding the Broadcast Amendment Bill, it appears that this crucial document did not receive the blessings of all the members of the Guyana National Broadcasting

Authority board (GNBA).
This was indicated to the media yesterday via a missive that was disseminated by Opposition Member, Bibi Shadick.
She said, “While I am a board member, I do not in any way back the broadcasting bill. I was appointed to the board after a delay of more than two months during which time, the other members were involved in drafting recommendations for regulations to the Broadcasting Act 2011, which recommendations the Prime Minister (Moses Nagamootoo) claims he used as the basis for the infamous amendments to the Act.”
Shadick said that she even considers the amendments of the Bill to be “unconstitutional.” As a member of the Board, she stressed that she was not involved in making any recommendations.
“In fact, it is my belief that my appointment to the Board was deliberately delayed for the period during which the recommendations were being drafted.”
The Opposition member said that at a recent meeting, which the Prime Minister attended, the GNBA Board was not asked to nor did it express it’s “backing” for the amendments to the Broadcast Bill as suggested in other sections of the media.
The People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) had also indicated that it will be challenging the Broadcast (Amendment) Bill in the court. Former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall who spoke on this matter, did not say exactly when the PPP will file this challenge. However, he did explain some of the grounds on which the challenge will be made.
“One, that when it (the Bill) terminates the licenses, it confiscates private property without payment of compensation as is guaranteed by Article 142 (of Guyana’s Constitution).”
Further, Nandlall said that the provisions in the Bill also take away ‘Freedom of the Press’ because people stand the chance of not being able to broadcast again.
Thirdly, he said that the Bill does not guarantee a reissuance of the broadcast license and fourthly, does not guarantee that the reissuance of the license will have the same spectrum reach. “All of that is also deprivation of property as well as the constitutional right of Freedom of the Press.”
The Opposition’s position on the Bill has received the support of many, one of which includes the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI). In a statement to the media, the business body called on President David Granger to not assent to the Bill in its current format, but instead, suggest that it be sent to a Select Committee.
The GCCI said that it took this position following consultations with several members of the Chamber that are in the media industry. The private sector body said that there are two particularly contentious portions of the Bill.
“The first is Section 9 (1) which reads, “Every person carrying on a broadcasting service immediately before the commencement of this Act, for which a licence had been previously issued, shall apply within thirty days of the commencement of this Act for a licence in accordance with the provisions of the Principal Act as amended by this Act for the continuation of the broadcasting service.”
Interpreting the section, the GCCI said that the language used creates an abrupt process which could see some broadcasters and entrepreneurs having to wind up their operations within an unreasonable amount of time and could possibly lead to abuse.
“Some of these entrepreneurs have invested into equipment and have bank debt securing their investment; therefore they would need a more reasonable timeframe and an appeals process that will allow for fairness in the process.”
Further, the GCCI said that the second section of the Bill that sparked concern is in the First Schedule which reads, “Every broadcasting agency shall broadcast public service programmes in the following manner – (a) for a total of up to sixty minutes per day; (b) between 6:00 hrs. and 22:00 hrs; and (c) free of cost.”
The Chamber said that the ‘Freedom of Expression’ is a guaranteed right by the Constitution of Guyana and those broadcasters once licensed can be seen as public trustees of the spectrum granted.
“Therefore to require an intrusion, with Government chosen programming violates this notion of Freedom of Expression.”
In addition to appealing to the President not to assent to the Bill, the GCCI asked that the Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, holds consultations with stakeholders in the industry and consider amending the language in the bill so that it is more amenable to the many variegated views.

 

August 21, 2017

Controversial broadcast legislation essentially a done deal

There is hardly any likelihood that Government would recall recently passed broadcast legislations.
Despite being passed earlier this month in the National Assembly, the Broadcast (Amendment) Bill 2017 is not being allowed to be easily signed off by President David Granger, making it law.

This is because the Opposition and a number of broadcasters, including television and radio stations, have objected to new, tougher measures to ensure they toe the line.
Speaking at the post-Cabinet press briefing on Friday at the NCN studios, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, made it clear that consultations were held.
While admitting there could be questions about the quality of consultations, he said that unless there are some “egregious” findings that the legislations passed by the National Assembly are not in keeping with the law, it is highly unlikely that it can be withdrawn at this time.
Already, the legislations have been sent to the Attorney General, Minister Basil Williams, who will then forward to the President for his assent.
According to Harmon, the administration has a policy of consultations on any legislation that is to come before the House for debate.
The Broadcast Bill was subjected to that type of consultations, he stressed.
Earlier this month, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) described the legislation as a flawed amendment to a law that was flawed in the first place.
Joining calls for President Granger to hold off on signing the legislation into law, the business body said it has noted the increasing concerns over the passage of the legislations.
“The Bill will now amend the Broadcast Bill 2011 which itself, though it did not invite much public attention at its passing, is, in the opinion of the Commission, far from adequate in a number of critical aspects in delivering a Broadcasting Authority and Law meeting certain fundamental provisions for administering and regulating broadcasting in our country,” PSC said.
PSC had joined a number of local and international bodies that have been calling for the bill not to be signed.
The Guyana Press Association, too, among other bodies, criticized the bill, warning against measures to force television and radio stations to air public service advertisements as an abuse of authority.
Also criticizing the bill and the lack of consultations were the respected International Press Institute and Reporters Without Borders.
The Opposition has since announced it is legally challenging the bill.
According to the PSC, the previous Bill of 2011 had established a Broadcasting Authority, entirely composed of persons appointed solely by the President, completely compromising the independence of the authority.
“The precedent has long been set in the United Kingdom, Canada and the majority of Commonwealth Countries and in the USA, to ensure that, even though Broadcasting Authorities are appointed by the government, in practice there is extensive and widespread consultation with the political opposition and civil society as to their composition.”
The business advocacy body said that this new bill “offensively” provides for the cancellation of all current broadcasting licences in place immediately before the commencement of the Act, forcing operating licencees out of business with no option but to reapply for a licence in a totally unreasonable period of time.
“The Commission wishes to point out that these licences were issued under the law, however bad the law, to broadcasters who have made considerable investment and accepted in good faith that they will not be arbitrarily cancelled without cause.”
In fact, the Amendment to the Broadcast Bill has been introduced by the government without any serious prior consultation with Broadcast Licencees, never mind public hearings.
“The Commission finds this to be totally unacceptable and a complete departure from internationally accepted norm and practice.”
PSC noted that the amendment of the Broadcast Bill also, again without any consultation, provides for the Broadcasting Authority to enforce the provision of broadcasting time on licencees of a minimum of one hour per day at times which include prime time commercial broadcasts for the purpose of “public service programmes”, whatever that may be, entirely at the discretion of the Prime Minister who, in any event, has ultimate direction over broadcasting content under the 2011 Bill.
Attention was placed on the issue of television, cable and radio licences after it became known in 2011 that former President Bharrat Jagdeo issued several to close friends and party members, at the same time sidelining established media houses.
Despite tough laws, a number of broadcasters were reportedly breaching requirements, including paying fees on a timely manner.
Already, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who has responsibilities for broadcasting in the country, has met with the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority, requesting updates on operators who are in breach.

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Read also about:

• The Tale of Bharrat Jagdeo and his best friend Bobby Ramroop

• The Berbice Bridge Scheme

• The Sanata Complex Giveaway

• The Marriott Scheme

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