UPDATE: Tim Durand and Carol Abraham sacked in Marpin redundancy move

Tim Durand

News editor and anchor Tim Durand along with programme director Carol Abraham have been laid off from Marpin 2k4 Ltd.

Reports are that the company is undergoing a restructuring of its news department in order to make the news channel profitable and cost efficient.

“It was purely a financial decision and not because of my performance,” Durand told DNO in an interview Wednesday.

Durand has been with the institution for nine years, seven years with Marpin Telecoms and Broadcasting and two years since Marpin 2k4 became the new owners.

The senior news man says he is considering several option of employment not excluding journalism.

Meanwhile, DNO have been reliably informed by an insider at the TV station some of its younger staff has been given new positions.

Their redundancies take effect on Monday

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57 Comments

  1. DE CARIBBEAN CHANGE, BBA, MBA, CPA
    May 19, 2011

    The man, Tim Durand, ala Andre Paul of Helen TV of St Lucia.

  2. yes papa
    May 19, 2011

    I love Tim.. although I find he used to make mistakes in the newsreading eh.. .Like when he reads… I am always waiting for some comic relief. Either he scratches his throat at the wrong, making some funny/weird comment or leaning causally on the desk while the clip ends…thehhehahaha.. I will miss you… but you are really good..so you wont stay down for long. Check DBS or do some thing different.

    Ms/Mrs. Abraham on the hand…. well.. I don’t know much and I will choose not to say what I might want to say.

    Anyway, I hope nobody or very few gets the redundancy card again. Ron Abraham was the man for Marpin.. but greedy people will do wonders to get more things. The man, I am sure, was not perfect but for man to work and toil all his life for a company, building it from nothing.. to the most famous tv company in Dominica, building this big building and fighting with Cable & Wireless to bring freedom in the telecoms world.. and so others treating him….Nah…. they must pay. The gave the man nothing and get all kind of crooked people to run the show. I mean come on. We need to treat people better than that. Abraham must be strong in faith and backbone.

    Anyway, Marpin…I am not your greatest critque though, I still prefer you than SAT as of right now. Your news quality (picture and reporting) stands way above theirs. Your local playbacks are good too… you just need to do more local programming.. although I must admit I have been seeing more….on channel 5 and 7/

  3. babsal
    May 19, 2011

    come over to SAT we need a good news man like you

  4. senior citizen
    May 19, 2011

    Looks like Marpin is not doing very well despite the almost double hike in fees. What happened to the newscast last night, with no apology! DSS be wary and do not put the people’s hard earned money at risk! Bail out while there’s still time!

  5. Away
    May 19, 2011

    They are not the first and wont be the last.Good luck cousin Tim stay strong. :)

  6. Viewer
    May 19, 2011

    Well well other countries going bankrupt and many lost of jobs.Two people out of Job,Dominicans stop Panicking all these must come to pass.Jesus Christ is setting his priorities and plan.Be not troubled but look up high for your redemption draweth nigh.

  7. m
    May 19, 2011

    first night after sending the editor home Marpin news is a mess… Wat a ting

  8. Free Press
    May 19, 2011

    Press Quotes

    There can be no Press Freedom when journalists exist in corruption, poverty and fear

    The Press is the best instrument for enlightening the mind of man and improving him as a rational, moral and social being

    In other lands the Press and books and literature of all kinds are censored, we must redouble our efforts here to keep them free.

    Freedom of the press is not an end in itself but a means to the end of achieving a Free Society.

    If you don’t have the Freedom of the Press, then all the little or big fellas are weaseling around and doing their monkey business and they never get caught.

    Our liberty depends on the Freedom of the Press and that cannot be limited without being lost

    The Free Press is the mother of all our liberties and of our progress under liberty.

  9. I VOTED LABOUR AND SAM MARTIN
    May 18, 2011

    tim when one dog is close many more is open
    same to carol but do not worry ronald abraham started marpin and they fired him who is you for them not to fired

  10. Watching
    May 18, 2011

    Media worker you could not have said it better.
    PPl don’t be fooled its nothing to do with restructuring. Ask the DSS board or that member of that board what was so important that he had to call the GM of MARPIN 2K4 after the the news aired on Friday 13th May.
    Now some of you all mite read this and turn up you all nose but the facts are the facts they will not admit to it on the record but the GM was under constant pressure from those DSS folks. They want to make Marpin news like GIS DBS and Kairi.
    Wait and the truth will be revealed.

