Why BBC and not Maha Sabha?

THE EDITOR: The decision to issue 13 new FM radio licences by Public Administration Minister Dr Lenny Saith (Newsday July 8, p 5) that resulted in the second rejection of the application of the Maha Sabha/Central Radio establishes a worrying and dangerous precedent in democratic TT. The decision constitutes a violation by the Executive of the recent judgment delivered by Mr Justice Carlton Best in giving credence to the Maha Sabha’s constitutional motion that the Government was guilty of discrimination in not granting a radio licence to the largest Hindu organisation. Equality in diversity has been flushed down the drains. How often will the executive in the future ignore the judgments of the Judiciary, including the Appeal Courts in discrimination motions?

Will individual redress and reliefs sought for the violations of the State against human rights and fundamental freedoms as enshrined in our 1976 Constitution continue to be sought from our Courts when the State ignores its decisions? The role of the Courts as the arbiter of last resort against discriminatory-based State conduct has been diminished and vandalised by the last of licensees. The radio lacence issue highlights the need for the adoption of a policy/regime on multi-culturalism as the only viable alternative to achieving fairness and equality in Trinbago. The current regime for issuing broadcast licences accords precedence to individualism and commercial fronts over and above the compelling need to recognise religious/cultural organisations that underpin our cosmopolitanism.

I find it quite puzzling and amazing that having regard to the criteria applied by the Technical Committee in awarding licences, that the BBC has been awarded a licence but not the Maha Sabha. Additionally, at least two licensees who were awarded previously and sold these licences at great profit have now been granted additional licences under different commercial incarnations. Are we encouraging and developing an illegal trade in media licences? What can the BBC contribute to “TT’s identity and culture” as well as to “the requirements of the various interest groups in TT?” I submit that the Maha Sabha/Radio Central constitutes the largest religious/cultural interest group in TT and is best poised and qualified to “contribute to the development of TT’s identity and culture” if we can agree on the principal elements of that identity and culture. Who said: “We have a special responsibility to cherish our diversity?”

STEPHEN KANGAL
Caroni