Newstalk 93fm Spared Licence Suspension

[Lazie]

The Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Olivia Grange, has decided not to suspend the broadcast licence of radio station Newstalk 93FM, based on commitments given by the station to carry out specified remedial actions. The Minister made the decision today, after consultation with the Cabinet.
In a letter to Minister Grange dated April 14, 2008, Mr Anthony Abrahams, Managing Director of NewsTalk 93FM reaffirmed the station's commitment to honouring undertakings given to the Minister at a meeting on April 9. Among the commitments, was that a letter of reprimand would be issued to presenter Dr. Kingsley Stewart, host of the programme 'Ragashanti Live'. Mr Abrahams advised the Minister today that the letter had been issued and that additional disciplinary action is being taken in respect of Dr. Stewart.
Unequivocal assurances were given by the station to carry out additional actions inclusive of the following:

• Training of the pertinent staff will be arranged by April 16.
• The Broadcasting and Radio Re-Diffusion Act, the Television and Sound Regulations and the Children's Code will be re-circulated to members of staff with a cover letter which highlights those aspects which relate to content standards.
• Internal guidelines are to be developed, as a matter of priority, detailing the station's own standards and requirements.
• The station is to make appropriate remarks over a relevant period of time to demonstrate that it has regard for broadcasting law and the regulatory process.
• Appropriate control mechanisms are to be established for live programmes.

Minister Grange also considered a letter from Professor Gordon Shirley, the Chairman of Universal Media Company Ltd., the parent company of NewsTalk 93FM. Professor Shirley, in his letter underscored the Company's regard for the Broadcasting Commission. He said: "We absolutely resile from all personal comments made which would appear to challenge the authority and integrity of the Commission and its members. The UMC emphatically disassociates itself from statements made on our radio station imputing bias, political motivation or unlawful behaviour by the Commission or its members."
The Broadcasting Commission had recommended that the broadcast licence of NewsTalk 93FM be suspended, after reviewing excerpts of the programme 'Ragashanti Live', broadcast on January 2. The Broadcasting Commission determined that Dr Stewart's comments contravened the Broadcasting and Radio Re-Diffusion Act, the Television and Sound Regulations and the Children's Code and recommended suspension of NewsTalk 93FM's licence, the only regulatory action which the law currently allows in circumstances where directions of the Commission have not been followed. The Minister has therefore indicated that the law will be reviewed with a view to introducing a wider range of sanctions and mechanisms.
The Minister expressed her strong commitment to maintaining and upholding high standards, creativity and diversity in broadcasting.

[Lazie]

I was watching to see what the outcome would be. Didn't make any sense to punish the entire station for the actions of one individual.

[Assasin]

Well you know them never did a go suspend them or you would hear bout press freedom, but them give them a lifeline so Tony Abrahams either have to follow or go hang himself.

by the way I doubt Gordon Shirley is a labourite as he was the ambassor to Washington a few years ago. Decent man, met him once.

[Hortical]

What did Raggshanti say? If it is too vile, send mi a private message.

[Mosiah]

Still trying to find out exactly what was said. It couldn't have been that vile, hell, it was on radio! All mi know is him trace off one lady and mentioned the "C" word.

[Lazie]

Still trying to find out exactly what was said. It couldn't have been that vile, hell, it was on radio! All mi know is him trace off one lady and mentioned the "C" word.

... and the B.C. wait .. Broadcasting Commission said he went on to tell the woman that she "dutty ... suh dutty that soap cyaan clean har!"

Well, I think they overreacted with that, even though the annoucer should have known better.

[Assasin]

him call people ****** as well.

it sound like he took his personal vendetta against people who had no chance to answer on the airwaves and trash them badly, there is no place for that in radio. If you have a personal case against somebody you have to be diplomatic when you are the host of a program.

That mi know you know Horti.

[Mosiah]

Ragashanti too extra. He needed his wings clipped!

[Bricktop]

Him all cuss off him boss daughter pon radio

[Hortical]

He used to host a show on UCONN's radio station years ago, and one time he traced off a woman on the air. He said that 'John Crow Draw Brakes' in her hair, and nuttin came out of it.

He is a smart guy with a Ph.D, and he should know better.

[Mosiah]

Makes me wonder about PhD material and the rigours involved in achieving it.

[Assasin]

Them nuh teach common sense a PHD school?

Me use to work with so many a dem and mi have fi wonder to rhatid.

[Islandman]

It was a lot worse than just that. Onewhole program was taking calls about "******" people and what people think about them. It was a disgrace. Here is a part of a transcript from that program.

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"Wen unu a talk bout de so called “white liva” ting, use unu language carefully OK. An den there is dis ting bout ****** nasty. Why dem have dis ting say ****** people, Indian people by definition nasty? Whey dis come from? So we ago talk bout dat because a outa road topic we deal wid.

We a go chow out dere OK. But yuh done know how it go. We have tings fe do an phone line fe answa.

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Host: Confession. An wi waan know whey unu tink bout Indian people

Morning to you, hello hello….

Caller: Good morning, yuh hav a likkle ting yuh a talk bout ****** people; yea Ragga,

Host: Sen on………..

Caller: Ragga, dem raw fi true, dem ave a funny smell. ****** people have a funny smell.

Host: How you know dat to be true?

Caller: Ragga, mi have some a dem whey live side a mi; Some a dem, mi a fi jus back off

Host: Because a whaa, di smell?

Caller: Yes, all when dem use cologne dem caan smell good.

Host: Yuh sure bout dat?

Caller: Of course Ragga.

Host: Dis a sumin wey yuh know?
Caller: Yuh have one a dem inn mi class

Host: Ha ha………………
Caller: Any tim she inna di AC, har skin jus start get widda and she start smell."

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