    Politics is becoming dirty, DSS better find out how much of Marpin’s customers share the same views as those they trying to block out from the news and how much profits they will make if those ppl are to make them selves redundant too.

    Sipping

    • wow
      May 19, 2011

      U talking garbage! What Dss have to do woth the fact that Marpin keeps making a LOSS??? Its obvious that Marpin 2K4 has managemment issues. They keep spending money and they cannot show where it going. What u have to ask is – How much is Marpin Manager salary plus allowances plus BONUS? how much is Tim Durand and Carols salary? and then ask youurself if that makes sense given that the company is making a loss every year!

      • Now I watching
        May 20, 2011

        Its funny how we are so quick to say one person is talking garbage and we are not.
        My friend get your facts rite. Tim and Carols’ salary is peanuts when compared to others. It has nothing to do with money get that through your head.

  11. Love Dominica
    May 18, 2011

    Tim, they make you redundant, look tonight they can’t bring news. what comess is that with the news, they will lose more customers.

  12. DR
    May 18, 2011

    Hope he apply for the General manager`s position at D.B.S. if it`s still vacant. It reminds me just a couple days ago a call from our pm to us Dominicans regarding the congestion in Roseau generated lots of sugestions and debate for and against as it out to be, but! to my surprise after 24hours on D.N.O. the whole thing disappeared. I went EH,EH,I smell some thing fishy. No name no warrant. But we go see??????

    Admin: we don’t understand what you mean when you say “after 24 hours on DNO the whole thing disappeared.” As we add new stories older stories get pushed down and eventually goes to the archives. I you want to find any of our stories you can type key words in our search box (located on the top right hand corner of the home page) and you will find it. For example to find the story you are talking about you type in “traffic in Roseau” or something like that and hit search. We cannot keep one story forever on the home page because new stories keep coming up all the time.

    • DR
      May 19, 2011

      Thanks for the clarification and advice I will surely follow it. Keep it open and intreasting D.N.O.

  13. unknown
    May 18, 2011

    It was a poor judgement for the TV company to increase payment for cable service at this time. Many more will suffer the same fate and even the company itself. The company is losing many costumers and the other is absorbing them. The future doesn`t look favourable. Our local investment will be in trouble

    • Looking into the future
      May 18, 2011

      So did DSS make a poor investment taking people’s money and putting it into MARPIN 2K4? Wonder what kind of returns DSS receiving now or will receive in the long term? Hope when people retire they are able to get their full retirement benefits from DSS.

  14. Happiness Ka Fan Cho Mwen!
    May 18, 2011

    whenever someone loses a job….it is SAD!

  15. honest lady
    May 18, 2011

    Sorry to hear of job loss. But they are both skilled, Tim in journalism and Carol is an Agriculturist.
    So I wish them luck in their new field.

  16. biased onlooker
    May 18, 2011

    what is this talk about being one sided? what yall accusing him of of? WHICH side exactly??? the biased ones are the viewers and party supporters that only want to see their colour or perspective and too narrow and small minded for anything else.

    And yall cant even be honest enough and show enough courage to plainly accuse the man of something you have to use innuendo? Its not like your using your real names or maybe its cuz you know there isn’t much to your own emotionally motivated reasoning.

    I hear two different commentators one accusing him of being pro opposition and another being too much for the administration

    , Al jazeera that famous news agency once got blasted from all sides too remember that? When that happens in journalism its a sure indicator that he (Tim Durand) was actually doing his job unlike most of you unfairly biased commentors!

    btw everyone has SOME bias (hence the name biased onlooker) as humans its natural the issue is UNFAIR bias. The man was balanced in his approach and as fair commentator as this country has seen but some dominicans cannot handle that. His position was made redundant instead of asking valid questions people making accusations and negative comments. Our society needs to do better and we CAN by the way, we just have to choose to…

  17. outrage
    May 18, 2011

    papa, what de country coming to when de televison company cutting staff, things looking bad bad bad, i getting real scared now

  18. Former Employee
    May 18, 2011

    Dog eat dog world over dere…marpin simply making way for their friends.

