Funding has been made available for the setting up of the Inter-Religious Television (IRTV) channel dedicated to broadcasting religious programmes on a 24-hour basis and it is expected to begin operation within weeks, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported on Friday.
President Bharrat Jagdeo met members of the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO) at the Office of the President on Friday and Bishop Juan Edghill, a member of the IRO, made the disclosure to GINA after the meeting.
Edghill said he was not at liberty to disclose the size of the fund but efforts are being made to ensure coverage is as expansive as possible.
Jagdeo had made a commitment since 2005 for the establishment of a channel solely for this purpose and in January this year the IRO had agreed to the setting up of a board of directors, and had crafted a model for equitable distribution of air time among the various bodies.
GINA stated that many religious leaders see the channel as a medium and a tool to fortify the very important role religious organisations have been playing in Guyana for peace, harmony, tolerance and the voice of moral authority.
It will be the first such channel to be broadcasting in Guyana coming on the heels of the Education channel that was launched in April to revolutionise the delivery of education, GINA added.
