Latest update November 17th, 2024 1:00 AM
Latest News
- Guyana received US$5.4B in royalty, profits from 500M barrels pumped to date
- Final audit report of Exxon’s US$7.3B expenses sent to company, to be made public next week – Minister Bharrat
- Israeli air raid on Gaza City school turned shelter kills 10 people
- Baby dies, toddler severely burnt in Sophia fire
- Venezuelan- orchestrated cyber operations targeting Guyana – National Defence Institute
NCN scandal…President Ramotar preparing to meet officials, sanctions likely
Months after a damning report recommended critical changes at the state-run National Communications Network (NCN), sanctions are now likely to be taken against a number of officials.
CEO, Mohamed Sattaur
Declining to name the individuals yesterday, President Donald Ramotar, hinted at a possible shakeup of the entity which last year was rocked by revelations of wrongdoings.
NCN’s Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Sattaur, resigned while Production Manager, Martin Goolsarran, was handed two consecutive suspensions back in June.
Following a special audit, NCN’s Board of Director had prepared a wider report of the situation at NCN with recommendations of possible sanctions.
The board is chaired by Dr. Prem Misir and includes Kwame McCoy, both staffers of the Office of the President.
During his first press conference this year, yesterday, President Ramotar in response to questions declined to speak of the sanctions but said that it would be “unethical” to announce what some of his decisions would be. He said that he has not yet spoken to the persons involved but “I have a fair idea of where that should be going…”
NCN controls a network of televisions and radio stations across the country, including Channel 11.
Last year, it all fell apart for NCN when during the budget debate, an upset Opposition questioned assertions how the entity collected over $500M in revenues yet was asking for an additional $60M in Government subvention.
Following complaints, a probe was launched into NCN’s handling of a contract with the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) to record and produce the Jingle and Song Competition.
The report by the Board was completed and handed over to the President late last year.
A board-ordered audit by accountant Harry Parmesar unearthed shocking details of how over $3M from GT&T was deposited into Goolsarran’s personal bank account.
Production Manager, Martin Goolsarran
There were allegations of missing cameras, lax internal controls, and of contracts being issued without any written agreements.
There were also indications of an attempted cover-up by the two as the special auditor found.
Parliamentary opposition parties, A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC), have called for criminal charges to be laid.
Following the damning report by Parmesar, there has been a major shakeup at NCN. Part of the major changes at the agency included the reactivation of a special review committee, called the ‘Rates Committee’, and which includes senior departmental heads.
It has been the allegation that the committee was deliberately stifled for a number of years and that two senior officials unilaterally bargained with large advertising companies for lucrative low rates. In return for the low rates, senior officials of NCN reportedly took kickbacks.
The situation at the state agency has drawn widespread anger and was a major embarrassment for the new PPP/C administration last year.
A number of dissatisfied staffers leaked records that indicated a seemingly ‘wild west’ situation of advertisements being aired free, and of links between at least one senior staffer and a heavy equipment company.
An angry opposition, upset with NCN’s ‘biased’ coverage to them, blocked a budgetary subsidy for NCN for over $65M. The opposition had called for more accountability and balanced coverage by the state agency.
The Parmesar report made it clear that both the CEO and Goolsarran failed to carry out their duties diligently and professionally.
“They have knowingly breached the company’s internal control procedures. Their actions in dealing with the GT&T Jingle and Song Competition clearly demonstrated conflict of interest.”
Board Chairman, Dr. Prem Misir
The report also recommended that the Board of Directors should take necessary actions, including legal ones, to recover loss of revenue for all amounts paid to any individual.
The two, according to the report, tried to pressure staff to backdate key records in what was seen as an attempted cover-up.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
The PPP is in the grip of the bourgeoisie
…Peeping Tom Kaieteur news- The People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) stands at a crossroads. Once the vanguard... more
Rising Gun Crimes in the Caribbean: Urgent Action required by all
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News – There is an alarming surge in gun-related violence, particularly among younger... more
Weekend Cartoon
