Ragashanti says he feels he is being unfairly targeted by the commission. - Winston Sill

The Broadcasting Commission has responded sharply to talk-show host Ragashanti's attack on the entity last week.

In a letter to the editor, the executive director of the commission, Cordel Green, said: "The commission rejects, as entirely false, the allegation by Dr Kingsley Stewart that he is being pressured."

In the article published in The WEEKEND STAR, 'Dem a pressure me - Ragashanti blasts commission bias', the show host had stated that the commission was wrongly targeting him.

Protest fi mi rights

"I am under siege. Right now, mi a protest fi mi rights. I am a law-abiding citizen and trust me, the Broadcasting Commission have me under pressure," he was quoted as saying. His comment had come after the commission reportedly requested a copy of a song he played during his daytime programme on Newstalk 93FM for an investigation.

However, Green is denying any personal attack on Ragashanti and believes he is attempting to mislead the public into believing the commission had come to a decision about the song played. In his response to the talk-show host's comments, he said: "The commission has not yet made a determination as to whether the song breached any broadcasting law, nor has it informed Dr Stewart or Newstalk 93FM of any breach of the regulations."

He further stated: "The public is being assured that there is nothing unusual about the manner in which the commission regulates Newstalk 93FM. It is quite common for the commission to write broadcasters pursuant to investigations."

Regulatory letters

In an interview with THE STAR yesterday, Green also said that sending out regulatory letters is one of the most common aspects of the commission's activities. "Most of these radio stations are accustomed to getting letters and I can tell you, our complaint rate is very high and we try to address all these complaints," he said.

Green said that despite suggestions from Ragashanti, the commission does not have a problem with Jamaican Creole being used on radio or television and there is no bias aimed at 'Ragashanti Live'.

Issue

"The laws of the commission can be breached even when standard English is used," Green pointed out.

He said that the commission does not make general complaints about any particular show, therefore the content of 'Ragashanti Live' is not an issue.

The Broadcasting Commission was set up to receive and investigate complaints from the public about content on the electronic media.

Cordel Green, executive director, Broadcasting Commission. - Norman Grind ley