MONROVIA, Feb. 2 (LINA) – The National Communications Bureau at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) has disclosed that it has begun the Annual Regulatory Registration Permit process for the year 2021 for all media and media-related institutions in the country.
The Bureau in a circular issued here informed all Publishers of Newspapers and Magazines, Managers of Radio and Television Stations, all online media operators, Managers of printing presses, Advertising Firms, Cable TV companies, GSM companies and Graphic Arts Entities operating in Liberia that the commencement of the Annual Permit process for 2021 with the aim of attracting the full compliance of all concerned.
According to the statement, signed by Agatha T. Thompson, Director of the National Communications Bureau, the Annual Regulatory Registration of media entities is in keeping with the statutory provision that enforces the Ministry’s functions through an enactment of law by the National Legislature.
The Bureau in its circular urged all media and media-related entities to contact MICAT beginning January 11, 2021 to the deadline period of March 5, 2021 in order complete the Regulatory Registration process.
The Bureau warns that after the March 5, 2021 deadline, media institutions who fail to register and/or comply with the Bureau’s mandate will not be allowed to attend government’s media-related functions, receive advertisement supplements and that Operational Permits of noncompliant entities shall be revoked.
Accordingly, the Bureau advised media institutions in the country to ensure that they adhere to the mandate, citing that the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning will only pay government arrears to media institutions which have completed their regulatory process at the Bureau.
The Bureau emphasized that it will collaborate with the Inspectorate Team of the Liberia Revenue Authority to effectively commence the enforcement of the inspection of all media institutions operating in the country.
