With crippling financial losses suffered during the past month that he has been off the air, CN Sharma says the suspension is beginning to resemble a nightmare for him and his staff.
On Mother’s Day alone Sharma said he lost close to $1M that would have been earned from paid programmes, greetings and advertising and with Carifesta approaching he opines that the station stands to lose a substantial amount outside of its monthly revenue. Sharma’s licence was suspended for four months by President Bharrat Jagdeo because of a threat that was made against the President and rebroadcast.
“When I said that the President was trying to cripple me financially I meant every word, this is punishment to me and my staff that I am still paying full salaries but maybe not for long,” Sharma said from his office at Robb Street yesterday.
To cushion the four-month blow Sharma has kept his doors opened and he is doing a fraction of the business he once did; handling a few death announcements, messages and birthday greetings that are aired daily on WRHM 89 between 7:30-8:30 pm. He has also retained his staff numbering around 40 persons but according to him, another month into the suspension could result in him cutting out a fair number of persons.
Though the majority of his staff has pledged to stay on until the suspension ends, Sharma said, the realistic picture points to something different given that his staff also have bills to pay and families to feed. He believes that if their salaries are cut many may have to find something to do in the interim.
Since the suspension, he said, a number of local business persons have assisted financially in addition to a few individuals. Sharma pointed out that the banks have also shown leniency and agreed to put his mortgage payments on hold until the suspension is over.
“There is still much to be grateful for and I am. I thank the people who come down here to see me even though I can’t put them on TV and all those who call and ask how things going. I am happy too for the assistance,” Sharma stated.
He said the life has been sucked out of many programmes that were regularly aired on CNS Channel 6, adding that many persons who enjoyed airtime through him are still struggling to find time at other stations.
Sharma pointed to programmes such as ‘Good Morning Guyana’ though he noted that this particular programme has been aired a few times since he has been closed down.
Among other programmes that are affected are the ‘Cook-up Show’ with Allan Fenty; ‘Lonely Hearts’ with Dr. Love; ‘Slingers Entertainment Hour’; ‘Digicel Music Hour’ and several religious programmes.
Sharma noted that his death announcements and birthday greetings in addition to ‘Voice of the People’ are the programmes the public keeps clamouring for. He currently has a programme called ‘Voice of CN Sharma’ that airs every Monday and Wednesday from 3-4 pm on HBTV Channel 9.
He stated further that a quick glance at death announcements indicate that they are now scattered across the other stations. He added that his death announcements reflected a wide cross-section of the population.
Sharma added that there is not much he can do right now but await the outcome of a pending court decision that is expected later this month in the High Court.
He said that based on what the court finds then he would be able to make a decision about what happens for the next three months.
A few of Sharma’s employees who gathered around during the interview said they show up every day for work but there is not much to do anymore. They said it is a different Channel 6 now.
“This place is like a ghost town, nothing like before when people keep popping in every minute and you are working for hours upon hours. We come to work these days and we are depressed,” a female staff said.
Another staff asked, “What is there not to be depressed about – we may have to endure three more months of this?”
