Big pay for Udecott staff

Minister of Housing Dr Roodal Moonilal, the Udecott line minister, yesterday revealed that several key Udecott staff members had very generous remuneration packages.

Speaking during the Budget debate, Moonilal said Diedre Ettienne, the company’s Executive Manager, Risk and Audit, had a salary of $73,000 a month. Legal and Regulatory Services Manager Richard Freeman, $50,000 a month. Other staff also had generous salaries. In the case of Samantha Young, Executive Manager Systems Implementation, she got a salary of $42,000 per month plus $7,000 travelling. Ricardo O’Brien, Executive Manager, Business and Operations, had a salary of $53,000.

Moonilal said there was no audit produced at Udecott, even though it employeed an audit officer at $73,000 a month.

“We have no difficulty with persons being paid highly,” he said. “There are persons who work in specialised professions and they don’t come cheap. But when you pay, they must deliver.” He said former Udecott chairman Calder Hart employed “a shadow cabinet” behind the persons who were officially appointed to posts.