    • Anonymous
      May 19, 2011

      like everywhere else in DA

  19. GWEN BAMBOO
    May 18, 2011

    One thing we need to realise in Dominica; companies use that excuse of redundancy as a way of victimising and firing workers. It is the easiest way of legally firing a person who has done nothing wrong. Whenever a company wants to get rid of an employee, the easiest excuse is redundancy. Then the company turns around and gives that position a new title and puts another employee to do the same job. My greatest disappointment is that everyone turns a blind eye. Union people do not investigate, lawyers do not care and politicians are none the wiser.

    It is very sad because a lot of people are suffering the same fate and nothing is being done. An adult with family and countless responsibilities, who has been employed for this long and taking care of their debt suddenly wakes up and cannot buy food. Please people, grow a conscience.

    • River Street
      May 19, 2011

      True! Easy way out for companies. Tim is a seasoned professional. Good luck Tim.

  20. clean and true
    May 18, 2011

    Let us be very honest. Tim gave us only what his leaders wanted to be aired. So for them to now glorify you, they dont love you. That wont give you back your job. My truth is be balanced, talk the truth and dont glorify what is wrong. Skerit is not perfect but he has done we. Dont you see Tim instead of doin what you doin. You are more intelligent than them. Will they give you a job,dont chip at your personality man. You are better than what you have been portraitin

    • henri
      May 18, 2011

      Well, there is always Q95, I believe that Angelo Alleyne would love the company

  21. Is dat
    May 18, 2011

    If marpin can drop the best channels JUS SO what do you expect

  22. Media Worker
    May 18, 2011

    Dominicans are not all fools. That move is a calculated, deliberate, malicious attempt to further CONTROL MARPIN 2K4 operations and especially the Information/News Dept. to the WHIMS and FANCIES of a FEW in POWER with POWER in this peaceful, beautiful Dominica.

    Remember my people, Some Govt. Officials, in particular the Parl. Rep. of the VALLEY, recently made a big FUSS about a news item carried by MARPIN 2K4 about some HOUSING projects that up to now cannot be completed in his constituency? Dominicans watching that news item saw for themselves the shells of those proposed housing projects. Reflect for a while. Try to REMEMBER my fellow men and women. I knew that was coming. How those in authority could be so VINDICTIVE and will punish whoever in the media or other institutions who dare to be fearless in doing their work and to allow the people to know exactly what is taking place in our land.

    There was nothing LIBELOUS, derogatory. against any one. But some people took serious OFFENSE about that news item. They said openly that MARPIN 2K4 should not have carried that news and claimed that it was a past Chairman of a Village Council of one of the communities in that constituency that enticed MARPIN 2K4 to take footage and bring out that news. Never forget those things.

    Remember the action against the TIMES newspaper and Matt for informing Dominicans about the famous Trafalgar secret Land DEALS? Remember also, just recently, the intimidation by the questioning of the Chronicle Newspaper Editor about who is Josh Shaw and the article written about the circumstances regarding the firebombing of G.O.N. Emanuel’s home? All those actions are INTERCONNECTED and carried out to put media personnel in line, in check. Restructuring WHAT? Younger staff of lesser competence and experience given new positions? So a New News Editor and anchor? New Programme Officer? Give me a Break. But see my cross, NUH. The extra $20.00 increase on our MARPIN 2K4 bills did not make a dent then?

    Media workers WATCH OUT. BE on YOU P’s and Q’s. Be fearless. Yesterday it was media workers A, B, C…… Today is Tim (The outstanding, prolific CALYPSO WRITER) and Carol ( Imagine after all what Carol have gone through with MARPIN). Tomorrow it will be media workers G, H, I…….. Those things are done to send the message, ” Tow our line or expect to be pressured, intimidated, fired, brought to court etc. etc. etc. Those are the SIGNS OF THE TIMES my people. Dictatorship tendencies hitting us straight in our faces. Some want total control of all media on island. That is frankly what is going on. BELIEVE ME OR NOT. Someone, Anybody convince me and others who are seeing the TRENDS/ The LIGHT otherwise. Is not one set that GO SCHOOL. I am AWAITING the reaction of the Media Workers’ Association MWAD.

    • make me dwit
      May 18, 2011

      Just asking- How is Marpin connected to the government. If the two victims worked for DBS or Kairi or Q95 then I may be inclinned to think that it was all political victimization.
      Are you saying that the government hold go as far as Marpin.
      If such is the case then we have more problems than I imagine

      • Just Another Guy On The Street
        May 18, 2011

        It is connected!! DSS does that ring a bell?

