Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo has said that according to the procedures for the appointment of members of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) board, Cabinet would have to approve the opposition nominee ahead of the individual’s name being gazetted.
Nagamootoo was responding to a statement made by opposition leader Bharrat Jagdeo, who claimed that after the PPP/C submitted former board chairperson Bibi Shadick as its nominee for membership, he was informed that Minister of State Joseph Harmon would have to give his approval.
“So after writing us—and we sent the name to him—he said he has to seek clearance from Harmon,” Jagdeo told a press conference on Monday.
However, in a response to this newspaper through Director of Public Information Imran Khan, Nagamootoo on Monday said that at no point did he “verbally or otherwise” inform Jagdeo that he had to seek the permission of any minister as it regards to the appointment of the opposition member of the board.
“Mr. Jagdeo may wish to acquaint himself with the proper procedures required to have the opposition nominee sworn in,” Nagamootoo said in the statement.
He indicated that he submitted the name of the opposition member to Cabinet for approval and is now awaiting the gazetting of same before the member is sworn in.
“It has regrettably taken somewhat longer than expected but there is no intention to lock out the opposition nominee,” he added.
The other members of the new board were sworn in late last month. Attorney Leslie Sobers heads the board, whose other members are Dr Rovin Deodat, Scheherazade Ishoof -Khan, Jocelyn Josiah, Aretha Nichola Campbell and Joel Persid Edmond.
