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The David Hinds fiasco…Hiring and firing of a columnist is a matter for the Editor, not a Board — Nigel Williams
The Board of an entity is there to give direction on policy. It is not there to deal with matters relating to the hiring and the firing of a columnist.
This is the viewpoint of Chronicle Newspaper, Editor-in-Chief Nigel Williams. He was at the time responding to questions from this newspaper regarding the decision to drop one of the most independent and critical columns in the Chronicle Newspaper— Hinds’ Sight.
Chronicle Newspaper, Editor-In-Chief,
Nigel Williams
WPA Executive Member,
Dr. David Hinds
Williams was reminded that in his email to the Hind’s Sight author, WPA Executive Member Dr. David Hinds, he indicated that the decision to discontinue the column was as a result of “discussions at the highest level of the company in keeping with policy directions.”
Williams was asked to state, if by “highest level of the company”, he meant the Board.
The Editor-In-Chief said that the decision to discontinue the column, came from discussions with Editorial Management and not the Board. He said that subsequent discussions were held with six Board members. Williams categorically stated that his discussions with the Board members were not done in an effort to seek agreement but to inform them of the decision since he expected this sort of fall out.
Williams maintained that the hiring of a columnist lies squarely with the Editor-in- Chief, not the Board. He reiterated that the Board is there for policy making.
Kaieteur News understands that the Chronicle Board met yesterday on the matter. Up to press time, the outcome of that meeting was not revealed.
HINDS RESPONDS
In a statement to the press, Dr. David Hinds said that the weekly column was not published over the last two weeks.
“I am not sure whether the decision to continue my column was politically motivated. It is not clear whether the decision was taken in-house, at the level of the Board or within the political corridors. But because I am a political person who comments on political matters, it is not out of place to speculate that the decision was politically motivated.
“I am aware, that sometimes junior agents of the government do bad things because they feel that is what the government wants them to do.”
The University Professor continued, “So, maybe persons in the management feel that my independent stances which are sometimes critical of the government are not fit for a state-owned entity.
“Or maybe they were given directives from above. I don’t know. Only the editor in chief and his leadership team and can answer that.”
The political commentator added, “They should also say whether their decision was sanctioned by the Board. And the Board has to say what role, if any, it played in the decision. Did the editor act based on directives from the Board, political overlords or on his own behalf?”
The WPA Executive Member said that it has always been an uncomfortable relationship with the newspaper, largely because he is not a “yes-man”.
Dr. Hinds added, “I feel that the Chronicle has slipped right back to where it was during the Jagdeo years—it has again become an unvarnished mouthpiece of the government. I feel that my column and Lincoln Lewis’s are critical to holding the line against that trend.”
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