TATT, executive director wrangle over contract

Prince said he is carefully weighing all options available to him in this matter.

In the statement, TATT said Prince was appointed executive director on July 1, 2004 for a two year period and his term of office ends on June 30.

The authority claimed Prince had accrued a significant amount of vacation leave during the term of his contract and was required to take that leave “prior to the expiration of his contract.”

However, when contacted yesterday, Prince told Newsday he was appointed TATT executive director on July 1, 2004 for a period of five years.

He said this information was contained in a November 26, 2004 letter to him from then TATT chairman Dr Ralph Henry which outlined the terms and conditions of his contract.

Prince also said he has a November 27, 2005 letter in which the Public Service Commission gave the details of his transfer from the Public Service to TATT. He added transfers of this nature are approved for at least five years as detailed in the November 26, 2004 letter from Henry. Henry confirmed to Newsday that the duration of Prince’s contract was five years and not two as claimed by TATT.

Henry recalled that prior to Prince’s appointment, efforts were made to source an international expert to serve as TATT executive director and to pay that person with money loaned from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) during 2002 to 2003.

Henry said the person initially hired then declined the appointment. He added that Prince was working in the Public Service at that time and was chosen by the authority from a list of local and foreign candidates.

Henry said that situation placed TATT in a quandry because Public Administration and Information Minister Dr Lenny Saith said Government was not prepared to allow a public servant to be paid with funds from the IDB.

Henry said Saith informed him that Prince’s terms and conditions would be determined by the Public Services Negotiating Committee and TATT would be able to hire him for the maximum period allowed under the Telecommunications Act 2001 which is five years.

Prince said he has not been fired and remained executive director even though TATT deputy director Cris Seecharan has been appointed by the board to act as executive director, effective May 31. Prince added his lawyers have written to TATT and he was keeping his options open.

He said there was no truth to claims advanced in other media reports about his being sent on leave.

TATT chairman Khalid Hassanali confirmed Prince has not been fired and there was no ill will between them.

Hassanali said Prince’s contract was coming to an end and it may not be renewed. Contacted yesterday, Saith said TATT informed him about Prince being on leave but he is not involved in this matter.

Saith added that he has no power under the Telecommunications Act to influence the operations of the authority.