One month later…Probe of GNNL financial mismanagement, leaked documents yet to start

Oct 09, 2018 News

The promised probe into the spending and leaking of financial information at the Guyana National Newspaper Limited (GNNL) is yet to commence, sources familiar with the matters have disclosed.
A month ago, General Manager, Sherod Duncan, and Financial Controller Moshamie Ramotar, were sent on leave to facilitate the investigations which were ordered following the intervention by Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo.
Kaieteur News understands that Ramotar has since returned to work while Duncan remains on leave. Information indicates that the GNNL Board met once since the debacle surfaced over funds which were spent under Duncan’s watch.
However, the Board has not yet appointed the team to carry out the investigation, although there is some indication that the Auditor General’s office should probe the allegations of mismanagement surrounding the use of state funds.
Contacted by Kaieteur News yesterday, Duncan said, “I am advised that the investigations have not started. I’m very concerned about this. This week is one month since I’ve been sent on Admin Leave. And I’m not being paid,” Duncan shared.
Duncan is alleged to have, within his probation period as General Manager, spent $5M, in just less than three months on the job. He reportedly spent the money in the absence of the Board, on furniture, a laptop and repairs to vehicles, among other things.
Following the leakage of the spending, Duncan, as GM, issued Ramotar with a termination letter. The letter said that the services of the Finance Comptroller were being ended with immediate effect.
“This is in keeping with the Personnel Policy and Procedures Manual 1991 and the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act 1997.”
The woman was told that GNNL’s Accounts Department would prepare the outstanding benefits within seven days.
Ramotar sought legal support and was being represented by Attorney-at-law Sanjeev Datadin.
Datadin said that in his client’s termination letter “no reason was given for her dismissal”, neither was she given a hearing.
When questioned whether his client’s dismissal was linked to the leaked financial records of the General Manager, the lawyer reasoned that in the past, his client would have recognized “several breaches to the financial and procurement rules” by the General Manager’s office.
Social media went abuzz when financial records detailing the spending of the GM (Duncan) made their way into the public domain.
GNNL is the state-owned publisher of the Guyana Chronicle and the Sunday Chronicle. It is funded with taxpayers’ dollars.

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One month later…Probe of GNNL financial mismanagement, leaked documents yet to start

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