AFRICA/SOUTH SUDAN - High taxes: Catholic radios risk closing

Juba (Agenzia Fides) - The National Communications Authority has imposed very high annual taxes for the registration of local radio stations. This is a major challenge for all stations belonging to the Catholic Radio Network (CRN), as some of those present in South Sudan are forced to close, unable to bear these costs. During a coordination meeting which just ended in Juba, Father Elario Bazia Boro, director of "Anisa Radio", in the Catholic diocese of Tombura-Yambio, said that the National Ministry of Information asked all the stations of CRN members a registration tax of 5,500 US dollars per year. In the note sent to Fides, Fr. Bazia adds that private radios are asked to pay $ 20,000 and $ 1,500 to government radio stations.
"The broadcasters of the CRN network are non-profit radio stations, mainly engaged for religious and social reasons" the director explained, assuring the listeners of Anisa Radio in Yambio that CRN will continue to discuss with the government to resolve the issue in a friendly manner.
"Through Radio Anisa, Caritas of South Sudan has launched a humanitarian appeal for 2018 in support of the needy", said the director of the Catholic Organization for Development and Peace in the diocese of Tombura-Yambio, Fr. John Ngbapia.
According to the participants, during the three-day meeting in Juba the need to strengthen the campaign to mobilize funds favoring Caritas in support of so many people was reaffirmed. Currently the Caritas South Sudan funds are not sufficient to cover the needs of every single diocese in the country. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 16/5/2018)

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