Hon. Premier Romeo
by Bennette Roach
On January 29, the Government of Montserrat (GoM) announced with respect to the stalling of Little Bay and Carrs Bay project(s), the decision “to establish a Task Force to review the operations and functions of the Montserrat Development Corporation (MDC).” see (MDC Review in four weeks at www.themontserratreporter.com)
The announcement by way of a release explained that GoM, “Following the recent elections the Government, having recognized that there were governance issues with the MDC, a wholly owned Government company, sought to address this; firstly by removal of the then Board and the appointment of a new interim Board.
The release also stated that “The Task Force will be made up of a maximum six persons drawn from Montserratian nationals, residents and other professionals with relevant expertise and familiar with the Montserrat context.”
Martin Dawson
“…they will have four weeks in which to review the current operations, particularly the governance arrangements of the MDC, and make recommendations in order to ensure that the corporation is fit for purpose and has the capacity and capability to deliver Government’s policy objectives for Investment & Trade and Tourism.
The following week at the Governor’s press conference DFID’s new man on the ground in Montserrat, revealed the names of the persons serving on the task force which included himself, along with the new MDC Chairman Julian Daniel; Director of Programs in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management Joseph Irish, Felicia Lynch who is the Program Manager Public Sector Reform project with the GoM and the Planning and Development Consultant Jasmine Garroway.
DFID’s Martin Dawson confirmed that the task force was in operation. He reported that they had met that Monday, February 2, for the first time and were, “having various meetings down at the MDC offices over this week and the future two weeks.”
He explained more specifically, “Our task is to undertake over the next four weeks, a review process both internal mechanism but also to consider the Government strategy for investment and trade and tourism, I want to take that forward in the best vehicle for doing that… So our aim is in the first two weeks to have an interim report ready and a final report …it’s a four week activity we’ll probably have a final report sometime in early March to be presented to Government and to DFID.”
Dawson explained further. “The team is spending allot of time pouring over documentation and also talking to people within the MDC – that’s a requirement of the task force – whatever has gone on in the past whether it’s been actioned or not for whatever reason, we will take that information.”
The DFID rep said, looking forward to – “considering the government strategy for its future on investment, trade and tourism, what’s the best mechanism to deliver that within the context of the current MDC.”
He also pointed out, that while the task force is undertaking it’s review, “…obviously we don’t recommend the MDC does anything major, but obviously it’s still active on tourist work…” … going about its business and functioning…
It was also then confirmed that the CEO of the MDC is currently on administrative leave for six weeks period but will be available to provide information which will be deemed critical to the task force’s review.
We expect that we will hear about the report in the Governor’s monthly press conference due to take place on Wednesday, March 4.
