TT government considering merging all its media units

The government of Trinidad and Tobago is considering the merge of all its media assets into a mega-media unit. Information Minister Neil Parsanlal made the disclosure in an interview with the Express newspaper.

The group would include Caribbean News Media Group (CNMG), which is the successor company to the National Broadcasting Network (NDB), the newly-created Government Information Services Ltd (GISL), the Information Channel 4, CNMG (Channel 6) and its four radio stations, 610 AM, 91.1 FM, 98.9 FM and 100 FM.

Parsanlal told the paper Government is reviewing a number of options to make the "best use of its media assets" but made it clear that the government has not made any decision on the matter.

CNMG chairman Marlon Holder told the Express the government wants to see a return in its investment in media but the organization has not had any detailed plans of a merger. He said so far it's "business as usual". The organization's CEO Dominic Beaubrun said, "Whatever the outcome...the challenge will continue to be what role, if any, does Government have in media."

Curtis Williams, who is the station's head of news, said he is not aware of any merger talks. "We continue to pursue the news in the same independent way since we started...we have been fiercely independent and we continue do that." CEO of the government information service Maxie Cuffie told the paper: "Those kinds of decisions are above my pay grade. I am not aware of any such decisions being taken."

And Dr Lenny Saith, Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister and the man who presided over NBN's closure and CNMG's start-up, told the Express he doesn't want to pre-empt the Information Minister.

He said Minister Parsanlal is examining the State's media holdings with a view to reorganization. "When it comes to Cabinet we will discuss it," he said.

The former NBN comprised the state-owned Trinidad and Tobago Television (TTT) and four radio stations that were merged into a single company by Louis Lee Sing, who headed the organization during the first Patrick Manning administration.

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