Radio Aishalton turns one!

─ Ministers of Government visit the station to address concerns of residents

─ Ministerial Outreach in Rupununi Region continues

DPI, Guyana, Saturday, February 16, 2019

As Radio Aishalton celebrates its first year in operation, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman and Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton visited the radio station and while on air, addressed residents’ concerns.

“Radio Aishalton is serving a very important purpose… What we try to do is, first of all, recognise who we are. What the coast landers experience and have, we want the people of this community to experience too,” Minister of Social Cohesion, George Norton explained.

He addressed concerns relating to the social and cultural affairs of the Aishalton community.

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman spoke to the issues of land extensions, mining concessions and pollution of water used for domestic purposes by the residents.

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton in studio with Aishalton Radio Host, Leah Cassimero

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman addressing problems related to mining concessions and pollution in the Aishalton and Marudi communities

Member of Parliament, Michael Carrington on air at Radio Aishalton underscoring the importance of preservation of Indigenous culture

Aishalton Radio Host, Leah Cassimero

Also, accompanying the minister on air was Alliance For Change (AFC) Member of Parliament, Michael Carrington.

Radio Aishalton is the first radio station to be established in the deep south of the Rupununi. Equipped with the latest technology in radio broadcasting, this $45M radio station is fully powered by solar energy.

The radio station is expected to serve not only residents of Aishalton but also residents of Shea, Maruranau, Awaurewaunau, Karaudarnau, Achawib, Parabara, Masakenari, Bashauzon and Churikadnau.

The government considers connecting communities in the hinterland as vital to improving people’s lives and creating more opportunities for them. Having already connected many communities in Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo, Region 9, through the establishment of Radio Lethem, in May 2016, and in Barima-Waini, Region 1 with the setting up of Radio Maburama, in June 2016, the Office of the Prime Minister commissioned Radio Mahdia, Potaro-Siparuni, Region 8 on October 8, 2017 and Radio Bartica in Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Region 7 on November 17, 2017 and Radio Orealla in East Berbice-Corentyne, Region 6 in 2018.

Nateshia Isaacs

Images: Kawise Wishart