PM orders TV station CEO to apologise to pregnant news anchor
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) – Chief Executive Officer of the National Communications Network (NCN) Lennox Cornette has been ordered to apologise to Natasha Smith, who was removed as news anchor on account of her pregnancy.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo issued the order following a meeting with Cornette and the company’s Human Resources Manager Tishika DaCosta, as well as officials from the Ministry of Labour.
“It agonises me to get involved in what is an NCN management matter but, as a journalist and as a parent, I refuse to be silent on this occasion,” said Nagamootoo whose portfolio includes the state media.
Nagamootoo’s decision came one day after Da Costa apologised to Smith after a protest by executive members of the Guyana Press Association.
Media workers Tuesday demonstrated outside the main facilities of the state-owned NCN, demanding the state broadcaster reverse its decision regarding the removal of a television newscaster because of her pregnancy.
