Government should stay away from media business

THE EDITOR: One may shed a tear or two for nostalgic reasons with the closure of the National Broadcasting Network, TT et al since TTT was the first television station to be opened in Trinidad in 1962. At that period it served a purpose since private enterprise was reluctant to enter into this area of business. The media world in Trinidad is very different from the 1960s and 1970s. There is really no pressing need for the State to sustain a money losing media company in 2005. In fact, one would want to suggest, there is really no need for the Government to get involved in this type of business activity in the first place and should seriously reconsider re-entering the area of communication by owning a media house.

The gathering and reporting of news via various media should best be left for private enterprise. They are doing a good enough job at it since the innumerable radio stations, newspapers and television (local and cable), and the increasing number of people using the Internet for information, are all sustaining themselves without any assistance from the State. The State must therefore facilitate local media houses and private enterprise in this area of activity. The State must not compete with private enterprise by owning and operating, or owning the controlling shares, in any media houses.

TTT and other frequencies should have been sold to private enterprise since they have been a drain on public funds. The Government has other pressing areas of national life to concentrate on, and to expend funds, than to enter into the area of the mass media which is adequately serviced by private enterprise. It augurs well for democracy. Let the fourth estate be confined to private business and citizens. This is what political pluralism is all about. There is no need for the State to have a foothold in the fourth estate.

KHASTRA SINGH
Couva