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Last Updated: Apr 25, 2017 - 9:52:56 AM |
 Remarks By The Rt. Hon Perry G. Christie, Prime Minister And Minister Of Finance at The Commissioning Ceremony of The New 300ft Transmission Tower to provide “Free To Air” Television and increase frequency of 1540AM at The Transmission Site Harold Pond on Monday, 24th April, 2017:
Salutations:
I am more than happy to be able to join my Minister of National Security, the Hon. Dr. Bernard Nottage and the Chairman of the Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas, Rev. Dr. William Thompson and members of the Board of the Corporation on this auspicious occasion for the Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas. I take this opportunity to convey greetings to the General Manager of the Corporation, Ms. Diana Swan and her management team and all other persons concerned for making this event a reality.
The question might well be asked why make such a “big to do” out of the commissioning of this new tower? The answer lies in the fact that this is another technological and engineering advancement that has been made by the Broadcasting Corporation in its over 80 years of existence and service to the Bahamian people and I like to point out on these types of occasion that this new infrastructure represents a significant investment of the public funds in this project. It is necessary to point this out because there are some people who seem not to appreciate what it takes in the total scheme of things to manage and run a government. Today, you are looking at one such service that has been provided by the Government through one of its corporations.
So let me first of all to congratulate all persons concerned in this project which, as we have heard, is aimed at two significant innovations to the general public.
The first is that it will allow for the provision of “free to air” television for those homes which may not be connected to Cable or to BTC Flow television. You are now able to sit at home and without the benefit of cable be able to watch quality television from the ZNS Network with no cost to yourself.
The second significant result of this tower having been erected is that it will increase the frequency of ZNS Radio 1540 to reach a wider audience and with clearer frequency, and this is so important to those persons in areas of this country where the signal of the national broadcast system has been less than adequate.
Both of these technological improvements are aimed at ensuring that everyone would now have access to the latest in communication and that you will be adequately informed through news and other programmes. This is another step forward and one which should not be understated.
But looking back over the 80 plus years of the existence, growth and development of the Broadcasting Corporation it is pleasing to note that with limited resources, it has steadily maintained its mission and mandate which is to allow for the broadcast of news and information to all corners of The Bahamas.
The ZNS Network has that heavy responsibility to provide a balanced package of entertainment without deviating from the highest standard of news and entertainment. When many others thought it might fail, it has not but it has continued and it will continue to provide the best public broadcasting that this country can expect.
Today, more than 80 years since its first faint signals went out, the ZNS Network has become an indispensable tool of modern mass communication and thanks to improved technology, such as the one we are inaugurating today its signal is heard across The Bahamas.
It has become the gold standard of broadcast news and entertainment and despite the influx of other broadcast media, FM Stations, television and now even phone communication on devices such as WhatsAP and other such media, the ZNS Network is there to turn to when all other sources fail or falter. More than ever, in this age when anything goes for news and opinion or entertainment we need this one station to maintain its highest standards and to provide that qualitative alternative for the discerning listener.
This ZNS Network provides news, both local and international, it provides a multi- dimensional stream of entertainment, both through music and other programmes but more importantly, it serves a great social cause and meets the needs of the community.
When I speak about ZNS Network fulfilling an essential social cause and community need, I think of the listener in remote places such as Pirates Well, Mayaguana or Salina Point, Acklins or Burnt Ground, Long Island or Rum Cay who tunes in daily, out of necessity, to hear the weather forecast, the shipping news, the community announcements and other such happenings which have a direct impact on their lives.
In times of natural disasters, most recently in the passage of Hurricanes Joaquin and Mathew, one in 2015 and the other in 2016, it was the ZNS Network that has always met the vital needs of communicating weather bulletins, emergency notices and other official announcements and the like to listeners who in nearly all instances have no way of hearing about such things as it relates to The Bahamas.
I say all of this to say to the staff of the ZNS Network that falls under the umbrella of the Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas that yours is a special responsibility and mandate and it demands more of you than that of your competitors. There is so much “Fake News” going around that I want you to reach that point where the public would have to ask: Did you hear that on ZNS?
More is expected of you by your listeners. You must not fall into the trap of following your competition – let them match your standards.
My point in all this is that there is a place for professionalism and high standards and I can think of no better electronic media that fulfills this role better than the ZNS Network through both its television and radio services.
I would wish once again to congratulate the Minister, the Chairman and the Board and the management for making this investment both in cash and in technology so as to ensure that the Bahamian public stays fully in tune with the ZNS Network, and it is my considerable privilege and pride to be with you on this occasion.
© Copyright 2017 by thebahamasweekly.com
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