The government yesterday announced that well-known insurance broker Bishwa Panday will be chairing the Board of Directors of the National Communications Network (NCN) and AFC candidate Leonard Craig will be heading the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) board.
Minister of State Joseph Harmon, at his post-Cabinet press briefing, also announced that Programme Manager of the Amerindian People’s Association (APA) Jean La Rose, who was also Deputy Representative of the APNU+AFC list, will be chairing the board of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL), which publishes the Guyana Chronicle.
Panday told Stabroek News he will endeavour to ensure that as Chairman of NCN the entity will be self-sufficient. “I will try to run it in a cost-effective manner, so that it won’t be a burden on the treasury,” he said.
He contended that the populace will get value for taxes as there will be accountability. “NCN is owned by the State and as such should reflect the views of the government, while at the same time ensuring a wide spectrum of news and views is also covered,” he said.
“Don’t believe that because it is a state entity employees won’t be able to do a professional job. Whatever entity, the aim is to do a professional job,” he added.
Panday brings with him expertise in the management of the Guyana Television Station (GTV), the Guyana Chronicle and the then Guyana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) and says that from these portfolios he can bring to NCN the knowledge obtained. Foremost, he said, was getting employees to understand that they have a responsibility to report fairly and provide fair service to the community.
In June, 2012, the NCN Board launched an investigation into suspected financial irregularities at the network and a report was delivered to former President Donald Ramotar. Former NCN Programme Manager Martin Goolsarran and NCN’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mohammed ‘Fuzzy’ Sattaur were implicated in the irregularities. Sattaur subsequently resigned and Goolsarran was suspended. He was initially suspended for eight weeks without pay for allegedly attempting to cover up financial irregularities by pressuring staff to prepare backdated invoices, among other things. The suspension was later extended indefinitely.
Former President Donald Ramotar was repeatedly asked by the media about the report during his tenure but offered a series of excuses on it. It is possible that the new board will have to address the findings of the report.
Meanwhile, Craig informed that he had not yet been given the go ahead to speak on his appointment as GNBA Chairman by Harmon. He informed that when he does, he will be holding a press conference to address any questions the media might have. The GNBA is responsible for granting and revoking radio and television licences and regulating the sector. It has been the subject of controversy stemming from former President Bharrat Jagdeo’s handing out of radio licences to mainly friends just weeks before the November 28, 2011 general elections. Well-established applicants were denied. The GNBA, which was set up long after Jagdeo’s exit from office, has been dogged by complaints surrounding these licences. The GNBA board was formerly headed by former PPP/C minister Bibi Shadick.
Efforts to contact La Rose for comment were unsuccessful. La Rose, who was a member of the Constitution Reform Commission in 1999, will take charge of the board at a time when concerns have been raised about the new government’s approach to the Guyana Chronicle and the rest of the state media.
In its last series of appointments to state boards, the government had been criticised for not ensuring gender, ethnic and political balance. The other members of the boards are still to be named.
