Managing director of the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) Jearlean John is citing “political motivation” as the only reason behind a decision by the new HDC board of directors to send her home yesterday.
John and seven other members of senior management were sent on immediate leave.
The new board, headed by Newman George, met for the first time yesterday and after a presentation into the works by the HDC, the board called for an independent audit of the State-owned organisation.
The T&T Guardian understands that the audit is to be done by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
The board also determined then that John and seven other senior level personnel would be sent on administrative leave, pending the completion of the independent audit.
John, in an interview with the T&T Guardian moments after the decision, said she was surprised the board would make such a move, and alleged political motives behind the board’s decision.
“This board obviously came in to take political action. This has to be politically motivated,” John said.
She said her work “crossed party lines” and because of her innate professionalism she was able to work well despite the political divides.
“Everything they asked me for, I have provided with no indication of dissatisfaction with the information received.
“Even what they have not yet asked for that is part of the natural handover, I have provided. I have remained open and transparent so I don’t understand how the need for an independent audit can be a reason for me being sent on administrative leave,” John said.
The T&T Guardian received texts between George and John, which show that George contacted John at 11.36 pm on Tuesday night informing her that he had “two matters” which needed attention and advised her to call him by 5.30 the next morning.
John responded immediately to that text and then called him the next day.
When asked about that exchange, John said she found it “unprofessional” but recognised then what she was dealing with.
That, the T&T Guardian was told, was cemented when George told John, the chief legal officer and the corporate secretary that he “had no heart and no conscience.”
“My expectation is that the audit goes back from the periods 2000-2004, then 2005-2009 and 2010-2015,” John said.
She joined the HDC in 2009, appointed by the then People’s National Movement (PNM) administration to replace Noel Garcia.
Garcia is now the chairman of the Urban Development Corporation of T&T (Udecott) where John sat under the former administration.
John dismisses all allegations of political allegiance to either the PNM or the People’s Partnership and had maintained her work ethic and style of management had kept her at the various State enterprises.
She said she liaised effectively with the new board and her new line minister, Housing Minister Marlene McDonald.
McDonald, in a brief interview yesterday, said she had not yet been “apprised” of the outcome of the board meeting at HDC.
“I was at Cabinet and then at constituency meeting, so I have not been in touch or informed of what went on at the meeting,” McDonald said.
George answered his mobile phone but asked that he be contacted again within 20 minutes but did not respond to several successive calls for comment.
Moonilal alleges political agenda
Former minister of housing Dr Roodal Moonilal has criticised the PNM for the “constructive dismissal” of eight executives from the HDC.
“The PNM Government seeks to mask their incompetence and inability to deliver homes to the needy by focusing on abusing managers. The PNM cannot build one house but will send home senior staff at HDC one week before Christmas,” he said.
Moonilal kept John as HDC managing director as she was appointed by the former PNM government.
“This is mass misadventure to have eight high level managers at the HDC constructively dismissed. It speaks volumes in terms of victimisation and persecution of hard working public officers who have sacrificed family and careers to serve the underprivileged and the needy,” he said.
Moonilal described the dismissals as a “December fishing expedition or witch-hunt.”
“I feel sorry for the thousands of citizens who would be denied a home for Christmas because of the malice of the PNM,” he added.