THERE OUGHT TO HAVE BEEN much purging of the soul in radio land in the last few days. We hope so, for the sake of Mr Noel Lynch and the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) operatives who did not, or could not, welcome him into the studios of FM100.7 last Thursday night.We know there has been much reflection; but regrettably not of the profoundest of thinking. The protagonists would rather point a finger at the messenger than embrace introspection; and the victim of circumstances, apparently overwhelmed by public embarrassment, would segue himself into a state of denial.The facts simply are Mr Lynch was invited by co-host Andrew Mason to be a guest on Best & Mason, a weekly sport commentary programme on a station that styles itself as Quality Radio. Having given his name at CBC’s point of entrance, Mr Lynch – in his own words – went through the guard process, went upstairs in the studio and actually sat in the studio.Fellow guest Stephen Leslie, assistant director of sport at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies, confirmed Mr Lynch sat next to him. Then Mr Lynch was “called out of the room” and asked to leave by the show producer – obviously under instructions.Now, if that isn’t being put out, we don’t know what is!And that Mr Lynch, politician that he is, could give our Associate Managing Editor Tim Slinger a lengthy lamentation on the sad state of affairs goes well towards Mr Lynch’s deep disappointment and hurt. But to be fair to the former Member of Parliament, he did paint a broader picture than of his own unhappiness.“What I find to be more serious about the entire thing,” he said, “is that at the end of the day it reflects badly on the administration [presumably CBC’s] – and the Government’s administration . . . .” Host Mason has been quoted as saying that never in the 15 years he has been moderator of Best & Mason has he had to submit an actual list or get permission from management to bring guests on the show. Even so, CBC is yet to state what these processes of invitation, which Mr Mason reportedly knows nothing of, are. These procedures – which were not carried out in the case of Mr Lynch’s visit – are yet to be identified. Still, we are told Mr Lynch would be welcome next time. We wait with bated breath. Parochial as the issue might appear to be in the eyes of some at home, the Caribbean media look on with interest at a country that boasts responsible and exemplary public media conduct, and wonder at this melodrama.Barbados has done better; much better!
