Tweet
Difficult to move forward – Williams Thursday, 16 October 2008 Former Chairman of the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) Louis Williams has broken his silence following Wednesday's surprise sacking of the entire 17 member Board of Directors.
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }In his first public comment since the firing, Mr. Williams pointed to challenges which faced the Board and prevented it from effectively carrying out its duties.
He spoke with RJR News Wednesday night just hours after Prime Minister Bruce Golding had summoned the members of the 13 month old Board and fired them.
Mr. Williams, who was guarded in his response to questions posed by our news centre, indicated that the Board faced a tough time as the proper systems were not in place for it to fulfill its mandate.
"Yes the Prime Minister called the Board together and said he was dissatisfied with its performance and he wanted everybody to resign in order for him to reconstitute the Board ... I was in there for a year and it's been difficult to move forward," he said.
The UDC Former Chairman did not divulge details of the challenges which the Board encountered and said all queries on that matter should be referred to the Prime Minister.
Entire board gone
The other members who were given walking papers are Deputy Chairman Francis Kennedy, Acting General Manager Joy Douglas, Laurie Ventour, Vivalyn Downer-Edwards, Angus Gordon, Wentworth Charles, Alston Douglas, and Veronica Bennett-Warmington.
The directors who were sacked are Enrick Williams, Baron Stewart, Saleem Lazarus, Homer Davis, Patricia Sinclair McCalla, Oliver Nembhard, Shalman Scott and Fay Hutchinson.
It is unclear whether Joy Douglas, who was appointed Acting General Manager of the UDC after Marjorie Campbell was fired last December, will remain in that position.
RJR News understands that Mr. Golding is also reviewing other boards that were appointed last year when the Jamaica Labour Party took office.
Boards firing indication of the Gov't's non performance - PNP
Meanwhile, the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) says the dismissal of another Board of a state entity is a clear sign that the Bruce Golding administration is struggling to manage the country's affairs.
PNP Chairman Robert Pickersgill, says the Government is trying to pass on blame for its under-performance.
"To me the firing, which I gather the Prime Ministers is blaming on a lack of performance is a systematic with what is happening with the Government, it has been a year of disappointment in terms of performance," he said.
According to Mr. Pickersgill, the UDC Board being fired is similar to what was done to the board of Air Jamaica three months ago.
"I haven't seen any improvements since that ... this is the second board and based on the comprehensive lack of performance, other Directors heads will role," he said.
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }In his first public comment since the firing, Mr. Williams pointed to challenges which faced the Board and prevented it from effectively carrying out its duties.
He spoke with RJR News Wednesday night just hours after Prime Minister Bruce Golding had summoned the members of the 13 month old Board and fired them.
Mr. Williams, who was guarded in his response to questions posed by our news centre, indicated that the Board faced a tough time as the proper systems were not in place for it to fulfill its mandate.
"Yes the Prime Minister called the Board together and said he was dissatisfied with its performance and he wanted everybody to resign in order for him to reconstitute the Board ... I was in there for a year and it's been difficult to move forward," he said.
The UDC Former Chairman did not divulge details of the challenges which the Board encountered and said all queries on that matter should be referred to the Prime Minister.
Entire board gone
The other members who were given walking papers are Deputy Chairman Francis Kennedy, Acting General Manager Joy Douglas, Laurie Ventour, Vivalyn Downer-Edwards, Angus Gordon, Wentworth Charles, Alston Douglas, and Veronica Bennett-Warmington.
The directors who were sacked are Enrick Williams, Baron Stewart, Saleem Lazarus, Homer Davis, Patricia Sinclair McCalla, Oliver Nembhard, Shalman Scott and Fay Hutchinson.
It is unclear whether Joy Douglas, who was appointed Acting General Manager of the UDC after Marjorie Campbell was fired last December, will remain in that position.
RJR News understands that Mr. Golding is also reviewing other boards that were appointed last year when the Jamaica Labour Party took office.
Boards firing indication of the Gov't's non performance - PNP
Meanwhile, the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) says the dismissal of another Board of a state entity is a clear sign that the Bruce Golding administration is struggling to manage the country's affairs.
PNP Chairman Robert Pickersgill, says the Government is trying to pass on blame for its under-performance.
"To me the firing, which I gather the Prime Ministers is blaming on a lack of performance is a systematic with what is happening with the Government, it has been a year of disappointment in terms of performance," he said.
According to Mr. Pickersgill, the UDC Board being fired is similar to what was done to the board of Air Jamaica three months ago.
"I haven't seen any improvements since that ... this is the second board and based on the comprehensive lack of performance, other Directors heads will role," he said.