Dear Editor,
Does the National Communications Network have a policy regarding the rebroadcasting of programmes, especially those that are produced right here in Berbice? For two nights in a row, at the same time-slot, we were being shown the commissioning of the water-treatment plant at Corriverton. The same thing happened a few weeks ago when a programme about contracts being signed on the Corentyne was aired for two nights in a row during the same prime time-slot.
Now, we all know the prime time-slot is a much-coveted period on any TV channel due to the large number of viewers believed to be watching television. Then what is the real aim of NCN Berbice showing the same programme repeatedly during the same prime-time periods when they could be rebroadcast in the mornings or afternoons?
Why not rent the DVDs to the general public? If the people want to watch the president and minister commission the water treatment plant and the regional chairman sign contracts over and over, then they can freely go and either buy or borrow the DVD from NCN. It’s as simple as that.
Finally, NCN Berbice aired a graduation ceremony for a high school in Berbice on Monday evening. On the screen, there was written, “Graduation & Prize Giving Ceremory.” I telephoned the operator and brought the error (ceremory) to their attention. The operator told me that there was nothing he could do since the programme had been prepared (with graphics and all) earlier in the day. So I asked him if the error could not have been hidden or completely covered by using the computer graphics technology that I want to believe many TV stations have today. He replied in the negative.
The same programme, with the same errors, was rebroadcast the next evening around the same time. The feature address was delivered by someone who looked and sounded like University of Guyana Director Professor Daizal R. Samad, but it could not have been him since the person speaking, according to the name on the screen, was named Professor Denzil Samad.
On Sunday evening, NCN GT aired a one-page advertisement. There was not a full stop or comma in the entire advertisement, not one.
Yours faithfully,
Leon Jameson Suseran
