Chabrol resigns as press association head

Guyana Press Association (GPA) President Denis Chabrol resigned from the post and also relinquished his ordinary membership with the body some two months ago, a press statement from the Executive Council said yesterday.

Capitol News Anchor and Editor Gordon Moseley has assumed the role of President in keeping with the association’s constitution and will serve out the term until new elections are held. Moseley previously held the position of Vice-President.

Chabrol said yesterday that he had resigned because he had completed his full two-year term since last October and elections were due.

He pointed to a petition he had spearheaded in October 1998 for the holding of elections because more than two years had passed after the constitutionally due date. The petition had been thrown out because most of the signatories were not practicing members of the GPA.

However, Chabrol said in his statement, “It is grossly useless and hyper-presumptuous to call for democracy and accountability if internal systems are not reflective of those national ideals and aspirations.”

The press statement said yesterday that Chabrol submitted his resignation to Secretary of the association, Nigel Williams on May 24, 2009.

The Executive Council pointed out that this is Chabrol’s second resignation from the post while serving as President.

The Executive Council praised Chabrol for his dedication and leadership of the GPA and wished him well in his future endeavors.

In addition, the council said that the association’s work continues even as preparations are ongoing for the holding of the election of new office bearers.