President “surprised” no decision yet on NCN financial irregularities

Mar 23, 2013 News

Though President Donald Ramotar has the final decision on the outcome of the investigations of financial irregularities at the National Communications Network (NCN), he is “surprised” that the matter has not yet been concluded.

President Donald Ramotar

Ramotar, at a press conference at the Office of the President, yesterday, expressed surprise that the matter is still ongoing. He related that the matter is being handled and it would be concluded in the near future.
However, for months a report detailing financial irregularities at the state-owned entity was submitted to Ramotar, who is the Minister of Communications.
The investigation was confined to the Terms of Reference that sought to ascertain the relationship between Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) and NCN.
In a leaked report- prepared during the first half of the year- it was revealed that on the part of NCN, one area of irregularity was traced back to GT&T and involved millions of dollars in advertisements.
NCN’s Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Sattaur, who had knowledge of the financial irregularities, resigned in June. The entity’s Programme Manager, Martin Goolsarran, who admitted that he had deposited the payment cheque from the telephone company into his personal account, has been suspended without pay.
However, findings of the investigations submitted to Ramotar would determine the future of the men. Many are waiting to see whether the findings would be sent to the Criminal Investigations Department of the Guyana Police Force.

Mohamed Sattaur

Without revealing details of the investigations, Ramotar said he would like to see accountability at NCN, which will help with confidence and credibility.