Suspended television licence reinstated

Some nine years after its television licence was suspended, the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) has approved the application for a licence from Community Broadcasting Network Inc.
In a statement on Saturday, GBNA said its Board made the decision to grant the television licence to the company, headed by Vidya Narayan-Lewis, following consultations with the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU).
It was explained that Narayan-Lewis had applied for a licence in 1998 and was granted verbal approval to operate in 1999. However, her operations existed for only seven years after she was asked to cease transmission in 2007.
According to the GNBA, since then she has been persistent in her efforts to resume television transmission, but to no avail.
“Legal action was taken against the previous administration in November of 2014 following the issuance of licences in 2011 by then President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo. The frequency she utilised for the seven years (Channel 27-Cable 78), was allocated to the Chinese (CCTV) during the 2011 allocations,” the broadcasting body stated.
During the legal proceedings, the High Court, after examining the case, had ordered and declared that the applicant is entitled to be issued a broadcasting licence under section 18 (1) of the 2011 Broadcasting Act.
On this note, the current Board of the GNBA had examined Narayan-Lewis’ application and have determined that it satisfies all the necessary requirements to obtain a television licence.
The NFMU, GNBA asserted, has also expressed no objection to a frequency being assigned to the Community Broadcasting Network Inc.
According to the State broadcasting agency, the Community Broadcasting Network Inc is currently in the process of obtaining its television licence.