KINGSTON, Jamaica The board of the National Housing Trust (NHT) will have its first meeting today, since the announcement of the resignation of four of its 15 members, earlier this week.

OBSERVER ONLINE understands that the meeting will be primarily to discuss issues with major contractor, Y P Seaton, over last year’s appeal court order that the trust pay his company over J$214 million, due since 2007. However, it is likely that the board will also discuss the issue of its four departed members.

It was reported earlier this week that board members – the Rev Oliver Daley, banker Minna Israel, academic Dr Davidson Daway and attorney-at-law Deborah Martin – resigned over issues linked to the firing of managing director Cecile Watson.

The board still consists of former cabinet minister, Easton Douglas, chairman; academic Robert Buddan; Jamaica Employers Federation CEO, Brenda Cuthbert; businessmen Percival LaTouche and Norman Horne; civil servant Sonia Hyman; and trade unionists – Lambert Brown, Vincent Morrison, Senator Kavan Gayle, Helene Davis Whyte and Oneil Grant.

Watson was relieved of her post, following weeks of investigation into the alleged misuse of NHT funds. However, she has denied any wrongdoing, and is seeking a resolution to the dispute. Senior general manager for finance, Martin Miller, has been acting as managing director, since.