Veteran broadcasters among members of Broadcasting Authority board

Last Updated on Wednesday, 23 September 2015, 21:08 by GxMedia

The nine-member Board of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) has been replaced by one that includes at three broadcast professionals.

They are former Head of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) office in Jamaica, Joceylyn Josiah and veteran radio broadcasters Vic Insanally and Rovin Deodat. Local television pioneer, Anthony Vieira is also on the board. 

The others are Ameena Gafoor, Sherwood Lowe (who previously represented the then opposition on the GNBA) and Attorney-at-Law, Abiola Wong-Inniss. The opposition People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) is yet to name its representative.

Asked whether his immediate priorities would include a review of radio and television licenses handed out by former President Bharrat Jagdeo and subsequently blessed by the GNBA,  the authority’s Chairman Leonard Craig said that and other areas would have to be decided by the board.

The holder of a Masters Degree in Economics, Craig said he has not yet held transitional discussions with outgoing GNBA Chairwoman Bibi Safora Shadick. Those talks could be held next week, said Craig who described himself as an Information Technology specialist.

Vieria had sold out his interests in the broadcasting sector to Queen’s Atlantic  whose principals include Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop. Insanally founded Guyenterprise, an advertising and public relations company.

The previous members of the GNBA Board were Lowe, and then presidential nominees: Project Manager of the One Laptop Per Family Project, Margot Boyce; Captain Gerry Gouveia; former army chief, Retired Major General Norman McLean ; Head of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), Dr. Dindyal Permaul and Charles S. Ramson Jr,  then a lawyer at the Office of the President.