Sabga dismisses job cut rumours

“We’ve put in a new IT (Information Technology) system, which I believe has gone into certain media houses, which automates the procedure and the planning of the paper. Based on that, it streamlines the operations and there’s been some cuts there. Beyond that I have not been told about any further cuts,” Sabga told reporters.

Asked again about job cuts at Guardian, including several persons in the sub-editing and archives departments, the ANSA McAl chairman reiterated that he knew nothing of the sort.

“I didn’t say there were cuts coming. You (reporter) said there were cuts coming. I said that the cuts have happened and I am not aware that there are further cuts on the horizon,” Sabga declared.

GML’s unaudited accounts for the ninemonth period ended September 30, 2016, recorded a sharp drop in profit before tax (PBT) compared to the previous year. The company’s PBT as of the the third quarter (Q3) of 2016 was TT $7.8 million, a significant drop from the $36.7 million GML earned in PBT for the same period in 2015. The company also reported a drop in generated revenue, down from $159.6 million last year to $119.4 million as of Q3 in 2016. Without making specific reference to the above financial data, Sabga yesterday said, “It has been a rough year for (GML) and our expenses have jumped significantly.” He then called on GML’s staff to work with management to improve the company’s performance.

“We do need to look at the organisation, to rally the troops to do more, to do better. Understand that we are in a difficult period and call on our staff to help us weather this storm and to continue to improve the organisation going forward.” Asked by Newsday what expenses he was referring to, Sabga replied, “The majority is people.

The headcount swole (SI C) significantly in the last three or four years.”