Chairman of the Region Ten Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Sharma Solomon and Vice-Chairman of main opposition APNU Dr Rupert Roopnaraine say the region’s television station should become a reality in the next three weeks.
Contacted yesterday, both Solomon and Roopnaraine confirmed that arrangements are being put in place to bring to fruition this commitment and others that were part of an agreement brokered to end unrest in Linden. From July 18, there was a more than month-long protest in the town, which was heightened by the fatal shooting of protestors and led to a choking off of the interior communities which depended on the road link.
As part of the August 21 pact signed between the region and the government, it was agreed that the dish and transmitter that were given to the Linden Community will be given to the RDC. It was also agreed that the dish and transmitter should be transferred to the region within 14 days of the signing of the agreement. Further, it was agreed that the region will apply for a broadcasting licence and the government will facilitate the granting of that licence.
“We are working to get the television station in the next three weeks,” said Roopnaraine yesterday. “In relation to the other television [channels being seen in Linden], some arrangement will have to be made to get repeaters to [relay] those signals into Linden. This is being worked on,” he said.
For his part, Solomon said there should be significant movement on the issue by this week. “We are already moving to source either solely or in partnership with persons who have an interest in this [venture]. The RDC will put in place a management committee to manage the station,” he said.
Solomon added that the Land Selection Committee, which was also addressed by the agreements with the government, will come up at the RDC’s next statutory meeting, which is scheduled for Thursday. He said that at the meeting the composition and legal reach of the committee will be examined “in relation to how we deal with the distribution of land.”
The government and the region had agreed to the establishment of a Region Ten Regional Land Selection Committee, which will comprise the Regional Chairman, who chairs the Committee, the NDC Chairman, the Head of the Regional Department of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission and representatives from the various parties represented in the RDC in keeping with the results of the last regional elections.
This committee had been given a timeline of two weeks.
The parties had also agreed that Region Ten will develop modalities to work closely with the relevant ministries and the communities of Linden and Region 10 “to ensure that there is better communication, knowledge and involvement with regard to investments and land developments in Region 10.”
Roopnaraine said that on the other aspects of the agreement “we are looking quite good.” He said that a location has been identified for the two technical committees to meet. One of these committees is looking at the proposed electricity tariffs for Linden and the other looking at development projects and other activities for the community’s economic revival. “I see no obstacles in getting these teams up and running,” he said.
