PM: CBC must evolve with current global trends

The state-owned Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) can no longer operate on a model that has its origins in the 1960s when it was established, Prime Minister Mottley has declared.

She made the declaration in the House of Assembly today – the first time she has spoken on the floor of the Lower Chamber since wrapping up debate on the Appropriations Bill on March 20.

The Prime Minister said: “Technology has changed since CBC started in the 1960s, and it must be seen as a digital enterprise that can facilitate broadcasting. We have seen the impact technology and digital applications have had on us during the pandemic, and we put out our request for proposals for a private-public sector partnership to manage CBC so that it can be as revolutionary and impactful now as it was when television was introduced here in 1964.”

The Member of Parliament for St. Michael North East noted that CBC and the Barbados Government Information Service (BGIS) had an important role to play in educating Barbadians through various media and also in showcasing the island to the world.

She said:”The reason we still have CBC and the Barbados Government Information Service is that Government still has a role to play in national education, reinforcement of our values and to ensure all Barbadians are exposed to this information.

“We need to be part of this world, but in so doing we still need to show off the uniqueness of our accent like Rihanna, to have the flair of Sir Garfield Sobers and the forthrightness of our political leaders who are unafraid to speak the truth to power and to speak on behalf of small island developing states.

“We will do our best to keep CBC above water but there must be change; technology is not waiting on us and what we rely on now is becoming obsolescent and in the next 15 years you won’t see free-to-air television being used as it is presently.

“CBC is in jeopardy now because Barbadians no longer tune into television as they did in the past to watch Days of our Lives, the CBC Evening News and other shows. You will more likely find them watching YouTube, Netflix or videos and memes via WhatsApp.”

On referring to Opposition Leader Bishop Joseph Atherley’s claims that CBC was silencing opposition parties, Mottley said: “When I was in Opposition, and Mr Atherley would have known this, I did not like the idea of CBC becoming the exclusive voice for the Government of the day, and when I watch highlights from the Senate on television, I tend to see the contributions from the opposition senators.”

She said in her time as Prime Minister she has never gone to Minister for Broadcasting Senator Lucille Moe or the management and staff of CBC to demand airtime.

On this point, she said that CBC had asked her about broadcasting the ruling Barbados Labour Party’s church service marking its second anniversary of forming the Government live on television, but she refused to do so, stating that the Government had other priorities at present. The service was streamed via social media.