Under successive government the issue of how the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) has been manipulated has always been an issue. The Bajan public has had to tolerate the constant prattle by both parties concerning whether one was being fair to the other as far as airtime goes. Of all the state enterprises the CBC is thought by BU to be one where cronyism, yardfowlism and unprofessionalism is efficiently practised. This is not to say we don’t have some dedicated employees at the CBC.

It is generally known that under the last administration and especially under the watchful eye of a particular minister, a number of individuals were given refuge at the CBC. Under the current government the Chairman is known to be the Godfather of the Prime Minister’s children and the Deputy General Manager a former Waterford schoolmate. There is also the recent appointment of DLP card carrying member Reudon Eversley as Head of News which eventually led to the resignation of long standing CBC employee Dean St. Hill.

The sad reality is both political parties can accept blame for politicizing the CBC. While they have been screwing the CBC through the years the taxpayers of Barbados have been called upon to bankroll the operation. Yes Barbadian taxpayers have been silent and accepted the crap.   Come to think of it, we would have thought in light of the recent accusation by the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) the CBC would make a good project for the Barbados Association of Journalists.

Yesterday Leader of the Opposition Mia Mottley was reported in the media lamenting the lack of airtime given to the opposition party on the CBC. She indicated the BLP had offered to pay to get airtime on the lone government owned TV station. Conversely those on the government side have had ready access to the CBC through the TV show The People’s Business hosted by the omnipresent Peter Wickham among other programs.

Where do we go from here regarding the way forward for the CBC?

Prime Minister David Thompson has publicly commented that the market value of the CBC does not make it attractive to buyers. His government arrived to office promising change and transparency in government.  The continued politicizing at the CBC by blanking-out the opposition access to airtime brings into question the sincerity of his promise of change and transparency in government.