President Donald Ramotar on Saturday launched a radio station in Berbice, telling the audience about the gains made in press freedom since 1992 while stressing his Government’s commitment to maintaining this status.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) report, President Ramotar said the proprietors of Little Rock Radio, Rockcliff and Pearl Christie must be congratulated for what he described as their role with the multimillion-dollar investment. Stating that he felt very comfortable with the ownership of the new station, President Ramotar said radio must have a developmental role as Guyana is a developing country. He stressed, however, that while radio can be used for good purposes, it can also be used negatively.
Giving a brief history of the Little Rock business operations, Naomi Christie, daughter of the proprietors, said the company’s initial radio licence application dates back to the early 1990s, followed by a re-application in 1997. The radio station began testing on February 23, this year with feedback being garnered from the local listening audience.
The station covers the entire Berbice area and extends to the East Coast of Demerara. It is also streamed online.
The Little Rock Company began operating in the 1980s with a hotel, then expanded in 2005 with the Little Rock Suites on the Main Street of New Amsterdam. It currently employs 60 persons.