News

Edmond Campbell, Senior Staff Reporter

THE MANAGEMENT of News Talk 93FM yesterday unceremoniously yanked the plug on controversial radio personality Dr Kingsley 'Ragashanti' Stewart, an hour before his 'Ragashanti Live' programme was scheduled to end.

Stewart had emailed Professor Gordon Shirley, principal of the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) and chairman of Universal Media Company Ltd, operators of NewsTalk 93 FM, advising him that he would quit yesterday with immediate effect.

However, as Stewart interacted with his audience, seemingly building towards a crescendo, the programme was abruptly cut at approximately 11 a.m. and replaced with music for the next hour, when the curtains were scheduled come down on the show for the last time.

Immediate effect

In a release yesterday, the UWI management said Stewart tendered his resignation with immediate effect from 'Raga-shanti Live'.

The UWI release noted that the board of management of Universal Media Company Ltd stated that, after careful review of the matter, it was decided that "in the best interest of the UWI, Mona, and the station", the programme would be halted and substituted with music until further notice.

Stewart told The Gleaner yesterday that he was not surprised at the management's action which, he claimed, was consistent with his relationship with them and the staff.

"I am well aware that I am not their favourite person," he declared.

Speculation has been rife that tension between the management and Stewart had been increasing since the recent sudden resignation of Fae Ellington as interim station manager, three days after she took up the post.

Ellington had relinquished the post, citing defamatory comments in the media.

edmond.campbell@gleanerjm.com