GTV GM refutes article on Gopaul
Guyana Chronicle
November 7, 2003
General Manager of the Guyana Television Broadcasting Company Limited has refuted the contents of a front-page article in Stabroek News in relation to Miss Olive Gopaul's contract with GTV, and has called on that newspaper to make an apology "with the same prominence it devoted to the original story."
In a letter to Editor of the publication, Mr. Sattaur yesterday said: "I wish to point out that your front page headline of November 5, 2003, misrepresents the conversation I had with your reporter when he asked for a comment on Olive Gopaul's status at GTV.
Sattaur said he advised the Stabroek News reporter that "Miss Gopaul failed to properly notify us (Guyana Television Broadcasting Company Ltd) of her entry in the Miss Universe Pageant," and not that she failed to inform the company about her one month absence."
The letter continued: "In actual fact she did notify us about one week prior to going away. What must be understood is that Miss Gopaul has an agreement to 'function as a part time presenter for GTV'. I can honestly say that I was challenged to find a replacement for her in one week, and that I consider myself fortunate to have secured the services of the veteran reporter, Natasha Waldron on such short notice."
Noting that the Stabroek News article is at 'considerable variance' with Gopaul's contract, Sattaur ventured to 'specifically outline' what is contained in the contract. viz a viz:
1. The agreement is a part time contract and does not provide for protracted absences
2. The agreement was for "producing and presenting for GTV News Unit on alternate days"
3. The agreement provides for payment at a specified rate "per session" from 17:00 to 19:00 hours.
Sattaur said that Miss Gopaul's claim that she would only be paid when she anchored the news, is very 'misleading', as it can be seen that she is entitled to pay each time she turns up and functions for a two hours period (a session). In the capacity of presenter or producer for the GTV news unit, and not for the GTV News Magazine alone.
The GTV Manager reiterated: "Let me clarify that at no time was Miss Gopaul advised that she would be prevented from doing work for GTV, and as such I would challenge the claim that we have violated her right to be meaningfully employed."
He concluded: "All that, be as it may, however, I am still of the opinion that the new arrangement with Miss Gopaul will be less demanding on her, and would provide her with more opportunity to concentrate on her current commitments."