Head of the Government Information Agency (GINA) Neaz Subhan yesterday said the future of the agency, including the fate of its workers, hangs in the balance.
“At this point in time, we are still awaiting final word. There is a sense of uncertainty among staff as they are unsure of their futures,” Subhan told Stabroek News.
GINA staff members have privately said they are unsure of their status in the wake of the opposition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC) chopping GINA’s budget from $18.9 million to a mere $1. The opposition parties, with their parliamentary majority, have spoken with one voice on the matter, vowing that they would not approve funds for an entity that propagandizes for the government, including producing attacks on the opposition.
Subhan, who has said that the closing of the agency could put 38 staffers out of work, has defended GINA’s work in this newspaper’s letter columns. “…The authorities are looking into it and will soon give word as to the outcome of the agency. We pray for the best,” he said.
