Radio Aishalton hits the airwaves with local voices
[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZoU1SLH-i0″ width=”100%” height=”315″]
−PM Nagamootoo was first guest
− residents urged to not fall victims to persons saying ‘there is no govt’
DPI, Guyana, Sunday, January 20, 2019
After being commissioned in 2018, Radio Aishalton (95.1 FM) finally has a multitude of local voices emanating across the Deep South Rupununi’s airwaves.
Leah Casimero, Natasha and Nicholai Poon of Aishalton Village are the core broadcasters at the radio station located in Aishalton, Region 9 and is heard by surrounding communities. They, along with other co-hosts, have benefitted from extensive training on broadcasting, pronunciation, scripting, programme ideas among other areas.
At the official launch of the local programmes on Saturday, Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, performing the duties of the President, sought to update the listeners on the current developments of the nation, especially on the recent events in the Parliament.
On the issue of the December 21 vote, Prime Minister Nagamootoo made it clear that:
“We are the government, one person voted in the National Assembly against the government (former APNU+AFC MP, Charandass Persaud) and people are very angry about that because 206,000 people including many thousands in the Rupununi voted for the APNU+AFC government.”
The Prime Minister noted that Guyanese, particularly the Indigenous peoples who do not have access to the news on a regular and timely basis, must understand that while there was this event in the National Assembly, it is being investigated and its validity is before the courts. He, however, assured that the government will continue to deliver services to the people of this country. He warned that the people must not fall victims to what persons are saying to the effect that “there is no government.”
“If you don’t have a government you are going to have lawlessness, you’re going to have chaos and disorder.”
Prime Minister Nagamootoo added that the government has an obligation to the people of Guyana and over the past three and a half years it has been working to improve the lives and living standards of all of its people regardless of their location, political affiliation or race.
One of the key focus is to ensure that the hinterland is brought into the mainstream through access to information through community radio stations. The Prime Minister, therefore, urged the local broadcasters to always be equipped with the correct information so as to not mislead the people.
Radio stations have, thus far, been established in Mabaruma, Orealla, Bartica, Mahdia, Aishalton and Lethem, with a few others slated for this year.
Regional Manager Michella Abraham-Ali explained that the programming focus will be strictly development and a roundup of the news within the South Rupununi sub-District. National news will be aired via the Voice of Guyana (VOG) in Georgetown along with educational, health and agriculture and culture, history and traditions programmes.
Radio Aishalton will serve some 11 villages including Shea, Maruranau, Awaurewaunau, Karaudarnau, Achawib, Parabara, Masakenari, and Churikadnau.
The radio station was commissioned in 2018 by President David Granger. This $45M radio station is the first to be established in the Deep South Rupununi and is equipped with the latest technology in radio broadcasting.
By: Synieka Thorne
Images: Keno George