GM, Finance Controller sent on administrative leave

– ahead of investigation into dismissal, alleged mismanagement of funds

The fallout continues at the Guyana Chronicles, where General Manager (GM) Sherod Duncan has been sent on administrative leave one day after his ill-fated decision to fire a senior member of staff following the leaking of details on excess spending.
On Tuesday, the embattled GM confirmed via social media that he had been sent on leave, pending the outcome of the investigation Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo ordered into both his spending and the circumstances under which Finance Controller Moshamie Maraj-Ramotar was dismissed.
It is understood that Ramotar, who was reinstated to her position the very same day the letter was received, has also been sent on administrative leave as a formality of the investigation. Guyana Times has been informed that the functions of General Manager will be carried out by Administrative Manager Donna Todd.
“I will be proceeding on administrative leave with immediate effect from the Guyana National Newspapers Limited pending the outcome of investigations into allegations of mismanagement of funds and excessive spending,” Duncan’s statement read. “This is under the direction of the Board of Directors. I welcome this decision. God is in charge and all will be well.”
On Monday, mere hours after she was abruptly sent the letter of dismissal by Duncan, Maraj-Ramotar was reinstated to her position following the intervention of her lawyer and an emergency meeting called by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo.
Maraj-Ramotar’s lawyer, Sanjeev Datadin, told this publication on Monday that after she received her letter of dismissal, he took steps as per the Civil Procedures Rules to challenge her dismissal. One of those steps involved the lawyer sending a pre-action protocol letter to the newspaper.
“A pre-action protocol letter was sent to them… before we introduce legal proceedings, under the new rules we have to send a letter saying what we intend to do. We sent one to say we feel the termination was unlawful and if is not corrected we will be entitled to damages… if they don’t, we’ll file legal proceedings,” Datadin explained.
And indeed, GNNL subsequently backed down from the impending legal battle. According to a statement issued later on Monday, Nagamootoo called the meeting with Duncan, Editor-in-Chief Nigel Williams and Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Geeta Chandan-Edmonds.
At the meeting, which discussed Maraj-Ramotar’s dismissal and the reports of excessive spending since Duncan took charge as General Manager, it was agreed that the dismissal letter would be rescinded. In addition, the release stated that a full investigation was ordered into Duncan’s spending and the circumstances of Maraj-Ramotar’s dismissal. The financial official has been with the company for well over a decade.
While the letter has been withdrawn, there has been a barrage of criticism against management of the newspaper for sending the dismissal letter in the first place to someone with over two decades of experience at the company, without an investigation to determine who actually leaked the information.
One former Board member has already taken to social media to recommend that the newly minted General Manager be removed and the application process for the top spot reopened.