Deputy says licences are illegal
The Bahrain Radio and Television Cooperation is illegally issuing licences to Radio and TV stations, including Sut Al Ghad, Deputy Hamad Al Muhanadi claimed yesterday.
He told the Chamber of Deputies that the BRTC shouldn't permit any licence for the private radio or TV stations as it was a self-governing organisation affiliated with the Ministry of Information that seeks profits like any business.
He claimed that the cooperation wasn't a neutral organisation as it considers its own benefits and that could affect the interests of businessmen who want to invest in the broadcasting sector in Bahrain.
Al Muhanadi called upon the Minister, Dr Mohammed Abdulghaffar, to stop such practices and enhance the sector while avoiding unnecessary corruption.
He sought to know from the minister the reasons for giving licence to Sut Al Ghad radio station as an exception and rejecting similar requests before and after the launch of the station.
Al Muhanadi doubted the station's legality and expressed fears that it didn't go through the right channels before starting its activities, such as depositing 10 per cent of the capital with the ministry and providing bank statements on the station's financial abilities.
"Favouring one station over others could discourage foreign investors who might opt for other countries which have a neutral approach," he warned.
The minister said that the licence of Sut Al Ghad had been issued before he took over as minister and since he came to know about the station he wasn't convinced of the legality of the licence.
"Although I wasn't too supportive of the operational process of the station I gave it time to correct its lapses, but I had to withdraw the licence four days back because the station's failed to adhere to directives," he said.
The minister attributed the reasons for the withdrawal of the licence to the owner of the station, the Delmon Company's failure to implement many terms of the contract with the BRTC.
By Suad Hamada Staff Reporter
© Bahrain Tribune 2006
