Danny Williams was paid by LOJ as a Minister...

[Willi]

Former LOJ President recounts years as Cabinet Minister Thursday, 20 September 2007 Former President of Life of Jamaica (LOJ), R. Danny Williams, has confirmed that he continued to be paid by the company during the three years he served as a government minister in the late 1970's.

This confirmation comes amidst ongoing concerns about arrangements for Grace Kennedy Executive, Don Wheby, to continue receiving a salary from the company while serving as a Minister in the new government.

In light of his experience and the new controversy, Mr. Williams believes there should be a comprehensive review of the practice.

It was in January, 1977 Prime Minister Michael Manley invited R. Danny Williams, to join his administration.

The socialist government of the day needed to improve its relationship with the private sector, and the LOJ founder seemed to fit the bill.

He was first appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry & Commerce.

Then, when the senior minister, Vivian Blake resigned, R. Williams was promoted to full cabinet rank.

Mr. Williams recalls that he gave up all his private sector board positions, but not his lucrative LOJ salary.

Mr. Williams says he also continued to drive a vehicle provided by the insurance company while being a minister of government.

Now, he is recommending a comprehensive review of such matters in light of the Wehby appointment issue.

[Time]

Two wrongs dont make a right!

[quote=Willi;48689]Former LOJ President recounts years as Cabinet Minister Thursday, 20 September 2007 Former President of Life of Jamaica (LOJ), R. Danny Williams, has confirmed that he continued to be paid by the company during the three years he served as a government minister in the late 1970's.

This confirmation comes amidst ongoing concerns about arrangements for Grace Kennedy Executive, Don Wheby, to continue receiving a salary from the company while serving as a Minister in the new government.

In light of his experience and the new controversy, Mr. Williams believes there should be a comprehensive review of the practice.

It was in January, 1977 Prime Minister Michael Manley invited R. Danny Williams, to join his administration.

The socialist government of the day needed to improve its relationship with the private sector, and the LOJ founder seemed to fit the bill.

He was first appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry & Commerce.

Then, when the senior minister, Vivian Blake resigned, R. Williams was promoted to full cabinet rank.

Mr. Williams recalls that he gave up all his private sector board positions, but not his lucrative LOJ salary.

Mr. Williams says he also continued to drive a vehicle provided by the insurance company while being a minister of government.

Now, he is recommending a comprehensive review of such matters in light of the Wehby appointment issue.[/quo

[Islandman]

I could see where that would have been less controversial given the nature of the times and the PNP was supposedly reaching out to the capitalist oppressors to join thier revolution.

Its also worth noting that Williams supports the use of Wehby and the private sector in principle:

"What we need to do is to have the Government and the private sector sit down and set out some terms under which people can move from the private sector to the public sector, and indeed from the public sector to the private sector, on secondment".

Praising Mr. Wehby for the expertise and integrity he will take to the Finance Ministry, Mr. Williams said the country should embrace that contribution.

[Westman]

All I can think of is the lyrics from a song, "...see the hypocrites dem a galang deh..."

[Bricktop]

Well now that Wehby has resigned from Grace Kennedy there is no possible way he can enact legislation favourable to them

P.S. Why are we wasting time with this again?

[Lazie]

Well now that Wehby has resigned from Grace Kennedy there is no possible way he can enact legislation favourable to them

P.S. Why are we wasting time with this again?

Low di jokah dem. Now dem ago find something as trivial to complain about.

[Assasin]

you nuh see them a tek the "worst nightmare" que?

Anything fi nuh make the govt progress. If this JLP goverment progress in 5 years time there will be no more PNP government in a LOOOOONNNG time because people will remember the crime,debt and corruption under the 18 years.

[MdmeX]

Danny Williams backs Wehby's appointment
published: Friday | September 21, 2007


( L - R ) Williams, Wehby
Businessman R. Danny Williams, who served in Prime Minister Michael Manley's Cabinet in the late 1970s, has confirmed that he retained his private sector salary while being a government minister.
Furthermore, Mr. Williams told The Gleaner that he also took his much smaller government salary while serving, first as Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry & Commerce, and then as the senior minister in that ministry.
Public concerns
This disclosure has come amid public concerns about the arrangements accompanying the appointment of Don Wehby, a senior executive in the GraceKennedy Group, as Minister Without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance.
When Mr. Wehby's appointment was announced by Prime Minister Bruce Golding, it was also disclosed that he would continue to be paid the difference in his [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]salary[/COLOR][/COLOR] by GraceKennedy.
The propriety of that arrangement has been challenged by the opposition People's National Party and other organisations. Dr. Omar Davies, the former Minister of Finance, while praising Mr. Wehby for his knowledge and integrity, said that his continued ties with the powerful private sector conglomerate could present a conflict of interest in light of the role he will play in the Finance Ministry.
Mr. Williams, a founder of Life of [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]Jamaica[/COLOR][/COLOR], recalled that he took leave from the company and resigned from all his other private sector positions, but remained on the [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]payroll[/COLOR][/COLOR] of the insurance firm.
"Life of Jamaica continued to pay me my salary while I was minister," he confirmed.
While not being able to recall all the details of his compensation package, he said that he was also paid his ministerial salary "which was extremely small!"
Additionally, he said he continued to utilise a vehicle provided by Life of Jamaica as he was not provided with one by the Government.
No ethical questions
Reflecting on those arrangements made 30 years ago, the former [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]insurance[/COLOR][/COLOR] executive said that he did not recall any ethical questions being raised about the matter.
In light of the questions now being raised about the Wehby appointment, however, he is suggesting that there should be a comprehensive review of the situation with a view to establishing an acceptable formula for such public-private sector arrangements.
"What we need to do is to have the Government and the private sector sit down and set out some terms under which people can move from the private sector to the public sector, and indeed from the public sector to the private sector, on secondment".
Praising Mr. Wehby for the expertise and integrity he will take to the Finance Ministry, Mr. Williams said the country should embrace that contribution. Meanwhile, it was announced last night that Mr. Wehby had resigned from the GraceKennedy Group effective September 30. The decision, according to the Jamaica Information Service, was to "remove any appearance of conflict of interest which his continued relationship with GraceKennedy might cause".

[Willi]

Who sez anything wrong?


What may be wrong is the hypocrisy that both parties enagage in when it suits them.

[Islandman]

LOL I wonder how many people was saying that in 1980 when the PNP won 9 seats and Manley was the most hated man in Jamaica. Within 5 years the PNP was ahead in the polls and the rest is history.

[Muadib]

LOL I wonder how many people was saying that in 1980 when the PNP won 9 seats and Manley was the most hated man in Jamaica. Within 5 years the PNP was ahead in the polls and the rest is history.

The story is that the electorate is more mature...

We will see.

[Islandman]

We surely will.

Up to a few months ago people like Lazie thought the electorate were a bunch of uneducated fools (Democracy without education is useless!!!!) for keeping the JLP out of office for so long. Them mature and get educated fast bwoy!