Chairman of the Board of the National Bank of Dominica (NDB) Patrick Pemberton has categorically dismissed claims that incumbent Managing Director Gregory De Gannes has been booted out of the financial establishment.
Information reaching Dominica News Online some two weeks ago and recent as this week indicated that De Gannes contract ends on August 22, and will not be renewed.Within the past few weeks, there have been rumours of contention between him and other board members, however; Pemberton maintains that De Gannes is still an employee at the institution.
“How could you be fired if you are an employee? De Gannes is an employee as of today… that’s a fact. What else can I tell you? If you take me to court right now I can prove that, because you see the truth is not exciting, so people just hear things and everybody adds their little two cents … and they have a nice big story. Hip-hip hurray,” Pemberton uttered to DNO in an exclusive interview at his office on Wednesday.
He condemned persons who make such “inaccurate” statements, adding “it’s totally unfair to individuals and companies when stories are made up and they don’t have the facts. Totally unfair, and I never resist meeting the press.”
“The connotation that is attached to somebody being fired is that they’re inefficient you know … so you see it’s not fair to an individual to make a statement like that until it is true, because you’re hurting this guy…” he stated.
Pemberton blamed the rumours on a culture of gossip he believes is instilled in Dominicans.“That’s the trouble in Dominica you know. Everybody runs on rumours … Why? The truth is never exciting. Nobody wants to hear the truth apparently. That’s what I have to assume… What people fail to realize is that some of the stories take people down, but they don’t care because it’s not them. One day it will be them and then they will wonder why people so unfair,” he said.
He assured this online publication that if any issue occurs the facts will be relayed.
“If and when something happens that is a fact you all will get the facts. I have no issues with the facts … When I make my decision I am prepared to stand by it. So why would I be telling you the opposite if I have already decided that’s what it is?”
“The day the status of Mr De Gannes changes, if it changes what am I going to do hide it somewhere? Where am I going to hide it?” he asked.
@Super Marlee: thanks for this keen observation, Super Marlee
@Watcher:
Oh so he is human too!!!
What about the people he wronged over the years they not human too? They have no families too?
…..
Where is Benjashoe?
Where is Paul Plastic?
Where is SAG Motors?
Where is Paul Pasta?
Where is Candle Industries?
Where is Antilles Cement Lumber Ltd?
Where is Amcrop?
Where is Tropical Printers?
Where is Antilles West Coast?
……
Monelle should have been the Manager of NBD all now and not that man.
Robinson would have done plenty better compared to this man and all his stooges that he have around him….
@james duncan: Insensitive. Please give facts or are you repeating what other persons are saying? Are you the auditor asigned to audit what he is doing and has not done? Are you a Board member? are you a shareholder? What did he not do? Back up with your facts ok. Sometimes we want too much and just because he is not Dominican, we barrage insensitive statements to person not considering whether we hurt them or not. The man is a human being as well. He has family as well. Put your self in his shoes as well.
Pew@Eyes Wide Open: Hey Wait a while. This is not a job. Why are you all doing this. Rumours Rumours as the Gentlemen has rightly said. He is contributing to society. He has the capability to be a chairman of an organisation. Please try to make yourself marketable rather than just saying things you cannot prove. Make yourself marketable so you can be appointed to be a chairman/ Board Member somewhere on some board. Not just sit there and criticisng everyhing and everybody who has aspired in this country. Some persons are idly not doing nothing and using their tongue to spew out insanity, disrespectful comments. Remember the Lord directed us to pray for our leaders whether we support them or not. Again this is not a job this is a service. If you want to be of service to your country, put yourself in that calibre – not just criticisng but trying to be an objective person who will listen to others opinion, respect them and their role in sociey and take informed decisions. Why is it that persons always feel that to be on a Board is a job. No It is not , It is a service sometimes even voluntary when you only receive sometimes travel allowance to get to to the place of the meeting. Go do some homework people and stop saying what is not true. the way some of us speak is like we want a lawless country where everyone should do as he or she feels like and create problems if things don’t go our way then we are even cussing people. Please let us respect each other and remember that things has to go in order and also divine order as well. I think now is the time for us to pray for our leaders wherever they are in Government, Opposition, Statutary Board, Banks, Councils, Village councils, Managers etc. We need divine order in our country. We need to pray for everyone yes all including the homeless roaming the street – They too need prayers too. Use your free time wisely. Forward we go as the song says.
what does it matter whether he is renewed or not. He should not have been renewed a long time ago. He has done what he has done over the years and nothing will change that. The Board and shareholders waited too long
Anonymous: He’s grenadian hence his belongings will be sent to St.Georges,Gran Anse,Snell Hall,
Boleyo ,Guorve or where ever he hails from.
If you read this article carefully, Pembo is actually VERY indirectly saying that he cannot say the man fired when he on leave. The information out there is that, when he returns from leave he shall receive his walking papers. An announcement of dismissal cannot be announced before it happens, even if the decision has been taken. The date of the dismissal letter would obviously be the date he returns. All now Pembo is right to refute the claim that he has been dismissed. However, he cannot say he has “not yet been” because that would amount to divulging information coming out of a board meeting which he has no authority to do just yet.
Which is why the man said ” it’s not fair to an individual to make a statement like that until it is true” UNTIL IT IS TRUE.
It appears that the reporter only asked Pembo is Degannes really fired. Rather than asking him to confirm whether Degannes will be fired upon return from leave. There is a total difference here.
So y is he packing his personal effects to B/dos?
Ignoramous!! Gosh what is wrong with Dominica and the so called men of esteeem? What are these people doing to poor Dominica? Papa Bondieur! Help Dominica.
He`s the chairman of the board of NBD, he has just been appointed to the board of Public works… Why do we always do this in Dominica. Is like, is only one set to get jobs, one set to eat in this country, while others struggle to get jobs. Yes he has world of experience, but to get this experience he had to start somewhere. I just hope that there is no controversy at the Public works department like what I hearing at NBD. God help us in Dominica.
Well Mr. Chairman…we do not like him…..based on all the stuff we heard the prolific journalist read on his u n me program we think his contract should not be renewed…shate man
Well said Pembo,this will obviously make you unpopular because you have come out with the truth contrary to the views of the RUMORMONGERS.