By Sue-Ann Wayow
A MOST shameless behaviour!
That was how Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar described the reluctancy of some state board members appointed by the previous administration to resign.
Without naming any, she said some were busy attempting to sign off state contracts for families and friends.
At the post-Cabinet meeting on Thursday, Persad-Bissessar warned that any contract signed off especially since the change in government will be investigated.
She said, “I want to tell all the boards who are refusing to resign and the CEOs and management of state enterprises who are busy signing off contracts and hiring friends and family… I send them and tell them, every contract that they have entered into, will be sent straight to the Anti-Corruption Investigation Bureau, so every person and every company involved will be investigated.
“This is a most shameless type of behaviour I have ever seen exhibited during a change of government. It is overt and bold faced and trying to eat a food down to the wire and after you pass the finish line. It does not work like that.”
She said Cabinet gave proposals for the revocations of the appointments of several boards as well as appointments of other boards.
Persad-Bissessar said the government has approved new boards for:
· Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA)
· Estate Management and Business Development Company Ltd (EMBD)
· Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT)
· National Gas Company (NGC)
· National Maintenance Training and Security Company (MTS)
· Palo Seco Agricultural Enterprises Ltd (PSAEL)
With one month passing since the April 28 general election, Persad-Bissessar told reporters she would give the outstanding boards additional time to resign.
When asked what were her plans, should some board members still refuse to resign, she declined to say publicly but said, “of course we have plans.”
“We are calling on them to do the right thing and should they fail so to do, we will do the right thing,” Persad-Bissessar said.
She said it was principle that when government changes, the state boards also change.
The prime minister added if persons did well in their porfolios, they may be reappointed.
“It is not like you are going to fire everybody. It is not my intention to fire everybody. We need everyone,” Persad-Bissessar said.
She said many have already complied, admitting that initially just a few had resigned and some were declaring “they not going anywhere.”
Persad-Bissessar said, “I think good sense is prevailing and for the few that are holding on by their fingernails and toenails, we have a plan.”
One person was confirmed as WASA’s chairman.
Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath confirmed Roshan Babwah was selected as the chairman.
Babwah is experienced in law, human resources and industrial relations.
Earlier this month, Padarath had informed TSTT that there would have been no additional hiring unless the existing board resigned.
The day after, the board quit.
Persad-Bissessar also said on Thursday, the appointment of new boards was time consuming but was necessary so that the companies can continue to operate efficiently.
