NBC shows profit at end of 2005

In spite of challenges that the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) faced in 2005, the station’s provisional records are showing that it has successfully produced a net operations profit of over $100, 000.

This was disclosed by Ken Brown, NBC’s Chairman at the station’s annual dinner, held at Roy’s Inn last Saturday night.{{more}}

“It’s an income we have not seen in years,” said Browne, who explained that NBC had not reaped much of a profit previously because the station had to spend lots of money paying debts and auditors.

Government Minister, Selmon Walters, under whose portfolio the NBC falls, praised Manager, Corletha Ollivierre, for the profit that the radio station made in 2005. He said her astute management brought accountability and proper management to NBC.

Walters said under his stewardship, he would be brining a difference to the NBC in how things are done.

He noted that there is a dire need in St.Vincent and the Grenadines for proper guidelines for the functioning of the media.

Walters disclosed that in March a symposium would be organized with media practitioners to devise an information policy.

He also called for the implementation of a programme at the station that would be targeting a listening audience between the ages of 15-25 while announcing that the brand of programming that will be coming on NBC’s AM station later this year would be one that is much different than the FM’s.

The minister also promised to harness funds for the training of NBC’s staff to upgrade the quality of product that it delivers.

“I want to see a higher level of professionalism whenever you talk, investigate and disseminate information. It must be truth,” said Walters

Ollivierre, in her speech said that amidst NBC’s accomplishments in 2005, the radio station is still a significant way off before it will be able to maximize its full potential.

“That’s not to say we are comfortable with the way we are because there is a long way to go,” said Ollivierre.

She expressed her gratitude for the Government’s contribution in upgrading the facility. However, she acknowledged that staff continues to operate under stringent conditions.

Ollivierre commended her staff for the work that was done in 2005 and expressed the desire that at the end of 2006 “the bar would not have raised one notch but two notches”.

As the awards were distributed several staff members were elated with the prizes that they copped. But more thrilled than anyone else was technician Dougald “Junior” Byron Cox, who romped home with the Employee of the Year award.

Receiving the International Citizenship Award were Jemma King, Jasmine Smith, Calvin Badenock, Cornelius Williams and Montgomery King.

Gisela Scott was awarded for outstanding work in the Sales Department, Juanita Francois the News Department, Jasmine Smith, Customer Care, Deon John, the Programming Department and Andral Prescod the Technical Department.