Shaddick’s appointment to GNBA processing – Harmon

In light of criticisms emanating from Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo in relation to the appointment of People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) appointee Bibi Shaddick, former head of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA), to serve on the board of that entity, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, explained during a post-Cabinet press briefing that the appointment is currently being processed.

Explaining at his party’s press conference last week that Shaddick had been selected to serve on the Board of the GNBA “for continuity”, given that “she can explain things”, Jagdeo had lamented that the process of her appointment was being held up because Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, under whose purview the GNBA falls, had to wait for Minister Harmon’s approval before making the appointment.

“That’s what I am talking about,” he had said. “(The appointment) is provided for, they announced it, it is probably gazetted; now we can’t go ahead because he (Nagamootoo) still needs to go and wait outside of Harmon’s office to get it approved,” Jagdeo had remarked, even as he added that Nagamootoo is a “lightweight” in Government.

According to Harmon, at last week’s post-Cabinet press briefing, the Opposition had submitted its candidate after the other board members had been sworn in by the Prime Minister, hence Shaddick’s appointment is currently being processed. He was quick to point out that the Opposition had, in the past, taken a position that it would not take up any of the statutory seats allotted to it on the various State Boards until Government ended what it called “witch-hunting” of citizens. “So, as a result of that, (on) many of these boards they never took up these offers,” Harmon explained.

He further explained that, in regard to Shaddick’s appointment, there is a process through which that has to go. “Every member of the Authority is recommended by the responsible minister, and (the recommendation) comes to Cabinet and Cabinet gives its no-objection. After that is done, (the appointment) is published in the Official Gazette, and based on that publication, an instrument is created, signed and issued by the Prime Minister to the member of the board,” Harmon explained, noting that the other board members have had to undergo a similar process.

The State Minister posited that the Opposition cannot just appoint Shaddick one day and look to have her sitting on the board the following day. “(It) is not going to happen. The work of the Government is done in a structured way, and what I can assure you is that the matter is now being addressed.

I believe (that), very shortly, the Official Gazette publication will be made, and Mrs Shaddick will be sworn in very shortly, I can say that. But we don’t believe that the function and the work of Government must be stymied in certain ways just to facilitate the Leader of the Opposition deciding on when he wants to do things and when he will do it. It has a process, and we’re working the process, and we ensure that Government’s business is conducted in a transparent and timely manner,” Harmon declared.

He also pointed out that the APNU+AFC Coalition has not forgotten its position on radio licences that were illegally granted. “We have appointed a new GNBA Board, and that Authority understands what the position of the APNU+AFC Administration is on the matter, and I can assure you and that they are looking into it right now,” Harmon posited.