Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (June 26/02) - Rankin Inlet hamlet council is looking at ways to help the local radio committee.

The committee, formerly the radio society, had its bingo and Nevada licences pulled by the hamlet earlier this year because of its poor bookkeeping practices.

Four members of the new committee appeared before hamlet council this past week looking for help.

Elder Monica Bruce told council that committee members were just following the advice of their former chair and had no idea things had reached the stage they were at.

With the committee down to one announcer and its funds almost exhausted, Bruce appealed to council on the importance of community radio.

"If we run out of money and can't be on the air, how would we be able to get important messages out to the community?" asked Bruce.

"That is important right now because it's so dangerous out on the land."

Paul Kanayok told council the new committee was willing to do whatever it takes to learn how to operate properly and remain on the air.

The hamlet had offered to help the former committee, but was turned down.

"We (committee members) never heard anything about the hamlet's offer to help," said Kanayok.

"Our former chairperson told us he could fix everything and we waited for him to do that. But instead, he just resigned."

The hamlet has applied for its own licence to broadcast and hamlet Coun. Justin Merritt tabled an idea that may be able to help both parties.

Council unanimously passed Merritt's motion to look at ways to keep the local radio station operating and explore the possibility of its committee merging with the hamlet when its licence is granted.

Coun. Louis Taparti was the most vocal in expressing his desire to help the new radio committee.

"The radio committee is a community-driven organization and we're here to help our community," said Taparti.

"Whether the hamlet can find a way to help or not, I'm volunteering my services to the radio committee board to help them clear up their financial problems."