It can't be just me who sees something wrong, in fact absolutely obscene if reports are correct, that former head of the CLF Group, Mr Lawrence Duprey, would profit financially and significantly from the Government's divesting itself of responsibility for the Group.It matters not that this person has not been charged with any wrongdoing as a result of the financial collapse of the Clico empire. The fact remains that Mr Duprey was the man in charge when his group went belly-up and then went hat in hand to the government of the day for a bailout.
Hundreds of thousands of people have lost their life savings and the lifestyle they enjoyed as a result of this company's obvious mismanagement which caused the implosion.How therefore in the name of all that is morally and ethically right could you, Mr Minister of Finance, make a proposal to Cabinet and not ensure that Lawrence Duprey and his ilk do not profit in any way from the destruction created by their abysmal management?
While it is only natural that we the taxpayers recoup the $23 billion pumped into the Clico money pit, it is absolutely untenable that Mr Duprey and other former executives would benefit in any way from the Government's plans to cede control of the Group to the private sector.Mr Howai, say it ain't so!
Assure me and the rest of the country that I am rushing to judgement and that you intend to present a transparent process of the changes recommended and approved by Cabinet, as well as the measures instituted to ensure that Clico executives present during the financial crash, including Mr Duprey and board members, would not profit by even one per cent from your proposed divestment of responsibility and if they unwittingly do, the plans you have to recoup that money.
If the contrary occurs, your Government would in effect be patting these "sporting" types on their collective butts saying, "Job well done, boys."What a travesty that would be.
Catherine Hidalgo