Latest update June 14th, 2025 12:49 AM
Chronicle Board votes in tie-breaker to send GM home
Sherod Duncan
The Chairman and Board of Directors of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL), which publishes the Guyana Chronicle, yesterday said that it has terminated the services of Sherod Duncan. The termination was effective the previous day.
According to a statement from the Board of Directors of GNNL, Duncan served as the company’s General Manager from 1st June 2018 to 2nd April 2019.
His appointment took effect from June 1 and he was on probation for a period of six months.
The decision of the Board of Directors followed a five-hour long meeting at the company’s office, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park.
At the meeting, Duncan was accompanied by his legal representative, attorney-at-law, James Bond.
GNNL’s Board said that the former GM had an opportunity to provide the Board with an explanation and respond to the findings and contents of an audit report dated 18th March 2019 and additionally to answer questions posed by Directors.
“He was asked to show cause why he should not be disciplined in accordance with the recommendations of the report presented by the Office of the Auditor General.”
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo had ordered a full investigation into mismanagement at the GNNL under Duncan’s tenure as General Manager between 1st June 2018 and 10th September 2018.
The Board said that in accordance with this directive, it had enlisted the services of the Office of the Auditor General.
“A special audit on the overall management and governance of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited in the areas of financial management, human resource management and administrative management for that period was, therefore, done. It is noteworthy to mention that during the investigation, Mr. Duncan was sent on administrative leave pending the outcome of the audit.” The final audit report which followed Duncan’s response to the earlier draft report was on Tuesday examined first by the Board and senior management and then by the Board together with Duncan and his attorney in detail.
According to the Board, all Directors who were present were of the view that the numerous breaches identified in the report in all areas under review were serious in nature and that some form of disciplinary action against the General Manager was necessary, especially given the fact that he was on probation.
“In the end, one Director recommended a one month suspension and an extension of the period of probation. Two Directors recommended an extension of the period of probation while three Directors held the view that Mr. Duncan’s services should be terminated with immediate effect for ‘gross misconduct’.”
The Board comprises a chairperson and six Directors (one of whom was absent at the time of the vote) and a workers’ representative without voting rights.
“Following the call for a vote on the matter of termination of services, three Directors voted against while three voted in favour of termination. There was a tie. Invoking Article 94 of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, the Chairman exercised her right to a casting vote in favour of termination of services.”
The Chairperson of the Board is Geeta Chandan-Edmond.
Article 94 states, inter alia: “Questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes. In cases of an equality of votes, the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote”.
The Board said that Duncan’s services were as a consequence of that outcome terminated with immediate effect.
“The requisite communication to Mr. Duncan and his attorney would have by now been dispatched. At all material times during this process, great care was taken to ensure that due process was adhered to and that fairness and natural justice prevailed. The Board wishes to thank Mr. Duncan for his services and wishes him every success in his future endeavours,” the statement from the Board said.
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