THE news report yesterday of the temporary closure of the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC), the merged entity of the Caribbean News Agency (CANA) and the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU), is a most disturbing development for the entire region, not just for its subscribers in Guyana and other countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

It strikes a blow against the region's integration movement, as represented by CARICOM, which these previously separate but collaborative agencies had consistently endeavoured to serve -warts and all.

There have been occasions when the Guyana National Newspapers Limited, a long-standing subscriber and one that has consistently honoured its financial obligations to CANA, has had to complain against declining services, including inaccuracies and quality in coverage of events and developments in this country and from some other CARICOM states.

We have also had our reservations about management failures at times in displaying an even-hand in the involvement of representatives of leading subscribers to retreats or similar activities designed to share ideas on the weaknesses and strengths of the CMC.

But none of these disappointments or reservations is serious enough for us not to lament the forced closure, temporarily or otherwise, of an indigenous news service that has undoubtedly contributed significantly over the years to regional cooperation, our cultural identity and shared aspirations as the people of One Caribbean.

Board of Directors
The Board of Directors and senior management personnel of the CMC are scheduled to meet today in Barbados for an emergency session that could prove decisive in terms of resolving immediate financial obligations to the affected staff, about 54, as well as honouring debt payments.

As in any enterprise, public or private, there are often a number of factors that can contribute to a serious cash-flow problem. In the particular case of the forced closure of the CMC, a major factor has been the repeated failures by some of its subscribers.

This is most regrettable, since, combined with cuts in advertising revenue, it only aggravated the problem that culminated in last Friday's dreaded news of a closure of all operations - wire, radio and television services.

Those Guyanese and other citizens of the region who had greatly contributed to the creation and early management of CANA's wire and radio services, as well as the operations of the CBU, would undoubtedly share the agony of the news that a once very promising and unique news agency of the Third World may, in fact, be on its way out.

The governments and private sector agencies of CARICOM seem to have a moral obligation to find ways to come to the rescue of the CMC.

Initiatives ought to be pursued with its decision-makers to grapple with plans for appropriate restructuring of the regional institution so that it can continue to be of service to the Caribbean at a time of increasing challenges and problems nationally, regionally and internationally.

We shall monitor developments closely. We look forward to the CMC directors and their advisers receiving some urgent practical support to resuscitate what had evolved, over a quarter of a century, as a vital regional institution of the Caribbean.