Bird family radio station in Antigua may be forced to close

by Norman 'Gus' Thomas

Monday, October 4, 2004

ST JOHN'S, Antigua: Antigua’s popular Radio ZDK, more commonly called 'Bacchanal Radio', which is owned and operated by the Bird family, may be forced to close its doors as several advertisers have given the station notice that they will be withdrawing all business due to the station's broadcast content. 

Caribbean Net News understands that the complaints stem from a morning broadcast entitled, 'Your View' which is hosted by popular DJ Sly- the chief Rocker Jay. 

The programme, which is aired between 8:00 am to 9:00 am Monday to Friday, allows listeners to call in and air their views on any subject they may choose. However, the great majority of callers are heavily critical of the government and certain prominent businessmen. 

Chief among the callers is former Director General of Information in the last administration, James "Tanny" Rose who was sent on vacation following the change of government in the March 23rd general elections. Rose calls into the programme daily and "peppers" the government for forcing public sector workers to go on vacation and unlawful dismissals, claiming that such actions are designed to spite supporters of the Antigua Labour Party. 

Rose has also been lashing out at several members of the Syrian business community, accusing them of being turn-coats and wanting to control the economy and suggested that they want to make the people of Antigua and Barbuda servants in their own land.

However, Ivor G. T. Bird, General Manager of ZDK, said the station is not responsible for the views expressed by Tanny Rose. "Those are Tanny Rose's views," he said

Bird said it is his view that the matter is a political one designed to "squeeze" ZDK Radio for supporting the Antigua Labour Party (ALP). 

Nonetheless, one Syrian businessman has been speaking out in defence of his colleagues and is believed to be the one responsible for pulling advertising from the radio station.

"This sort of behavior is very unfair and it hurts," said Salem Khouly of Antigua Insurance Company (ANICOL) whose family has come under heavy criticism from Rose.

"I want to make it clear that many of us in the Syrian community were born here. We have made Antigua our permanent home and make a very meaningful contribution to the social, economic and cultural life of the country as a whole," the clearly upset Khouly said during an exclusive interview with Newsline1.

In making specific reference to his family, Khouly went on to add that his family does not discriminate and treats everyone on equal footing. He accused Rose and Denny Grant, an ardent supporter of the ALP and another regular caller to "Your View", of inciting racism and called on the management of Radio ZDK to control their pronouncements as they engender strife.

"He has used the race card and this is bad, very bad. We have since then held discussions with the manager of ZDK Radio and have pulled all of our advertising with them in protest. We simply cannot do business with the station when that same station is being used to slander our family as well as other decent and loyal citizens in the country," he concluded, adding that: "it is therefore really unfair for Tanny Rose, Denny Grant and others to suggest that the Khouly's are not behaving honourably." 

Salem also noted that, he could not speak for others in the Syrian business community but took great umbrage to Grant's suggestion that what is happening in Sudan will soon happen in Antigua and Barbuda if the Syrian business community is allowed to have their way. 

The decision by some to pull all business from ZDK Radio has sparked off much debate. One ALP political activist has been mobilizing persons who have insurance policies with the State Insurance Company to close their policies in retaliation. At the same time a number of persons have been calling the station making monetary pledges in a bid to save the station from closing its doors.

It is reported that the insurance company is also one that has pulled its business from 'Bacchanal Radio."

Meanwhile, the station's financial woes are not just beginning. In April of this year, Deputy Prime Minister Wilmouth Daniel, orded the disconnection of electricity from ZDK.

"I have instructed the management of Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) to move toward disconnecting ZDK for non payment of electricity bills."

Daniel told the media that ZDK owes APUA some half a million EC dollars. His action forced the station off the air for some three days before an arrangement to pay up all arrears was arrived at.

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