Radio Essequibo comes on air!

– commissioned by President Granger

– in keeping with commitment to provide equality

DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, January 29, 2020

His Excellency, President David Granger, on Wednesday commissioned Radio Essequibo 95.5 FM, the first radio station on the Essequibo Coast.

The Head of State noted that the occasion was in keeping with the Coalition Government’s commitment to bridge the information and communication gap and demonstrated its commitment to ensuring that Guyanese countrywide received equal access to information.

In the studio: His Excellency, President David Granger (centre) and Prime Minister, Hon Moses Nagamootoo (left) chat with Chairman of National Communications Network Enrico Woolford on the first live broadcast on Radio Essequibo 95.5 FM.

Region two school students greet President David Granger as he arrives to commission the radio station.

Students of Region two welcome Prime Minister the Hon. Moses Nagamootoo and Minister of Business Hon. Haimraj Rajkumar.

President David Granger Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and other officials applaud as former Deputy-Mayor of Bartica Nageswari Kamal Lochanprasad and a Region Two student unveil the plaque to commemorate the commissioning of Radio Essequibo.

“The government regards it as a constitutional duty to ensure citizens enjoy their freedom to communicate,” President Granger remarked.

He added that the coalition’s objective was to bring about equality and the concept of the Regional Radio Programme does just that.  “These changes will make Guyana a more equal society.”

Sharing a brief insight into the Regional Radio Programme, Prime Minister, the Hon. Moses Nagamootoo noted that Radio Essequibo was the seventh newly-commissioned radio station under the Coalition Government.

He disclosed that the idea for regional radio stations was birthed after a conversation with the president, whose vision was to decentralise government services and ensure equal access across the country.

“It is an important development in our country that’s never been contemplated before,” the Prime Minister stated.

Communities like Adventure, Akawini Mission and Bethany to Machabo and Kabakaburi and up and down the Pomeroon River, can now tune into Radio Essequibo 95.5FM. The frequency was turned on by Prime Minister Nagamootoo on November 30, 2019.

The project, which cost more than $12Million, will serve some  46,000 people.

The other six community radio stations are Radio Lethem in Region 9 (May 2016), Radio Maburama in Region 1 (June 2016), Radio Mahdia in Region 8 (October 2017), Radio Bartica in Region 7 (November 2017, Radio Orealla in Region 6 (March 2018), and Radio Aishalton, also in Region 9 (January 2019).