Radio station workers stayed off the job yesterday, severely limiting the operations of the two surviving channels while it was disclosed that the third had been losing money since 1999.

The second day of the strike yesterday saw the Voice of Guyana broadcasting mainly BBC World and 98.1 Hot FM transmitting the Voice of America. No local news was being produced and other regularly scheduled programmes were not aired. There was a new twist to the drama yesterday with CNS Channel Six owner Chandra Narine Sharma offering to buy the corporation.

A release from the Guyana Information Agency (GINA) said that GBC is operating at a loss. It is $7M in the red for 2001 so far and a substantial portion of this is attributable to Radio Roraima (RR) which has been operating at a loss since 1999. RR's service was suspended indefinitely on Wednesday.

According to the release, RR recorded revenue of $23.6 million and $19.9 million in 1999 and 2000 respectively and $12.1 million to date for this year, which was a mere 11% of the corporation's $110 million to date for 2001. It said that the station accounted for 30% ($35 million) of the company's total expenditure of $117 million.

The release termed RR "a burden to the other two stations." The Voice of Guyana (VOG) has earned $58.9 million so far for this year, with an expenditure of $52.8 million and 98.1 Hot FM turned in $39.9 million, spending $29.3 million.

GINA stated further that the total projected revenue for RR this year is $16.2 million. However, for RR to continue, its transmitter would have to be replaced soon. The release added that the transmitter, which had halted RR's operations for a three-month period earlier this year, was approximately 40 years old and that its replacement would cost no less than $13 million.

On Wednesday, GBC management announced the suspension of RR, citing cash woes. This had followed strike action by some 50 of the radio station's 75-odd staff.

The employees had downed tools demanding an explanation of a financial report presented to them at a recently convened staff meeting.

According to one of their representatives, the report in question indicated that specific monies, in addition to their regular remuneration, had been paid to them. However, the source had told Stabroek News, that no one received any additional money. And in response to their queries about the report, the Finance Controller responded that the monetary additions reflected in the accounts were "projected increases."

However, the employees after spending some time outside GBC's High Street premises, had moved their protest to the Presidential Complex, Vlissengen Road and some members of the group were granted an audience with the President.

Yesterday, an Office of the President (OP) release stated that contrary to yesterday's report in this newspaper, the President only met one person. Contacted for clarification, the Stabroek News source said that initially, President Bharrat Jagdeo had met one individual but had eventually spoken with four others in the lower flat of the building.

The source had revealed that the President had ordered that a complete audit of the company's finances be executed, and a report of the findings be made promptly available on his return. However, the release stated that the representatives were not allowed to air their grievances as was reported in Stabroek News rather that the opportunity was used by the President to establish an appropriate time for a thorough review of the situation. "In order to create a climate of trust, the President has requested the Auditor General's Department to conduct an audit of the corporation's finances. The result of the audit will dictate the level of intervention by the President", the OP release said.

It added that OP was surprised that moves were being made to condone the withdrawal of labour outside the Collective Bargaining Agreement and urged that the parties seek redress under the said forum.

Meanwhile, the GBC management failed to appear at a meeting between the Board of Directors and the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU), which was scheduled for 8:15 am yesterday at the Ministry of Labour, under the guidance of Senior Labour Officer, Brenda Williams.

General President of the CCWU, Roy Hughes, told this newspaper that a letter was received from GBC yesterday afternoon stating the corporation's willingness to meet the union on October 31. The letter also stated that management wished the employees to resume duty within 24 hours.

Sharma in his press release said he would purchase the station, "retain all the effective staff" and make it profitable in six months. Noting that GBC enjoys a monopoly, Sharma asserted that it should not be running at a loss.

The Best By Request show hosted by Guyanese singer Rudy Grant will now be aired on VOG.