SOME $500M was transferred to the National Communications Network (NCN) and the Government Information Agency (GINA) by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration without approval from Parliament, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo said on Wednesday. He also mentioned that the state broadcaster needs new energy and direction and though he did not call for the head of the Chief Executive Officer Molly Hassan, he told a news conference that he has an opinion on her which he would voice to the company’s board if solicited. Regarding the $500M, the Prime Minister said it has since disappeared without a trace. “I have just seen a

document where purportedly the former government transferred almost $500M to NCN and GINA and in all the reports I have for a certain period, I am still trying to figure out where this money gone,” Nagamootoo told a post- cabinet media briefing. He said there is great need for the company to be thoroughly scrutinised, noting that NCN needs “a big brush to clean it up.”
Probe
He referenced the 2012 investigation by Parmesar Chartered Accountants which revealed that there were financial irregularities and connected senior officials of the NCN. The investigation revealed by former NCN Programme Manager Martin Goolsarran had money paid by GT&T for staff transferred to one of his bank accounts while he (Goolsarran) and Chief Executive Officer Mohammed Sattaur were accused of attempting to cover up the financial irregularities by demanding that workers prepare retroactive invoices.
Satellite uplink equipment
The Prime Minister also spoke to the issue of satellite uplink technology discovered in NCN’s storeroom recently. He said NCN’s recently installed board of directors headed by Bish Panday is tasked with investigating the satellite uplink equipment that has been lying dormant for approximately two years.
“I am advised that this new board has taken this matter very seriously… that you had this equipment lying there for a number of years, two years now and had not been activated while the monies were being paid by the Learning Channel, The Ministry of Education, which is revenue of the people of Guyana to a private entity to carry forward the signals via satellite of the learning channel.”
Nagamootoo said there was either “collusion or massive recklessness” with respect to the assets purchased with taxpayers’ money. “The new board will have to enquire what really happened. In the same way that it has enquired [into] several other things,” the Prime Minister said, adding that a new generating plant was left to rot at NCN when it could have been used during blackouts that saw the radio station being knocked off air. “…also, the arbitrary undertaking to fund the transfer of the mast from Sparendaam to the country side for whatever dubious reasons, was for us a very serious matter that reflected on the management then and perhaps even now. I am expecting the board to address these matters. I am not going to get into all these things,” the Prime Minister who is also Minister of Information, said.
Nagamootoo said there are two sets of equipment that have superior advantages if both were installed; residents across the country would be able to benefit from the Learning Channel. “There won’t be a part of Guyana that won’t be covered. And in view of the Venezuelan threat to Guyana and what has now turned out to be a trade and economic embargo against our country… We feel that we need to take our message and education about our sovereignty to all parts of Guyana.”
He termed neglect of the equipment “criminal neglect.” “I have seen the topography, you could reach to about 13 different locations from Lethem and you could have transmission of television visuals, signals to all these areas into Ituni and so on; why this has not been done would require a lot of investigation.” “This is one entity that needs a lot of scrutiny, needs a big brush to clean it up,” the Prime Minister stated.
Embarrassed
The Prime Minister said he was embarrassed by the state of NCN. “I am embarrassed twice,” he said in reference to the state of the State-owned NCN. He believes that management of NCN ought to be held accountable, stating that “The place has been badly managed and it is for the board to deal with.”
Speaking of the state of disrepair that NCN is currently in, Nagamootoo said “I have asked my guards and gardener to render assistance to NCN. The fence has been falling down and nobody seems to know. There is a guard hut there that has more hair than the biggest barber shop in the world…there is growth on top of the hut where the guards are and nobody bothered to take the weeds out.”
Approximately 16 vehicles that have been parked in the compound for some time have been “cannibalized,” the Prime Minister stated. Asked whether he believes management of NCN should be changed at this point, Nagamootoo said “The CEO, I have an opinion that I would not mention here… “But said if asked by members of the NCN board, he would voice his opinion. “I think it needs new energy, that’s what I feel. It needs new energy and new direction,” he added. NCN’s new board is expected to meet for the first time today.

By Ariana Gordon