PRIME Minister Moses Nagamootoo has noted that he is not in receipt of a formal resignation from Chairman of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) , Leonard Craig.“My Office, the Office of the Prime Minister has received no correspondence from Mr Craig on his tenure on the GNBA,” the Prime Minister told the Guyana Chronicle during an interview on Wednesday.
It has been rumoured that Craig has travelled to China on a scholarship to pursue his doctorate. Attempts to contact Craig on his mobile number were unsuccessful as calls were forwarded to his voicemail.
Over the past few months, there has been internal bickering among Craig and some directors of the Authority. In particular, Craig had been finding it increasingly difficult to get along with Directors Vic Insanally and Anthony Vieira.
In September, the two directors demanded an apology along with compensation from Craig for statements they deemed to be defamatory. Through their attorneys at the Satram and Satram law firm, the two directors said Craig’s failure to comply with their demands will result in legal proceedings being instituted against him.
Craig in a statement to the media had identified both board members and said allegations of corruption levelled against them will be fully investigated. Kaieteur News had reported that Kenwin Charles, a broadcaster in Essequibo, had said that two GNBA board members tried to force him to sell his operations to a prominent businessman.

Craig noted that if the allegations can be substantiated, it will constitute a major blow to the integrity of the members concerned.
“I will carry out a complete investigation of the facts relating to matters raised by Mr Charles, I will review the reports of the meetings, elicit a response from the members concerned and will release an official statement in the coming days,” he said.
However, Vieira and Insanally through their attorneys said Charles is an unlicensed operator and a board committee had decided to meet with such operators and seek to regularise their operations.
The two directors say that the allegation raised by Charles was not brought to their attention at the last board meeting for a response and Craig’s repetition of the allegations was malicious and calculated to bring them into public hatred, contempt and ridicule.
“There is no truth in the published allegations made by Mr Charles, who is operating illegally and is in no position to sell his operation. You are directly responsible for the circulation of these false allegations which will be deemed to have originated from you,” the directors stated through their attorneys.
The law firm said their clients are entitled to damages for defamation and reputational injury caused as a direct result of Craig’s conduct.
Craig is incompetent
Meanwhile, on Thursday, in a Letter to the Editor published in the Stabroek News, Vieira said “Craig did not comprehend his position (as chairman) and I refused to tolerate it.”
Vieira denied being abusive towards Craig and other directors, but noted that from time to time he would have raised his voice in frustration. He also described Craig as “incompetent” for the job as Chairman of the GNBA.
“Did I think that the man was totally incompetent to be the chairman of a broadcast or any other authority? The answer is yes! Did I ever voice that opinion publicly? The answer is yes! Did I at GNBA meetings use language which Directors Ameena Gafoor, Abiola Wong Innis, Jocelyne Josiah and acting CEO Mrs Boyal would find offensive? The answer is no. Did I raise my voice in frustration at times? The answer is yes!”
Vieira, who has been in the broadcast business for a number of years, said he resigned twice as a director from the GNBA out of frustration which resulted from his interactions with Craig. The result of Vieira’s frustration with the GNBA chair was a no-confidence motion being moved against him (Craig).
In his missive, Vieira said the nitty-gritty of the situation at the GNBA will soon be revealed by Major-General Retired Joseph Singh, who has been tasked with conducting a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the affairs of the Authority.
He strongly believes that Craig’s “incompetence went far beyond his inexperience and total lack of knowledge of broadcasting.”
“Let the CoI do its work; all will be disclosed, especially since he has now resorted to impugning the reputation of the PM and members of the GNBA,” the former owner of Channel 28 said, while noting that the ongoing bickering has caused “many of us much discomfort.”
Vieira cited section 10 of the Broadcast Act, number 17 of 2011 which speaks to confidentiality and noted that there were breaches of same.