New GNBA Chairman wants more local content on airwaves
Newly sworn in Chairman of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Anthony Sobers said he wants to see more Guyanese-based programmes promoted on the local airwaves.
The GNBA Chairman, who is also an attorney-at-law, said he will be promoting the broadcast of more Guyanese programmes during his tenure at the Authority.
Sobers was speaking to media operatives shortly after being sworn in on Tuesday by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo at the Official Residence of the Prime Minister on Main Street.
From left: Chief Executive Office of the GNBA Dr Prudence Lewis-Bhola; Joel Edmond; Aretha Nicola Campbell; Minister of State Joseph Harmon; GNBA Chairman Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Anthony Sobers; Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo; Jocelyn Josiah; Dr Rovin Deodat; and Scheherazade Ishoof-Khan
“I believe that we should strive for quality of our airwaves, quality of programmes, balanced programmes that reflect the need of the Guyanese people and the direction in which we want to go. For too long we have been bombarded by foreign influences to the extent that we begin to lose the Guyanese identity. I strongly believe that’s one of the guiding principles I will advocate as this board moves forward,” he explained.
Sobers said he was elated that the confidence was vested in him to take up leadership of the GNBA and assured that he will work towards ensuring equal access will be afforded to all Guyanese.
“I am elated, pleased, I am humbled to be appointed chairman of the GNBA. Of course, I am a strong believer that all Guyanese must have equal access to the information infrastructure that is owned by our country. In other words, I believe that equitable access to the national information structure should be guaranteed to all Guyanese,” he said.
The five-board members are Dr Rovin Deodat, Scheherazade Ishoof-Khan, Jocelyn Josiah, Aretha Nichola Campbell and Joel Persid Edmond. One other member is to be named by the Opposition Peoples Progressive Party and will be sworn in at a later date.
During brief remarks, Prime Minister Nagamootoo congratulated and thanked the members for accepting to serve on such an important State board.
Prime Minister Nagamootoo charged the members of the board to ensure all standards are met and not to only issue licences, but also to review both future and current licence holders to ensure they are compliant with all regulations.
The GNBA’s new Board of Directors became effective from February 1, 2017 and will serve for two years ending January 2019.
Last year, then GNBA Chairman Leonard Craig resigned from his position.