        • make me dwit
          May 18, 2011

          I must admit I am totally lost.Is DSS -Dominica Social Security . If so what is the connection with the Marpin issue and government interference

    • garfunkel
      May 18, 2011

      With such a vivid imagination and creative mind, why are you wasting your time being a mere media worker? Put your obvious talents to good use and write a political whudunit man!

      • K
        May 18, 2011

        a ‘mere media worker?” weh! Pause for a moment ignoramus and just imagine the world with no media and then reflect some more on your bullshit!

  23. Ohio
    May 18, 2011

    Tough times.don’t give up.i trod that route.may Jah open another door for us.hang :-);-)on in there:

  24. WHO VEX LUCKS
    May 18, 2011

    TIM BE STRONG THE DEVIL IS JUST TRYING A THING BUT HE CANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    SO KEEP ON TRUSTING IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART the good thing about this is that your family are safe THANK GOD

  25. note
    May 18, 2011

    come join sat tim

    • CLAIRVOYANCE
      May 18, 2011

      i concur sat needs someone like him! cause wht they have needs some serious work.

  26. Anonymous
    May 18, 2011

    seek the courts for redress if your guys are not satisfied. Next level

  27. shatta
    May 18, 2011

    D current person reading the news at marpin reading like a 5th grader

    • Anonymous
      May 18, 2011

      Don’t even get me started with the news reading. Too many of our news reporters have difficulty reading the news. I listened to one butcher the news today but it seems to be a normal thing for her. Best of luck to Tim and Carol.

  28. shatta
    May 18, 2011

    But our prime minister in a next man country talking politics,dats y I support d guys on d block,u got to do wat u got to do to survive

    • night and day vision
      May 18, 2011

      Shatta, what the heck does your comment have to do with the news item?
      U’re a big dummy, or what?

      • Raki
        May 18, 2011

        WHAT???!

      • True to the Bone
        May 19, 2011

        last night the 18th news was just not in it,i just dont know what is wrong with marpin now,we Tim back pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee :mrgreen:

  29. queenie
    May 18, 2011

    it is what it is……..

    luckily, these two employess were being well paid and as such were able to save as much money as possible over the years………..

    they come from wealthy families so they might not feel the strain as much as if it were poor people that were being made redundant……

    nontheless, no one wants to lose their job………..carol and tim know lots of people and they should have no problem finding other jobs…………

    • open mind
      May 18, 2011

      Queenie, I find you very ignorant and jealousy. In this hard economic time, I do not care if you are the queen of england, losing your way of gaining your daily bread is never something one should rejoice over…that shit about wealthy family and know lots of ppl have nothing to do with it. Yes, an organisation is free to implement whatever change measures they choose in order to be sustainable and If laying – off staff is how this has to be accomplished then that’s how it is, because it could be anyone, but for you to blatantly imply that that incident would not affect the lives of these two ppl, I think you are just childish and close minded not to mention envious.

  30. let it go
    May 18, 2011

    Good Luck Tim. Why is it that the best persons always take the Gun, When one door closes others open up. DBS might still have something for you or Crazy T might employ you because you are one of the best Media Personnel in Dominica.

  31. God always
    May 18, 2011

    Dont you find the news was to one sided. What I heard from Mr Tim was not what I saw. Tim needs to be more balanced. This nis my advise to you Tim…It was just tomuch.

  32. belbagay
    May 18, 2011

    Two more to join the red clinic line

  33. Gabie
    May 18, 2011

    next level has nothing to do with that. when we have what is ours and we allow foreign persons to take over, that when the trouble starts, and i guess they can’t push this two around so they will get them out.

    • LAGOON
      May 18, 2011

      That’s what I mean by “the next level”

  34. AugustLeo
    May 18, 2011

    Tim Durand was the best newsreader Marpin had.

  35. HHMMM
    May 18, 2011

    next level?? lets wait and see.

  36. LAGOON
    May 18, 2011

    THAT’S THE NEXT LEVEL FOR YOU

    • Zouke la
      May 18, 2011

      Two families are going to be affected and that is no laughing matter. I am not sure how the next level comes into the equation

  37. Anonymous
    May 18, 2011

    very interesting ………. just after they raise the fees?
    sorry about tim and carol
    good luck in finding new jobs

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