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THERE can hardly be any doubt that the peculiar circumstances in which the State-owned National Broadcasting Network finds itself, represents a colossal waste of government resources by successive administrations.

While it may be true that the huge losses announced on Thursday by Public Administration and Information Minister Dr Lenny Saith escalated over the last two years, its situation has not been helped by yet another confrontation last year, between the station’s journalists and its management over allegations of State interference.

A history of such incidents, whether real or imagined, has seen the State-owned broadcast media lose credibility and ultimately market share and profitability. Successive governments being unable to resist using NBN and its previous incarnations as a propaganda tool preferably managed by party hacks.

The upshot is last week’s announcement by Dr Saith that NBN “experienced cumulative losses of $32 million in the period 1998-2001 and has a projected loss in 2002 of $22 million.” It is losing $1.5 million dollars a month.

The Information Minister also conceded that “the company’s bankers have refused to extend a line of credit without a letter of comfort from the government”. But the bad news does not end there. Dr Saith also stated that “in addition to heavy debt burdens, the company is saddled with obsolete generating and transmission equipment, irrelevant formats, and outdated work practices”.

Under those circumstances it is easy to understand Government’s decision to divest NBN to the private sector which, internationally, has been shown to be better capable of managing independent media, as the company pretends to be.

Given NBN’s experience, it is interesting that government has decided to invest in a new public broadcast company, the Government Information Service which will utilise one of the radio and television licences now owned by NBN. Some habits, it seems, die hard.

As part of a conglomerate which also owns a television station, it could be argued that we are not exactly disinterested parties in this matter. As tax-paying citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, however, it is in everyone’s interest to ensure that when the State moves to dispense with our resources it does so prudently, in a manner that is both transparent and fair.

As it moves to get rid of the Treasury’s broadcast media albatross, Dr Saith has said the Divestment Secretariat will be asked “to undertake an assessment of the financial situation at NBN, and to make recommendations within three months for the implementation of the decisions…”.

Attempts by the previous administration to divest even loss-making enterprises like Tanteak and Caroni (1975) Ltd ran into difficulties over the lack of transparency in the process.

Given the dismal picture painted by Dr Saith last Thursday, it could easily be argued that NBN is not exactly the brightest prospect. This should by no means, however, diminish the need for the divestment to be handled transparently and efficiently.

The current administration’s only foray in the distribution of broadcast licences was not well handled and opened the ruling party to the type of allegations it normally seeks to associate with its predecessor.

As the Government begins it divestment process, whether NBN, Tanteak or Caroni, it should always keep in mind the dangers which arise whenever State resources are being dispensed.

It does not need to look far to learn the problems which can ensue.