TINY STEPS ON LONG ROAD TO SQUATTING FIX
IT HAS been a revolving door for interim heads of JCDC since the death of former Executive Director Delroy Gordon in March 2017.
Chartered accountant Orville Hill, who was seconded from the Jamaica Social Investment Fund, served as interim executive director up to November 2018, when Daffodil Thompson took over, having been seconded from the Ministry of Education.
Thompson’s contract ended in October this year, paving the way for Marjorie Leyden-Kirton, a senior director at JCDC, to become the latest acting leader, effective November 1.
“Why is it taking so long for a permanent replacement? We are not short of competent and qualified people,” lamented a senior employee of the commission.
While Thompson was in the acting position, the commission advertised for a permanent replacement, but is yet to give precise reasons for that process not resulting in an appointment.
Based on “the limited number of applicants”, only two candidates, including Thompson, were interviewed, read a November 6 JCDC statement provided by Andrew Clunis, the entity’s marketing and public relations manager.
The statement did not go any further to explain the outcome of that process and nothing has been forthcoming despite multiple requests.
Further Sunday Gleaner questions to the commission seeking to verify reports that the human resource subcommittee of the board had recommended Thompson for full board consideration have not been answered.
The agency, which has been budgeted to spend over $200 million to promote local culture, has said it “anticipates” installing a permanent executive director within four months from a “larger cohort of suitably qualified applicants”.
The last major auditor general examination of the JCDC’s operations took place in 2010-2011, and at the time, it flagged “weaknesses in the areas of salary preparation, procurement of goods and services, management of fixed asset, cash management and the internal audit function”.