NCN Chairman disputes bitter clash over appointment of CEO

…says only 1 Director objected

By Devina Samaroo

Chairman of National Communications Network (NCN) Inc Bish Panday has rejected claims outright that there was a bitter clash among board members over the appointment of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Lennox Cornette.
An online media outlet reported on a leaked email exchange which suggested that the NCN chairman took it upon himself to appoint Cornette, despite objections from other board members who reportedly argued that his candidacy should be disqualified since his employment at the Guyana Telephone Telegraph (GTT) came to an end in 1999 after it was discovered he forged the signature of then Deputy General Manager Terry Holder.

However, Panday told Guyana Times on Saturday evening that the article is riddled with inaccuracies and he called for evidence to be produced to validate the contents of the publication.
In providing clarity on the matter, he explained that the board of directors agreed Cornette’s appointment during a meeting on April 7.
Later in the evening, he said one of the directors raised a concern regarding the appointment of Cornette.
This director has been identified as Imran Khan.
Panday explained that the “concern” was investigated, the findings were brought up for discussion and thereafter all but one member gave the approval for Cornette to be appointed the new NCN CEO.
“One objected and the others agreed, I can’t go with the one that objected. He objected after the event, he did not object before the man was appointed and if one director objected and seven directors said ‘yes’, I can’t go with the one who objected,” Panday explained.
The chairman maintained that at no point was there a “bitter clash” among board members of the appointment of the CEO as reported in the article.
“That part of the article is a blatant lie,” he said.
Furthermore, Panday pointed out that Cornette should not be condemned for one mistake he made years ago, explaining that the investigation revealed that Cornette had no other blemish after that incident.
According to reports, Panday had told the board member who objected just this.
“In view of the phone calls I delayed my hand and did some investigations. I met with Mr Cornette and put the GT&T issue to him. He readily admitted that in 1999, he did sign Mr Terry Holder’s name and there was a parting of ways between him and GT&T. He said it was a mistake he has regretted ever since and it’s the only blot on his copy book.”
It was also reported that Panday contacted Cornette’s last two employers, Jialing Forests and Conservation International and they both spoke highly of him.
Director of Public Information Khan in response reportedly posited that “I am gravely afraid of entrusting Mr Cornette with the authority of CEO at NCN, or anywhere else for that matter, in light of his admitting to what effectively constitutes fraud. Should this information become public Chair and colleagues I am afraid that we would find ourselves in extreme difficulties to defend it.”
Khan is said to have recommended that veteran broadcast journalist Enrico Woolford be appointed as the NCN CEO.
Notably, the article quoted no other board member objecting to the appointment of Cornette.
It highlighted that the only other board member to contribute to the email exchange was Dr Paloma Mohammed who appeared to have supported the Chairman’s position.
Meanwhile, Cornette, a former journalist who is now a communications consultant and preacher, will take up his post from May 1, 2016 and succeeds Molly Hassan, who resigned a few months ago.
He holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the Australian Institute of Business, a Bachelor in Social Sciences, (majoring in Mass Communications), a Diploma in Public Communication, and certificates in planning promotion from Bailbrook College, England.