The members of the boards for the Guyana National Newspaper Limited (GNNL) and the National Communications Network Inc (NCN) were yesterday appointed and have been charged to help lift the two entities out of years of abuse and bankruptcy even while ensuring they become viable and competitive enterprises.
The new members of both entities bring to the fore a wealth of experience in journalism and media management. They were installed at a simple ceremony at the Arthur Chung International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown. The GNNL Board chaired by Amerindian activist and Programme Manager of the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) Jean La Rose comprised of Karen Davis, Imran Khan, Scherazade Ishoof-Khan, Ruel Johnson, Bert Wilkinson, Tabitha Sarabo, Patricia Woolford, and Sohan Poonai.
The board for the electronic State media is headed by prominent businessman Bishwa Panday,

Mark Archer, Dr Paloma Mohamed, Margaret Lawrence, Kojo McPherson, Dhanwanti Sukhdeo,
Carolyn Walcott, Imran Khan and Colin Thompson. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo congratulated the new board members of the two entities and explained that Director of Public Information (DPI) Imran Khan has been appointed to sit on both boards as his representative.
The Prime Minister, who also has responsibility for Public Information, was very candid about the State media. “The NCN and the GNNL are both State media owned 100 per cent by the State, 100 per cent shareholder and under the law, the government represents the State, so that I wish to be clear about.” Both NCN and GNNL are incorporated under the law under the Companies Act which provides for the appointment of directors. The boards will decide on policy issues and will engage management on the efficient administration of operations, and Prime Minister Nagamootoo said the abuse of the State media, which was more pronounced at the Guyana Chronicle under the PPP/C, will stop.
Fresh approach
He said there will be a fresh approach to the management of the newspaper and the GNNL directors will be the drivers of this. “The Chronicle newspaper, which is the primary source of income of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited, has been one of the most abused newspapers in any part of the world politically speaking. It was allowed to be reduced to the status of a political rag or a political broadsheet where views, except those of the ruling party/government were allowed. And therefore, there is a credibility problem that the members of the board will have to confront. And the credibility problem is being able to tell the people of Guyana that this is your property, this is reflective of all of us, all of our views,” the Prime Minister said. He, however, pointed out that while the State media will be carrying opposing views, it will be doing so responsibly, noting that it will not be used as a tool to denigrate anyone. The Prime Minister was referred to as an “intellectual jackass” by the Guyana Chronicle under the former administration.
Inclusive and acceptable
“The board will have to guide the newspaper on issues of policies to make the newspaper national, make the newspaper inclusive, make the newspaper acceptable, make the newspaper something that you would want to read; that it has wholesome information on entertainment, sports, cultural items that may satisfy the needs of all the people of Guyana.”
Prime Minister Nagamootoo spoke highly of the new Chairman, contending that as a member of a minority group, her appointment is historic. But he urged the board to make GNNL a national newspaper, one that is viable, competitive and sustainable, not trapped in debts by those who book ads and cannot pay, would not pay and never intended to pay.
“It is there in the market, it is a competitive market and while it is a State paper, it has to fend for itself. It has to be able to sell goods that are saleable and at the same time make profits to keep itself viable and to be able to provide minimum standards for the employees who occasionally have to don long booths to walk in water when the rains come down or have to sit in a canteen that is surrounded by asbestos or something objectionable that no one will feel comfortable eating in that environment,” Prime Minister Nagamootoo told the new GNNL Board. Both La Rose and Panday in accepting their appointment say that the look forward to working in their new role and to transform the respective state media they have been assigned to viable, truly national and competitive entities.
By Tajeram Mohabir