Bermuda Broadcasting Company CEO Rick Richardson yesterday refuted an editorial and story in The Royal Gazette concerning the alleged censorship of a photographer's musical release.

And that photographer, Ras Mykkal, confirmed he made a mistake when he reported that his single "Rudeboy inna de House'' was pulled from the airwaves.

Mr. Richardson stressed that Ras Mykkal's dub poetry release was never banned as the photographer reported.

"There is nothing going on as sinister as has been portrayed in the editorial or your story,'' he said.

Mr. Mykkal said "Rudeboy inna de House'' focussed on Bermudian politics and was pulled from the airwaves after being played once. His debut recording, "Three Blind Mice'', looked at Jamaican politics and was also pulled.

Mr. Richardson stressed: "I want to say there was not a ban on Ras Mykkal's material at all.

"We have a meeting on all submitted material that might land this company in hot water with the Broadcasting Commission.

"I asked Ras Mykkal to submit his material to the programme director, Keeval Burgess, as is the case with all new releases whether they come through local channels or through major overseas labels.'' The programme director then listens to the release and determines if it should be played on the air and, if so, when it should be played.

Mr. Richardson said the programme director could also decide to have the release cleared by the Broadcasting Commission if he thought there were any concerns. This happened with all releases that had political overtones, he added.

Mr. Mykkal's release was still going through these channels, he added.

Ras Mykkal did not meet with Mr. Burgess, he continued, and the release went straight on the air which was why it had to be pulled.

"There was no ban. We knew there would be a delay but I did not have a chance to speak to Mr. Mykkal before the story appeared.'' Mr. Mykkal confirmed that he had made a mistake.

"In my excitement to promote it, I did not give my second release "Rudeboy inna de House'' to the programme director as I had intended and is the proper procedure.

"I made the mistake of stating that the song was "pulled'' from radio play when in fact, it has been sent to the Broadcasting Commission to be approved or disapproved.

"I apologise for the error and wish to make it clear that the Bermuda Broadcasting Company did not ban my work from the radio. They were following the proper procedure for releases which may have political overtones.'' The new procedure has been in place since the referendum on independence when BBC was severely criticised for having a political agenda.

One of the station's announcers played a pro-Independence release without checking it through the proper channels first.

Mr. Richardson also moved to deny claims that Mr. Mykkal's work was taken off the air because it dealt with political actions by Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness who is involved with the Bermuda Broadcasting Co.

"Quinton Edness has not been to a Board meeting for going on two years now. I want to clear that up.''