Nigel Williams, the Editor-in-Chief of the State newspaper Guyana Chronicle will proceed on his four weeks annual vacation leave effective August 4 and has informed staff that he will not be renewing his contract with the company.
During a meeting with the staff of the Guyana Chronicle on Monday morning, Williams informed that his five-year contract comes to an end on August 30, 2020, and he has no plans to renew it.
When contacted, General Manager (ag) of the National Newspapers Ltd Ganesh Mahipaul confirmed to the News Room that approval was granted for Williams to proceed on leave.
Mahipaul confirmed that Williams informed the editorial staff of his decision but noted that he [Williams] “signalled” his intention to him that he will not renew his contract with the State newspaper.
“The Board of Directors were in the process of considering for a renewal [of the contract] but the Board has not taken a decision and the next Board meeting is slated to be on August 17, 2020.
“The Editor-in-Chief has said that he is not interested in a renewal, at least that is what he has told his staff and he has also signalled it to me informally not in writing as yet,” Mahipaul told the News Room.
No decision has been taken as yet as to who will be acting in Williams’ post while he is on leave.
“That decision will be made shortly…I will be meeting with the senior persons of the Editorial Department so that a decision can be made for someone to act in the position which can be mutually agreed on between myself, the management and the Editorial senior staff. Whoever that person is must enjoy the confidence of the Editorial Department,” Mahipaul said.
Williams was appointed the EIC post at the Guyana Chronicle a few months after the now-ousted APNU+AFC coalition took office in 2015. His employment took effect on September 1, 2015.
Efforts made by the News Room to contact Williams proved futile; his Secretary said he had left the office and calls to the cell phone went unanswered.
No decent democracy has state owned media unless it is truly independent. In Canada they have the CBC but it relies solely on Government funding…..so criticism is light, but it does a good job otherwise. To me the only reason to have state run media is to generate science and educational media with NO news inputs in either direction.
Mr. Williams did exactly as was asked of him…..and I hope HE Ali dispands the State media and supports the private media…..let them criticize as the Government can buy ad space and get message across to public and there is always the DPI
Scrap the state owned media. Especially the Chronicle.