THE Board of Directors of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited is engaging the Audit Office to probe claims of overspending by the company’s General Manager, Sherod Duncan.
Mr. Duncan is currently on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. In a statement in response to a page 21 Stabroek News article of Thursday October 25th captioned: “Six weeks on… Sherod Duncan still ‘on leave’ from Chronicle” the GNNL board said it is pleased with the interest being shown in the operations of the Guyana Chronicle.
“The board is of the view that matters such as the one at the heart of the article referred to would be best addressed internally. The Board also feels that, as a senior employee, Mr. Duncan would have paid some attention to all of the clauses of his contract of employment, particularly clause 10 which deals specifically with the subject of confidentiality,” Director Mervyn Williams said in the statement on behalf of the board.

However, he said having regard to the publication of certain “inaccuracies and Mr. Duncan’s engagement with the media, the GNNL believes that some clarity is necessary.” Williams said Mr. Duncan is currently on administrative leave. “That would remain the case until the completion of an inquiry into allegations relative to his stewardship of the company. This is a decision of the Board of Directors of the GNNL.”

According to Williams, the allegations were widely published in the media following the unofficial release of confidential company records. He said the inquiry into that unofficial release has been completed and the report is with members of the board. Williams clarified that Finance Controller, Mrs. Moshami Ramotar, who was also sent on administrative leave relative to the leaking of the financial information, has resumed duties and this is rooted in the completion of the inquiry and submission of the attendant report.

“Contrary to what is being reported, the matter of Mr. Duncan is under active investigation. Documents have been requested and obtained by the Board of Directors. Additionally, the Board of Directors at its most recent statutory meeting held last Tuesday resolved that the Office of the Auditor General will be engaged. This decision has already been activated,” Williams asserted.

He said the board of the GNNL believes that, any responsible news outfit would have at minimum contacted the chairperson or any member of the board before going to press with an inaccurate story which has the potential of causing embarrassment to the GNNL in the first instance, and ultimately to the publisher of the inaccurate or speculative report. “The GNNL remains a strong family of committed professionals whose hard work keeps the Guyana Chronicle and the Sunday Chronicle alive and in the homes, offices, fields and factories of Guyana and beyond,” Williams added.