NASSAU, The Bahamas – Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, the Hon. Myles LaRoda, Monday addressed the equipment/infrastructure needs of the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas, and Bahamas Information Services. State-Minister LaRoda has remit for the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas and Bahamas Information Services. He was making his contribution to the 2021/22 Supplementary Budget (Appropriation Bills and VAT Amendment Bill). The State-Minister said notwithstanding all of the new entities that provide news coverage and entertainment in-country, the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas: “is still one of the major players in the dissemination of information in the country.” State-Minister LaRoda said the most pressing need with regards to equipment at the Corporation, is a News Server. The Server was last updated in 2012. The estimated cost for a replacement is $525,000. 

“The News is the primary feature of ZNS and obsolete equipment is not going to be in the best interests of the Corporation hence, we will have to find a way, as a Government, to equip ZNS with all of the tools needed to go head-to-head with those other news providers,” Mr. LaRoda said. “I have said it before and I will say it again, no matter how good the equipment; no matter how nice the Presenters, at 7 o-clock in the evenings, we know who the majority of Bahamians tune in to get the news and so we must build on that entity and make them more competitive, give them the tools that they need to succeed.” Mr. LaRoda said the Government’s Information Service (BIS) is also in need of upgrades, that includes a relocation to a new facility.

 “This too, like ZNS/Broadcasting Corporation, suffers from dilapidated conditions. I toured BIS last week and it was really shameful the conditions under which these employees are forced to work. It is the intention of this government to relocate them to a new facility that the taxpayers of this country have paid over $1.1 million and have yet to occupy.” Mr. LaRoda said the BIS move will free up space for ZNS to get its Radio Building back for use by its Radio Division.