Two of the five directors of the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) have asked that their contracts not be renewed, while a third fears he would not be reconsidered. At an October 24 meeting, director Glen Ramjag said the board was told by its chairman Rudy Maharaj that he was the only member to have his contract renewed.
"We were told that they appointed a new board which Cabinet approved," said Ramjag, who served on the board for a year. The board has five members: Bisnath Ramrattan, Ramdath Doobraj, Lynda Dolores Wickham, Dr Bibi Shanaz Ali and Ramjag, some of whom were given two-year contracts which end November 16.
Ali on Friday said she had asked not to be reconsidered for another term, stating that the job was really demanding and that she wanted to focus on her young son who was preparing for upcoming exams. Sunday Guardian was also told that Doobraj also asked not to be considered for the new board.
Deputy chairman Nirvan Maharaj also left the board to contest an election, according to the chairman. "So we were functioning with six members," said Maharaj (Rudy). Ramjag, who replaced director activist Norris Deonarine who died last year, said he feared his contract would not be renewed, stating there was "more in the mortar than the pestle."
Maharaj said the feedback he got from Cabinet was that they were very happy with their performance. "Government was in the process of reviewing the board which is yet to be formalised." Asked if the directors' contracts will be renewed, Maharaj said Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Cabinet will make that decision.
Maharaj said a committee was set up by Persad-Bissessar to assess the performances of all state boards. "What the Prime Minister is insisting on is performance. So we all had to do our performance reports, keeping in line with the targets that were set by the ADB and its strategic plan."
The board was given a rating of 92 per cent out of 100. Above 80 per cent is considered excellent, Maharaj said. Maharaj said that he was the only one of the board who has been confirmed. He thanked all of his directors for their time and effort in serving the country. The most controversial state board to date was Caribbean Airlines.