MEDIA personality and former head of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company, Dr. Yog Mahadeo, has been appointed chairman of the board of directors of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL).

According to the official gazette of September 4, 2020, the Prime Minister, Brigadier (retired) Mark Phillips, also approved Harry Gill, Jason Abdulla, Raul Aaron, Indira Badal, Nicole Williams and Vanessa Narine as board members.

The board will also have a staff representative and will have the General Manager (ag) Moshamie Ramotar as an ex-officio member.
The board will serve for a period of one year with effect from September 3, 2020 to September 2, 2021.

Dr. Mahadeo in a Facebook post stated: “I have been asked to serve in this capacity. While my personal views on the role of State media have been ventilated and are well known, I will give my best without fear or favour, as the Almighty wills it, so shall it be.”

Dr Mahadeo completed his Doctorate Degree in finance from the Swiss Management Centre University, Vienna, Austria.

He was known to have called for liberalisation of telecommunications even when he was the CEO of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company, which currently has the monopoly on landline and international calls.

Meanwhile, adviser to the Minister of Home Affairs on the Security Sector, Harry Gill, when contacted, said he was no stranger to media houses and their operations and production.

He explained that an important element in a media environment is the degree of professionalism and experience of journalists and media practitioners in executing their duties.

The former parliamentarian said he will be advocating for training for State media employees.

Gill said he expects journalists to be fair, accurate, truthful and objective in their work.