Ken takes responsibility for removal of talk show host, has role for Fazeer at CNMG

Ken Ali told reporters Thursday the removal of Fazeer Mohammed from the morning show of the state-owned CNMG was "bad timing."

The interim chief executive officer of the company made the comment to reporters at the VIP lounge at Piarco International Airport shortly after returning home with Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar at the end of the PM's three-day visit to the United States, which included an meeting Wednesday with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Mohammed was removed two days after a heated intervview with Foreign Minister Surujrattan Rambachan in which the host and the guest discussed the role of women as leaders.

Ali said, "At the end of the day I realised that several people have drawn that link and I heard Mr Mohammed as well say that it may have been 'suspect' since it was done on Saturday afternoon, I would be guided by that. But I didn't see it mushrooming into this issue because I also felt that Andy Johnson would bring the value that he is bringing now."

He took full responsibilitty for the action, but at the same time noted that it was "unfortunate" that critics didn't give him an opportunity to present the facts. "This decision that was taken by me, myself and I and no one else," he insisted.

Ali said he agrees that the time was bad and suggested that is what caused "this wild speculation." He made it clear as well that he did not fire Mohammed and that there are other plans for the former morning show host in the area of sport and youth. Mohammed is considered one of region's best cricket commentators.

Ali also said he plans to keep Johnson as a permanent co-host of the morning show. 

Johnson is the head of the Government Information Services Limited (GISL). He is a former talk show host and a respected journalist with more than 35 years service. However people have said that since he is connected to government information his role as a journalist is compromised and CNMG would lose credibility.

Rambachan, who had accompanied Persad-Bissessar on her overseas trip, stated that he had nothing to do with Mohammed's removal. He added that he is "disheartened" to learn that people have made a link between that and the interview last week.