New Management Team Forms Part of NHDC’s Strategic Plan of Restructuring

Minister of Water and Housing, Donald Buchanan has announced a new management team for the National Housing Development Corporation (NHDC), which he said was part of the organisation’s strategic plan to restructure itself. At a press conference held at the Ministry on Tuesday (Oct. 28) to update the media on the progress of the restructuring of the Ministry and its entities, Mr. Buchanan explained that the new appointments were part of the results of a restructuring of the organisation and a re-engineering of its processes and systems.
He informed, that the Ministry of Finance and Planning had also approved a new performance based salary scale for the management team, which would result in 85 per cent of the team’s basic salary being fixed and the balance based on performance, which would be assessed every six months.
Mr. Buchanan said the new management positions had been advertised internally and externally and that HRD Profiles Limited had been contracted to assist with the short-listing of suitable applicants.
The team comprises Manager, Legal Services and Company Secretary, Joseph Shoucair; Manager, Finance and General Administration, Winston Barnett; Manager, Project Implementation, Paul Buchanan; Manager, Technical Services, Colin Davis; Manager, Mortgage Services, Donamarie Ashton; Manager, Human Resources, Stacey Beckford; Manager, Marketing and Research, Lenworth Simms; Manager, Management Information Services, Maurice Miller; Manager, Internal Audit, Joan Sicard; and Manager, Public Relations and Communications, Billson Hainsley. All except the Finance and Administration Manager have taken their posts as of October 21.
Alluding to the highly publicised problems that arose in relation to the Operation Pride housing project, Minister Buchanan said, “the new board has certainly stabilised the situation and restored credibility and respectability to the organisation,” adding, “we have put the past behind us and we are now moving forward with the people’s agenda – to provide affordable housing solutions to the nation. I have every confidence in the new board, in the Business Plan and in the new Management team to advance our mandate in an efficient and expeditious manner”.
He said the NHDC commenced its strategic planning process in December 2002, to transform the organisation into one of integrity, transparency, effectiveness, efficiency and accountability. The Planning Process has two phases: the formulation of a strategic plan for the period 2003/04 – 2006/07, and the implementation of the said Plan.
The Water and Housing Minister explained that the plan, which had been completed, articulated a new mission for the organisation, which was to, contribute to the improved quality of life of all Jamaicans through social transformation, by providing quality, affordable housing solutions with security of tenure. This, he said, would be accomplished with a committed, dedicated and competent team with the use of appropriate technology and through strategic partnerships with communities and other groups.
The implementation of the Strategic Plan commenced in July 2003 and Growth Facilitators, a consulting firm, has been contracted by the NHDC to provide hands on support during this phase. In addition, a steering committee has been appointed by the board to guide and support the implementation and to take decisions on behalf of the Board.