Kairi FM St . Lucia goes off air “for lack of compliance” says NTRC in that country

Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (NTRC) Alden St. Clair has confirmed to Dominica News Online (DNO) that Kairi FM St. Lucia, was taken off the air, for lack of compliance with the conditions attached to their licences.

Over the weekend, St. Lucia News Online reported that “Kairi FM, a local radio station owned by Dominican interests but very much alive here during the past two general elections, is now officially off-air.”

According to the website, the station’s local operations were terminated on October 13, 2021, by Minister for Infrastructure, Ports, Transport, Physical Development and Urban Renewal Stephenson King, based on a recommendation by the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority (ECTEL).

Explaining this process, St Clair explained to DNO that based on the country’s telecommunication act, a company can only be terminated “if that the applicant or the broadcaster is not meeting the obligations of their license, and this was what was done.”

Citing confidentiality,  St. Clair declined to comment on which obligation (s) the company did not meet, however, NTRC’s website does provide a detailed list of the possible reasons why an applicant’s licence can be suspended or revoked.

According to the site, “The Minister may suspend, revoke or refuse to renew a licence where —(a) the radio apparatus or station in respect of which the licence was granted interferes with a telecommunication service provided by a person to whom a licence is already granted for that purpose; (b) the licensee contravenes this Act; (c) the licensee fails to observe a term or condition specified in his or her licence; (d) the licensee is in default of payment of the licence or renewal fee or any other money owed to the Government; (e) ECTEL recommends the suspension or revocation and (f) the suspension or revocation is necessary for reasons of national security or the public interest.

The St. Lucia News Online article goes on to state that St. Lucia’s Ministry of Infrastructure, Ports, Transport, Physical Development and Urban Renewal issued a Public Notice indicating that by way of a letter dated September 15, 2021, ECTEL had recommended the station’s license be terminated,

The letter from the minister also advised the station’s owners that “any attempt by Kairi FM St. Lucia to either operate or provide telecommunications services covered by all or any of the licenses or utilize the above-stated radio frequency spectrum after the date of this notice… will be an infringement of the related law.

The notice also said, “Such infringement will, upon conviction, attract a fine not exceeding one million Eastern Caribbean dollars or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding ten (10) years.

Kairi FM, which also operates in Dominica, was broadcasting in St. Lucia on three frequencies granted to Nature Island Communications Corp Ltd.

When contacted, the owner of Nature Island Communications Corp Ltd. and Kairi FM Dominica, Frankie ‘Krazy-T’ Bellot, declined comment, stating, “I don’t have anything to say to Dominica News Online.”

Attempts made by DNO to seek further clarification on this matter from ECTEL and the Ministry of Telecommunication in St Lucia were not successful.

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Disclaimer: The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of DominicaNewsOnline.com and its parent company or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by DominicaNewsOnline.com. We never censor based on political or ideological points of view, but we do try to maintain a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.

We will delete comments that:

  • contain any material which violates or infringes the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or are purely ad hominem attacks
  • a reasonable person would consider abusive or profane
  • contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law
  • promote prejudice or prejudicial hatred of any kind
  • refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty
  • contain links to "chain letters", pornographic or obscene movies or graphic images
  • are off-topic and/or excessively long

See our full comment/user policy/agreement.

11 Comments

  1. Lin clown
    December 1, 2021

    Stateattorney said nothing when UWP …..Kairi FM,and CrazyT with the blessings of UWP put Pierre Charles face on the body of a JACKA.S
    At the time Kairi FM was the best thing to ever happen in Dominica.The Government should close down Q95 for CONSPIRACY.

    Hot debate. What do you think? Thumb up 1 Thumb down 19
  2. Mister Speaker
    December 1, 2021

    Mission accomplished. KAIRI FM ST LUCIA was used in the General Elections campaign in that island to campaign for the St Lucia Labour Party against the St Lucia United Workers Party. The St Lucia Labour Party won. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. No more use for KAIRI FM Propaganda machine in St Lucia so it’s been shut down for non NTRC compliance.

    It is alleged that they non compliant in Dominica. Their frequency more powerful than the State owned DBS Radio, but since the Supremo uses it for let us speak, the local NTRC moo moo about it. But time will tell because time is longer than twine.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 22 Thumb down 0
    • The Crow
      June 5, 2022

      I take it that you have spoken out of ignorance. Kairi campaigning for the SLP is far from being true. The station was the right arm of the UWP and it mouthpiece.

  3. Daily News
    December 1, 2021

    Kairi should be taken of air in Dominica too. As for DNO, do us all a favour and shut up shop too. You pretend to be something you are not, namely impartial. Where are all your readers gone? You should rename your business to SPO (Skerrit Propaganda Online), at least that way everybody knows what you are about.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 5
  4. Stateattorney
    November 30, 2021

    Well there we have it. A member of the cabal and friend of Skerrit owns Kairi FM. St. Lucia isn’t putting up with that DLP propaganda station anymore. I wonder what Skerrit will do? No doubt he will be protecting his friends assets. Corrupt Dominica!

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 24 Thumb down 1
  5. Imputing Improper Motives (IMM)
    November 30, 2021

    Great, it is more than time corruption, and immoral broadcasting that corrupts the minds of the youth is removed from spewing the kind of venom and garbage as is being done in Dominica.

    This move is a clear demonstration of a government that is serious about preserving the morality of the youths of a nation. This is what happens when change comes about.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 0
  6. Righteous
    November 30, 2021

    Do we have the same regulatory board in Dominica? Let’s wait and see how many people comment and say that this is political. I suspect KFM in Dominica is operating under the same guise but have not been touched because people will automatically jump and say that the Government is victimizing the owners and operators. I await a response from the “Dominican interests”.

    #OneLoveDominicans #OLD767

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 1
  7. dissident
    November 30, 2021

    Krazy T in an embarrassing situation……. Skerrit doh run tings in St Lucia!!!!!
    But it’s another labor party nonetheless!

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 1
  8. derp
    November 30, 2021

    sounds like a payment issue

    • Pipo
      December 1, 2021

      That would be the most likely reason but again, in the absence of an official explanation we are left to speculate, especially since it is no secret that there is a connection between Crazy Tee and Roosevelt Skerrit.

      Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 0

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

:) :-D :wink: :( 8-O :lol: :-| :cry: 8) :-? :-P :-x :?: :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: more »

 characters available