CAPITOL HILL, MONROVIA — Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe on Tuesday urged the Liberian Senate to investigate what he described as the alleged establishment of a gambling centre within the premises of the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS), the state-owned national broadcaster. The Bomi County lawmaker formally presented his concerns during the 49th Day Sitting of the 2nd Session of the 55th Legislature, warning that the reported arrangement threatens the reputation and role of the public broadcaster.
In a communication dated November 10, 2025, and addressed to President Pro-Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, Senator Snowe said the alleged agreement between LBS management and Blue Star Hi-Tech Liberia Limited represents a disturbing shift in how a taxpayer-funded institution is being used. “This alleged move poses a threat to the moral standing, public image, and institutional integrity of the LBS,” Snowe said, stressing the seriousness of the allegations.
Snowe told his colleagues that LBS, as a government-financed entity, should serve as a platform for national communication, education and entertainment, not as a venue for commercial gambling activities. He argued that any partnership with a gambling company would undermine the broadcaster’s mandate and raise troubling questions about ethical governance and accountability in state institutions.
The Senator reminded the Plenary that the national broadcaster holds a special place in public life and that allowing gambling operations within its grounds could erode public trust. “LBS must remain a space that promotes national values and civic education, not one that encourages practices that could erode public morality or contradict the social responsibilities expected of a state broadcaster,” he told the Senate.
Following the reading and debate on the floor, Senators moved swiftly to contain potential damage to public confidence. The Plenary unanimously instructed the Senate Committee on Information, Broadcasting and Cultural Affairs to take immediate charge of the matter and commence a full investigation into the alleged arrangement.
The committee was given a strict timetable: to investigate the claims thoroughly and report back to Plenary within two weeks. Senators emphasized the need for a transparent probe that would examine the terms of any agreement, the authority under which it was signed, and whether proper oversight procedures were followed.
LBS management and representatives of Blue Star Hi-Tech Liberia Limited were not present during the Senate sitting, and the communication did not include a response from the broadcaster. The absence of an on-record rebuttal means the committee’s inquiry will be the principal avenue for uncovering the facts.
Civil society groups and media watchdogs, if alerted to the alleged arrangement, are likely to seek access to the committee’s findings given the broader implications for public media governance. Lawmakers also signalled that revelations of impropriety could prompt further legislative or administrative action to safeguard state institutions.
For now, the matter rests with the committee, which has been tasked with balancing urgency and thoroughness as it examines the claim that a gambling company has been allowed to operate within Liberia’s premier broadcasting institution. The Senate’s two-week deadline sets the stage for a swift reckoning on an issue that touches on public accountability and the stewardship of national assets.
