After four years at the helm…
-but staff won’t hear of it
CHAIRMAN OF the Board of Directors of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL) Mr. Keith Burrowes on Friday held a highly-anticipated meeting with the management and staff of the State-owned entity at which he allowed frank and open discussion on issues of concern to the general staff and made immediate interventions.
At the meeting, Burrowes said that over the past year, the Board has made efforts to improve the environment in which people operate, in obvious reference to the recent restructuring of the offices in almost every department.
“We have been able to improve the environment, and this need to be acknowledged. We have to acknowledge these small things,” he said in rebuke of those who are in the habit of complaining without acknowledging what has been done.
The Chairman spoke of the perception that things are always better somewhere else, but noted that because of the difficulties one may experience, that person may be forced to become more innovative to get his or her work done. He said that this innovation is to be valued, since it can benefit the person wherever he or she may go. “It makes you more efficient,” he said. As is his custom, he illustrated his points through the use of practical examples to which people could easily relate. He told the newspaper’s employees that they should be proud of the place they work since the image of the institution is vital.
During the interactive session, the Chairman was able to make on-the-spot interventions to address difficulties expressed by the staff. Among these were commitments to address the washroom facilities, the election of a staff representative to the Board of Directors, and further improvement to the IT department so that there is better accounting of electronic files.
Burrowes noted that the image of a company is important, and reminded employees of this. He said the behaviour of persons could determine whether people come back to the company to do business at another time.
He also spoke of the accolade the newspaper received from the Media Monitoring Unit following the 2006 general elections, and said employees must be prepared for hard work during the upcoming 2011 elections.
He expressed frustration at the seemingly difficult time the newspaper is having with regard to the collection of company funds, and a desire to review his tenure at the helm with a view to giving another person a chance to lead the company’s Board, since he has been there for the past four years.
General Manager of the company, Mr Nandkumar Puran said that the staff and management both expressed a desire for Burrowes to continue in the position because of his sterling contribution to the company.
He said the company has passed a resolution, on behalf of management and staff, to compliment Mr. Burrowes on his leadership over the four years, and especially his efforts almost singlehandedly to bring the Chronicle’s internal departments up to the standards that they are now. “There has been a tremendous improvement in that regard,” he said.
He said that since Burrowes’ direct intervention, the infrastructural aspect of the newspaper has improved significantly. “He was also very instrumental in us getting a new press as well as pre-press equipment,” said Puran.
“In terms of computers, we have had a number of additions, [because of Mr. Burrowes],” Puran said. He added that under Burrowes’ stewardship at the helm of the Board, “We moved from a loss position in 2003 to a profit position over the years.”