Private Television: IBA Board Focuses on Application for Operating Permit

The Prime Minister confirmed on the Prime Minister's Question Time (PMQT) this Tuesday, May 29 that the IBA is in the presence of an operating permit application for a private television channel. The Board of Directors of the Regulatory Authority will shortly examine this request from a group of promoters Mauritius.

The Prime Minister was responding to a question from the member Adil Ameer MEEA who wanted to know whether the government would indeed come forward with the project as private television programs announced in several speeches.

Navin Ramgoolam has argued that between 2000 and 2005, nobody has proposed the creation of a private television. He believes that this is the restriction on foreigners - who are not allowed to own more than 20% of the shareholding of a television operator that have prevented takeoff of private television.

Thus, the Prime Minister believes that amendments to this part of the IBA Act. Amendments which, he says, will be presented to Parliament once the Board of Directors will be considered the request that was sent to him.

Earlier, the Prime Minister recalled that it was during his prime minister, on 8 August 2000, the law regarding the release (partial) waves had been passed. However, he avoided saying that the Act was proclaimed five months later, on 1 January 2001 when the government Militant Socialist Movement - Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM-MSM) was already in place. Also under the same government that three operating licenses were granted to private radio stations.