NAREI’s Board rejects Chairman’s attempts to remove CEO

…calls for firing of Chairman

The Board of Directors of National Agricultural and Research Extension Institute (NAREI) has rejected an attempt by its Chairman, Dr Patrick Chesney to remove Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Oudho Homenauth.
On Saturday, Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder confirmed that he has received a report of the incident and the ministry has since launched an ibestigation.
“I’m aware of the matter and it’s being discussed so we’re looking at it to deliberate on a resolution,” said Holder.
He also confirmed that it was the staff of NAREI who called for an investigation of the chairman’s action.
Sources have revealed that Dr Chesney filed a motion two weeks ago to have the CEO removed. He then put forward motion to the Board of Directors to have Dr Homenauth dismissed.

“Dr Chesney came on the Board about six months now and almost from the beginning, he writes very insulting things about the CEO and eventually at one of the Board meetings, he decided to move a motion to have Dr Homenauth dismissed.”
The source, who is an employee at the institute, indicated that the Chairman insisted that the motion be voted upon by members of the Board. However, Chesney was the only individual who voted in favour of the motion which he brought forward.
“He said let’s vote and when the vote was taken, he was the only person voting in favour of the dismissal. Not everyone was at the meeting, but seven Board members voted against,” the source said.
Guyana Times was told that the Board members have appealed to the Agriculture Minister to intervene in the matter and have since asked the Government to remove Chesney.
“The members of the Board made an appeal to the minister, saying that we want the Chairman to go.”
Meanwhile, this publication understands that at a Board meeting on Thursday, Chesney attempted again to have the motion heard. However, this was not possible since only three members were present.
In what is termed a “very serious matter”, employees of NAREI have indicated their concerns about the “adamancy” of the Chairman to have the CEO removed and therefore, are calling for an investigation at the soonest.
Guyana Times was unable to contact Dr Chesney for a comment on the matter.
Dr Homenauth has been working at NAREI for the past 17 years.