…GPA urges OPM intervention in operations

THE National Communications Network (NCN) has rescinded a decision to drop Natasha Smith as one of its anchors because of her pregnancy. This follows a meeting on Tuesday with the Guyana Press Association, which has called for the intervention of the Chairman and Board of Directors of NCN, as well as the Office of the Prime Minister, to look into the operations of NCN.

In a statement issued after the meeting, the GPA said that CEO of NCN, Lennox Cornette, denied he had at any time passed a directive that Ms. Smith should be replaced as the anchor of the NCN evening news programme because of her pregnancy.

However, the GPA said it managed to secure a copy of the minutes of the August 8, 2016 management meeting. “The discussion centered on the production of a news montage. The minutes read thus: “With regards to this, the CEO stated that the anchor and wardrobe should coincide with the montage. However, given the present condition of Ms. Natasha Smith, the CEO asked that a tight shot be done to remedy the view….” According to the GPA, following that discussion, the CEO recommended that Ms. Smith be replaced.

“All the senior executives of NCN that the GPA has spoken with us have said they understood Mr. Cornette to be speaking of Ms. Smith’s pregnancy, and that decision was communicated to her. As noted above, Mr. Cornette denied that he issued any such directive. As such, the GPA was able to secure the CEO’s undertaking to have Ms. Smith returned to the anchor chair with immediate effect.”

The GPA said that, following its meeting, Ms. Smith indicated that the Human Resources Manager approached her and apologised, and asked her to return to anchoring. “Ms. Smith has indicated to the GPA that she is ready to do so.”

The GPA congratulated Ms. Smith for bringing the matter to the association, and has called on all members of the media to keep their association abreast of poor industrial relations’ practices at their places of work, and not only to be vigilant against such acts in other workplaces.

“As the state broadcaster, which is heavily funded by tax payers, NCN has an obligation to uphold the highest tenets of industrial relations’ practices, including providing equal opportunity and ensuring freedom from harassment, intimidation and discrimination. By way of this statement, the GPA hereby issues a call for the intervention of the Chairman and Board of Directors of NCN and the Office of the Prime Minister to look into the operations of NCN,” the GPA statement ended.

In a statement of her own on Monday, Ms. Smith said: “I have been employed by the National Communications Network for more than eight years, serving six years in the News and Current Affairs Department, (and I am) now in my second year as an Announcer/Producer in the Production Department. I have anchored the news for the past eight years. This is my second pregnancy while being anchor. In 2011, I was pregnant with twins and there was never any issue with regards to my anchoring or attire, nor any directive to cameramen to shoot from my breast upwards.”

She also said that she felt hurt and angry, “not for myself, but for my child, (whom) I consider a blessing. Given the fact that I have to hide a part of by body makes him (the baby) seem like something unwanted or to be ashamed of. I likened the situation to one where I took a picture with my child and had to Photoshop him out of the picture. I was offended and I contacted my union representative. We then sought a meeting with the Human Resources Manager.”