Guyana celebrates 40 years in Radio Broadcasting
Message By the Honourable Moses V. Nagamootoo Prime Minister & First Vice President Of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana
World Radio Day – February 13, 2019
Radio is one of the oldest mass media in the world, yet continues to be one of the most popular medium even in today’s internet world. Indeed, Radio has migrated to the internet as well, with thousands of stations available in a single search on Google. Radio remains for many, especially in the Developing World, the most loved and valued medium over all others.
It is no wonder that in 2013 the United Nations General Assembly adopted a Resolution proclaiming 13 February, the day United Nations Radio was established in 1946, as World Radio Day. The theme for this year’s World Radio Day is “Dialogue, Tolerance and Peace”, all of which Radio is well suited to promote and preserve.
World Radio Day 2019 finds Guyana in a unique position, not only to mark the revival of Radio as an instrument for Dialogue, Tolerance and Peace, but to celebrate a historic development in our Dear Land of Guyana. Since 2016, one year after the Coalition Government came to power, we have established six Regional Radio Stations (with a seventh to be commissioned shortly in Essequibo) in the Hinterland Regions of this country.
Using the NCN’s Voice of Guyana as their flagship, Radio Lethem and Radio Mabaruma were launched in 2016. In 2017 two additional regional stations, Radio Mahdia and Radio Bartica, were launched; and in 2018 two more interior radio stations, Radio Aishalton and Radio Orealla were commissioned by the Coalition Government. These stations were received with tremendous excitement by the many hinterland communities that started to receive local radio broadcasts for the first time in the history of Guyana. The technical outlay of these Regional Radio Stations are comparable to the most modern anywhere in the world, and they bring up-to-date news, current affairs, cultural, education, and entertainment programmes to our First Peoples and other hinterland residents. They also show-case the way of life of the communities that receive the radio broadcasts.
These Regional Radio Stations, and others that will be added by this Government in the coming months, have the potential to inform, engage, transform and unite communities in various parts of the Guyana, for the development of their region and the country as a whole.
Good Radio is not only a great tool for development, it is an interactive social platform that can lift our pride in ourselves, our villages and communities and the rich and multifaceted landscape we call our Home.
In 2019 we have much to celebrate on this World Radio Day!