KINGSTON, Jamaica — Opposition Spokesman on  Planning and Development, Anthony Hylton,  is calling on Prime Minister Andrew Holness, under whose responsibility the National Housing Trust (NHT) and Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ) fall, to immediately appoint the chairmen for these two statutory bodies, which have been operating without chairmen for over three months.

In a news release this afternoon, Hylton said both agencies were chaired by Dr Nigel Clarke, who resigned earlier this year to run as a candidate in the North West St Andrew by-election and has subsequently been appointed Minister of Finance and the Public Service.

“These agencies are critical to the implementation of some of Jamaica’s most strategic development projects and everything must be done to prevent such projects and programmes from being placed at a disadvantage because of the absence of chairmen, who have statutory duties in both organisations.

The implementation and supervisory functions of both agencies in national development cannot be disregarded,” Hylton said.

He added that it was a gross dereliction of duty for the prime minister to allow both agencies to languish so long without leadership, in clear breach of the Public Bodies Management and Accountability Act.

The Peoples National Party spokesman said Holness should move with speed to ensure compliance with the law and to assure continued implementation of critical projects with the requisite approving authorities.