Some NCN workers to be fired; PM defends appointment of AFC Member to head GINA

8
Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo. [iNews' Photo]

Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo. [iNews' Photo]
Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo. [iNews’ Photo]
[www.inewsguyana.com] – Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo announced in the National Assembly on Monday night that several employees from the National Communications Network (NCN) will be sent home as the Company continues to struggle financially.

He said a number of the employees, who were hired to do propaganda work for the former People’s Progressive Party government, would be rationalized under “another PPP- Proper Placement Plan.”

The National Assembly passed a $375 million spending package covering the2015 activities, functions and duties of the Prime Minister, and the offices under his control. The allocation amounts to a total of $267,980 million for current expenditure, and $107,079 million for capital projects.

The package includes some $68 million for the Government Information Agency (GINA) and $77 million for the National Communication Network (NCN). There were also allocations for Lethem, Mahdia and Port Kaituma Power and Light Incs.

Under the previous administration, allocations for GINA and NCN were listed under Office of the President, but under the new Government, the responsibility for Information and Communication has been placed under the Prime Minister’s office.

As a result, the budget reflects that under for the period January 1 to August 31, 2015, under the Office of the President, GINA received $80.4 million while NCN received $69.5 million. Under the Office of the Prime Minister, GINA will receive $63.939 million as funding for the remainder of the year (September to December.) The information agency will also receive another $4.3 million as capital allocation for the purchase of equipment such as cameras and accessories.

Meanwhile, NCN will receive $27.2 million for staff maintenance and another $50 million for the rehabilitation of communication towers at New Amsterdam, the provision of an access road at Onderneeming, the provision for flood alleviation measures at radio and television stations in Georgetown, the provision for a communication tower and paved driveway in Linden, broadcast equipment, lighting kits, UPS, radio automation systems and security lights.

During the consideration of the estimates, the Prime Minister in defending the allocations for the agencies, pointed out that under the previous administration, the agencies were “PPP propaganda machines,” but that the present administration has begun a process of transforming GINA and NCN into “professional state agencies”.

During the deliberations, the PM also defended the selection of the new Director of GINA, Beverly Alert as being a ‘qualified professional and not a political hack.’ He stated that the agency’s director is a professional public relations person with many years of experience.’

It should be noted that Alert is a Member of the Alliance For Change (AFC) and was a candidate on their list for the May 11 General and Regional Elections.

 

---

8 COMMENTS

  1. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I’VE READ A POST FROM VERONICA BARBIERI IN WHICH SHE DOESN’ BAWL OUT “THIEF ! THIEF !” . CONGRATULATIONS ! VERONICA BARBIERI. OLD GIRL ,YOU SEEM TO KNOW EVERYBODY IN GUYANA- EVERYONE WHO IS A THIEF AND EVERYONE WHO KNOWS WHAT [S]HE IS DOING AND HAS KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE TO BOOT. GOOD GIRL .

  2. veronika barbieri why don’t you enlighten us and substantiate why Beverly Alert (appointee) deserves this post.

    It appears you have insights why she is so excellent to deserve this post.

    Most of us see this as strictly political whereby APNU+AFC=PNC will undo anything affiliated PPP/C.

  3. “It should be noted that Alert is a Member of the Alliance For Change (AFC) and was a candidate on their list for the May 11 General and Regional Elections”

    She should not have the job. This is rampant politicking and rewarding party hacks. She would clearly be a political appointee at NCN. We must not have it!

  4. Who cares whether about her ethnic make up ? Who cares about being an experienced media operative ? Who cares about where she was employed ? It is about the fundamental criticisms that the PPP/C Government was bombarded by the ruling cabal and one would have expected that political functionaries were not Improperly Placed in these Positions entrenched into the same positions that the PPP/C were criticized for… the cabal is increasingly self destructing and after 100 days the PPP/C is turning out to have been best for Guyana !!!! Moses is proving what the PPP said… hot air, egotism, and aggressive public relations nusance….

  5. Ms Beverley Alert is a very experienced Media operative; she was a reporter at the Vieira TV Evening News. She was a Public Relations person at the British High Commission among other jobs. Added to that, Ms Alert is a very pleasant and people-friendly person; ethnically, I think she is douglah.

  6. Ms. Alert is definately not a carol sooba who was the the poster child of what a Political Hack. Looks like.

LEAVE A REPLY

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.