Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (Aug 14/02) - A once ugly situation has become a shining example of what can be accomplished with good communication and a little co-operation.

Hamlet Coun. Louis Taparti has been the most vocal supporter of the hamlet and local radio committee working together towards a common goal.

Taparti and senior administrator Ron Roach recently met with the committee to work out an acceptable arrangement to both parties in the running of the hamlet's new local radio station.

The radio committee's financial woes, and loss of society status and bingo licence privileges have been well documented.

The hamlet is waiting for final approval of its own society status, and the arrival of its broadcast licence and transmitting equipment.

Taparti said the radio committee was asked to move its equipment to the hamlet and be part of the new society. He said committee members were open to the idea and were also willing to have the hamlet take care of their bookkeeping.

"That was a positive step forward from the stance taken on the matter by the former committee chairperson," said Taparti.

"That decision made the concept of a partnership easier to support because they would be under the hamlet's umbrella. The radio committee will be in total control of the programming side of things."

Taparti said once the radio committee moves to the new location and the hamlet's society status is granted, the committee will be able to reapply for its bingo licence.

The new station will be located at the arena, either in the Inuit Broadcasting Corp.'s current location, or in the room housing the DJ booth.

The hamlet has targeted October to have the station up and running, with little or no interruption of local programming.

"We're helping the committee and it's helping us with equipment and expertise on running a radio station," said Taparti.

The new society board will be comprised of the present radio committee and a member at large from the hamlet.

"I wasn't happy with the way the situation was originally handled and I still feel that way," he said. "It's good for the community to have this issue resolved in this manner, to the benefit of everyone involved."