By Archie Boan
Bomi County Senator Edwin M. Snowe has called for a full-scale Senate investigation into reports that the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS), the country’s state-owned radio and television network, has entered into a partnership with Blue Star Hi-Tech Liberia Limited, a gambling company, to operate a betting center within its Paynesville premises.
In a formal communication to the Senate Plenary, Senator Snowe described the alleged arrangement as a direct threat to the moral standing, institutional integrity, and public image of the nation’s only government-funded broadcaster.
“This development raises serious concerns regarding the moral standing, institutional integrity, and public image of the nation’s premier broadcasting entity,” Snowe wrote. “LBS is financed by the National Government and serves as a vital platform for national communication, education, and entertainment.”
The senator has requested that the Senate Committee on Information, Broadcasting, and Cultural Affairs be instructed to conduct an immediate and thorough probe into the purported deal and the reported setup of a gambling operation on LBS grounds.
Staff Shocked by Sudden Installation
The call for investigation follows mounting unease among LBS employees, who told DN News Liberia that they were stunned to witness equipment being offloaded into the LBS theater without prior briefing to management or staff.
They later learned the equipment belonged to Blue Star Lotto, a subsidiary of Blue Star Hi-Tech, which operates the national 5/90 lotto game under contract with the National Lottery Authority (NLA).
LBS Director General Responds
When contacted, LBS Director General Eugene L. Fahngon confirmed the company’s presence on the premises but denied that any formal agreement had been signed.
He explained that Blue Star had initially approached LBS for airtime to broadcast its daily lotto draws, but that proposal was deemed financially unsustainable for the company.
“Instead, I suggested that they relocate their lotto machine to the LBS theater under a potential revenue-sharing partnership that could benefit the institution,” Fahngon said, describing the employees’ reaction as “premature.”
Public Scrutiny Mounts
The revelation has sparked public debate over whether it is appropriate for a national broadcaster, funded by taxpayers, to host or partner with a gambling entity, given its role in promoting education, culture, and national values.
The Senate is expected to deliberate on Senator Snowe’s communication in its next sitting, amid growing calls for transparency and accountability within the state-run media system.
