Controversy surrounding an alleged $1.5 billion tax obligation owed to the Government by Nationwide News Network, founded and run by veteran broadcaster Cliff Hughes, is again making news.

Cliff Hughes himself hasn’t admitted that this tax payment is owed, nor has he refuted the claim as scurrilous mischief-making.

However, it hovers over the media house like a bad smell.

There are many who say that Nationwide is now vehemently a supporter of the Andrew Holness led JLP administration and is in effect an organ of state media.

Perhaps that is a little unkind and does not do Cliff Hughes’s esteemed reputation any justice.

The tax man always looms and the sooner you settle with him the better. Allowing payments to accrue can become an albatross around the neck, particularly when incoming revenue proves challenging. A hill then becomes a mountain to climb.

At the recently held JSE  Regional Investments and Capital Markets Conference held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Founder and CEO of the Amber Group Dushyant Savadia told an audience that his company had taken a significant stake in Nationwide and it has now been rebranded “ Revo” and will be extensively employing AI -generated news. Revo, he said with this tech savvy approach will dominate the Jamaican news space with this “revolutionary approach”.,

He went on to say that Cliff Hughes would be the star of the show and his voice would be used to ask Revo any information one needs. This is a good move, using a bona fide media personality to both personalise and front the product. Cliff Hughes therefore, would become Jamaica’s very own “ HAL”.

What Savadia was driving at is that he didn’t plan to rely on journalists per se but focus instead on AI giving readers the news. The art of writing and storytelling he is prepared to forgo.

The question is, where does this leave Cliff Hughes?

It is not clear as to who is calling the shots at Revo. Is it Savadia as the majority principal, or is it Hughes with his vast experience?

Cliff Hughes has been a great broadcaster in Jamaica for decades and continues to do good work. He needs to be freed up to concentrate on news management and not be burdened by financial obligations. His strength lies in bringing the news and managing his staff.

Savadia is said to be on his way to becoming a billionaire and the Prime Minister who he is very close to, has hailed him as one of the best tech minds out there and an invaluable resource to Jamaica. 

His dynamism in Jamaica’s business sector has been lauded and his connections  they say go deep. He came to Jamaica ten years ago , doing charitable work in the prison system. He then went on to  form Amber and is now set to join to become the richest tech boss operating from Jamaica. It is a success story that surpasses Butch Stewart and Mike Lee Chin.

Savadia should have no trouble then lifting the yoke around Cliff Hughes’ neck, allowing him to do what he does best. Also it would send a positive signal to the team at Revo that all is well with the company and that Savadia has their backs.

It was concerning to hear this week that  Cliff Hughes was hospitalised at Andrews Memorial Hospital with what could be a mild stoke. He had problems with his vision and walking around. This is worrisome but one dearly hopes that this condition was not brought on by stress due to this tax obligation. Stress is a killer and must be managed.

The media landscape in Jamaica like elsewhere is becoming crowded and there are challenges to traditional media. YouTube and social media platforms have democratised the news business and there are more options today, taking away market share.

Younger, more aggressive players are making their impression felt and those who ruled the roost in days of yore have to make room for the new order. This means Cliff has to get back on his feet to take on these interlopers who are having their say.

Cliff Hughes needs a free mind to focus on broadcasting the news and utilising this AI technology that is now the fulcrum of what Revo does.

Savadia must now lend a hand to his media partner and pull him out of the doldrums and get the tax man off his back.