Regulators to discuss radio complaint
The Broadcast Commission will meet to discuss a complaint lodged against HOTT 107.5 on Tuesday.
Yesterday PLP adverts voiced by the station's popular radio personalities continued to air and Deputy Opposition leader Pat Gordon Pamplin claimed one personality, Thao Dill, admitted to breaking the rules on air saying his station did not agree to them.
"I heard Thao yesterday morning after a long exchange with a caller who told him that he was tremendously biased," she said. "And then he said 'We realise we might be a little greasy around the rules however we do not like or agree with the rules and that is the reason we do not abide by them'.
"They don't like it so they will do what they like? That is the type of Bermuda you get under the PLP."
Mr. Dill declined to comment on the topic yesterday and HOTT owner Glenn Blakeney has refused to return phone calls.
Earlier this week the UBP wrote a letter to the Broadcast Commission claiming the station is showing PLP "bias" and breaching broadcast laws. The Royal Gazette understands that it will be discussed at a meeting on Tuesday.
In a news conference the UBP added that the station was breaching an amendment passed by the PLP in 2003 which states that 'no employee of an undertaking [ie a broadcasting organisation] shall take part in a political broadcast unless he is a member of the Legislature or a candidate and he takes part in a broadcast in that capacity'.
Opposition spokesman for legislative affairs John Barritt said yesterday: "We have gone past concerned on the issue. We follow the rules and we've pointed out that they are not.
"Let me make this clear: We are not trying to close down HOTT — we think they should follow the rules."
Broadcasting Commission chairwoman Elizabeth Christopher, a former PLP candidate, said the matter would be dealt with in the normal course.
