EMBD chairman: Goverment will judge me

Mohammed was appointed to chair the Estate Management and Business Development Company (EMBD) 16 months ago, and appointed to chair Caribbean Airline Limited, five months ago.

Asked by Chairman of the Public Accounts (Enterprise) Committee Wade Mark at its meeting to inquire into the operations of the EMBD on Wednesday if he can function effectively as chairman for both entities, Mohammed said, “I would leave that decision up to the persons who have appointed me to determine if I function effectively and efficiently.” Asked about his greatest challenge was as chairman of EMBD, Mohammed said, “Coming into an organisation that did not provide accounts.

No company, no State enterprise, in my personal view should be handed billions of dollars without any sense of accountability.” The second challenge, he said, “was the sheer value of outstanding liabilities to contractors and trying to understand how did we get there.” He said it was difficult to understand how as an organisation can be awarded a $6-million contract and end up with a $600 million contract.

“How can one account for these liabilities that might be hidden in some state enterprises somewhere? Do we truly know the true liabilities as a people and as country?” he queried. “These are the two most surprising things for me and what I would consider the biggest challenges for me to resolve,” he said.

The State enterprises manual, he said, provides very clearly the responsibilities of directors and state enterprise.

When people accept the responsibilities and duties of directors, he said, “If we all follow the requirements of the manual clearly we would not have been in the position we are in at the EMBD.” It was not just an issue for the EMBD but other State enterprises, he said. He urged those who would have been appointed as directors to make a concerted effort to fulfil their duties