T&T media owners, Govt ministers hold talks as legal battle looms over free airtime

(Trinidad Guardian) The T&T Publishers and Broadcasters Association (TTPBA) yesterday maintained its objection to giving free airtime to government programmes. President of the TTPBA Kiran Maharaj raised objections during yesterday’s meeting with Communications Minister Jamal Mohammed at his Nicholas Towers office. Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal also attended the meeting, a follow-up to one in October last year. Government is seeking one hour per day of free airtime for its programming, but media owners claim the Government is seeking to dictate the content on the airwaves. Maharaj said the TTPBA was seeking legal advice on public interest broadcast. She said the media owners continue to object to the move by the Government to have the programmes aired. In a statement given to the T&T Guardian, Maharaj said the TTPBA was “disappointed and surprised by the manner in which TV broadcasters were addressed via letters where you (Mohammed) gave a time for the programmes to be aired.”