Recently sold iRadio to come under scrutiny – Minister Harmon
By Abena Rockcliffe
The new government will not take into consideration the recent sale of iRadio when it begins a review of a number of controversially obtained radio licenses that were handed out to family and friends of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) during that party’s tenure of governance.
This was made clear yesterday by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, who was always vocal about the “unfair” distribution of radio licenses by former President, Bharrat Jagdeo a few days before he demitted office.
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 new iRadio owner has already begun advertising for a General Manager to run the operations.
But the review of all radio licences that is on its way may very well spell problems for this deal.
Among the 11 persons and entities receiving permission to run radio stations back in 2011were Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, Former President Bharrat 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.
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.
Yesterday, Harmon said that all licenses will be reviewed. He made it clear that there will be absolutely no exceptions.
He added that very soon, the government will ensure the return of the Telecommunication legislation that was taken to the National Assembly during the life of the Tenth Parliament.
The Minister of State said that that Bill will help to correct many wrongs.
Speaking specifically on the recent sale, Harmon told Kaieteur News that “Clearly, if these licences are going to be reviewed, this sale may be quite problematic.”
Harmon said that his government will look into whether a license holder can just pass the license over to another party given all that is required for one to get a licence in the first place including the 51 per cent requirement.
Further, the Minister expressed no sympathy or any form of relent for the possible revocation of the license. “Enough notice has been given.”
Harmon recalled the many protests against the unfair distribution some of which he himself attended. He also recalled the fact that the APNU and the AFC, both separately and as a coalition, noted that the controversially granted licences will be reviewed and some may be revoked.
“No one can claim ignorance of this as it was well reported in the media. I maintain that enough notice has been given” said Harmon.
He added, “The person in whose hand the licences now sit must be credited with knowledge of the concerns we raised since 2013 while we were in opposition.
Indeed the new government, while in opposition, had spoken extensively about its disapproval of the manner in which the licenses were distributed.
Local and international media bodies and local diplomats had all been applying pressure on the Donald Ramotar government to review and even recall the licenses until a review is done on how they were issued in the first place.
The details of the licences only came to light after AFC demanded answers in the National Assembly. The answers were provided earlier this year, immediately sparking street protests by established, private media houses which were ignored by Jagdeo. Harmon had said, “The resources of a country are not the personal property of the President or anybody. This is a national resource. It is not within your (Jagdeo) power to share it out to your friends…”
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, a former Minister of Information in the Cheddi Jagan administration, also spoke on the monopoly over state media.
During the last election campaign, he highlighted what the consequence has been to the nation, owing to the Government’s “misuse” of the state media. He promised that should his government come to power, the state media would be liberated and that questionable frequency transactions 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.”