UDC boss suspended

Chairman says new acting GM will be named soon

Saturday, October 22, 2011

URBAN Development Corporation (UDC) general manager Joy Douglas was yesterday suspended with immediate effect as the board of directors opened a probe into the operations of the State-run agency.

Douglas's suspension was communicated to the deputy general managers via a memo e-mailed by board chairman Wayne Chen some time after 4:00 pm, a highly placed source told the Observer.

"The e-mail basically said that she was suspended, that she was not allowed on the building and was not allowed to conduct business on behalf of the UDC," the source said. "It also said that staff would be advised of a new acting general manager soon."

According to the source, after the memo was circulated, men were seen packing boxes in Douglas's office. The urban planner was also said to have retained the services of an attorney in an apparent bid to challenge the board's decision.

The probe was triggered by a series of controversial events that have placed the UDC into the public spotlight.

The first occurred in August this year when media reported Douglas as saying that the UDC had plans to forcibly acquire the Anglican Church-owned Nuttall Hospital lands near Cross Roads.

However, a few weeks later, Douglas told the Observer that the UDC has since "met with the Anglicans and disabused them of any misunderstanding they may have had".

The second controversy surfaced last week when the UDC was scolded for the sale of 23 acres of beachfront property at Little Bloody Bay in Hanover.

The Public Administration and Appropriations Committee of Parliament argued that the property was sold for much less than it was valued and summoned the UDC to appear before the committee to answer questions.

In the latest controversy, the UDC was criticised by the Office of the Contractor General for agreeing to sell a property at 35 West Parade in downtown Kingston to Bashco Trading Company without advertising the property.

On Thursday, the UDC said it would be withdrawing the sale offer. But Bashco chairman Gassan Azan said he has instructed his attorneys to take all legal measures to protect his company's interest as investors and developers of the West Parade property, which, he said, could place his $31.4-million investment in the property at risk.

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COMMENTS (7)

Athelin Scott
10/23/2011

We must acknowledge our victories no matter how small. The road to stamp out corruption is a long meandering one but you guys must understand that under the previous admin this type of sale and shennanigan was the norm.
Today we get to the Manager who should stand on her own legs of ethics...tomorrow we get to the board. But there is progress and I am proud of it. Let this be a lesson to all civil servants. Stand on your integrity, times are a changing.

kevin sanders
10/22/2011

@wanda woeman - regardless if someone was pushing her for this deal the point is that we need people with integrity and regardless who is above her she should have the "balls" to say no, let's follow procedure. That can't be too hard. She is the chairman or chairperson. If she didn't have the guts to set her stamp on the position then it should not have been given to her. We cannot settle for corruption and blame game.
@Chuck Emaunel - keep preaching brother.

Vincent Murray
10/22/2011

This woman is being made the scapegoat. Dont be fooled; these orders came from above. Just another day full of corruption in Jamaica.

Chuck Emanuel
10/22/2011

How is it that a Public Board Chairman is not aware of ethical and compliance issues concerning Governance and operations of Public Agencies ?. For years, the Contractor General has been issuing findings on ethical compliance, protocols and procedures, breaches of procurement guidelines or awards, diversion of funds, and the submission of false statements (perjury).
What is it that our Politicians and Chairmen of Public Boards don't understand about integrity, honesty, probity and uprightness ?

Jay Brown
10/22/2011

Her days at the UDC are over as based on what we have gleaned, there was rejoicing when the announcement of her suspension was made.

RED ANTS
10/22/2011

Well Well,The bag i requested yesterday for Joy as been giving to her but the country must hear more on the entire board itself.it was clear from months ago problem was within the UDC in regards to the country accent been giving to the chosen ones.It would seem Prince Andrew as he his called will have is first test as soon as he get sworn in tomorrow.I hope the prince will have a look at the bus terminus at water lane,something smell fishy down there.

wanda woeman
10/22/2011

She is “suspended with immediate effect,” but will she still be collecting a salary at the taxpayer’s expense? It will be difficult to convince me that Ms. Douglas on her own volition came up with plans to forcibly acquire the Nuttall Hospital lands. Her sins to my mind were either that she communicated the plans too early, or was used to fly a kite to see what the reaction would be.
In regard to the sale of the property in Hanover, how could she have sold it without an evaluation or without instructions from someone above her to do so? In regard to the property in Kingston she must also have been under uinstructions.
My experience and also criticism of women managers is that we always follow procedures too much to the letter and are not flexible enough. She would not have gone out on a limb in all these cases. She was a scapegoat.

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