(Barbados Nation) The Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) will not be privatized and will remain a state-owned radio and television station despite its debt-ridden state, Prime Minister Freundel Stuart has affirmed.
He told Barbadians yesterday that the Pine Hill, St Michael station had been operating with an accumulated deficit that had quadrupled to over Bds$76 million by the time Government came to office three years ago, but now was not the time to restructure it.
“Let the word go forth: the Democratic Labour Party [DLP] Government established CBC as a state-owned station. The DLP Government will keep CBC as a state-owned station. Let there be no debate over that,” he said to loud desk thumping on the Government bench.
Speaking during debate in the House of Assembly on a resolution to approve a $40.6 million lifeline for CBC, Stuart added: “CBC is not, at this stage under this Government, going to be privatized. Those who wanted to do it had 14 years to do it and did not do it.”
