Selection of Board Chairpersons based on Qualification – Falconer
March 1, 2012The Full Story
Minister with responsibility for Information, Senator Sandrea Falconer, said that selection of persons to serve as board chairmen and heads of agencies is based on qualification.
She was responding to questions on February 29 at the Jamaica House press briefing, about the appointment of supporters of the ruling People’s National Party to posts within the public service.
“The government is going to choose persons, who they believe will carry out their policies in the best way possible. Once the persons are qualified I don’t think because someone is a supporter of a party that they should be restricted from having certain positions. I think that it is a wrong concept to assume that someone has a job because it is politics and not because they are qualified,” Senator Falconer stated.
She informed that there are also independent members on the boards to assist in enriching the process of governance.
Recent board appointees include: Dr. Carlton Davis, who will chair the Culture Health Arts Sports and Education (CHASE); the Water Resource Authority (WRA) to be chaired by Dr. ParrisLyew-Ayee; the Rural Water Supply Limited to be chaired by John Paul White; the Coconut Industry Board to be chaired by Dr. Richard Jones; while the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) is to be chaired by Dr. Densil Williams.
The Agro-Investment Corporation, is to be chaired by Dennis Hickey; the Jamaica 4H Club, is to be chaired by Senator Norman Grant; the Board of Examiners to be chaired by Steve Ashley; the Council of the Institute of Jamaica to be chaired by Ambassador Burchell Whiteman; the Child Development Agency’s (CDA) advisory board to be chaired by Maxine Henry Wilson; while the adoption board will be chaired by Tricia Sutherland; and the National Youth Service is to be chaired by Maureen Webber.
By Chris Patterson, JIS Reporter