Licenced property valuator, Afra Raymond will be appointed the new president of the Joint Consultative Council (JCC) tomorrow. Raymond said the JCC was not going after bonds, which the Government has promised to pay contractors but is seeking solid cash. Raymond said his first mandate would be recover monies owed to contractors and consultants.
"We have already started to engage with the Minister of Finance Winston Dookeran to recover the monies owed to our members." Raymond could not say how many contractors are owed and the sum involved. "We know it's a lot of money, probably several billions. I think we will be paid."
Raymond will take over from outgoing president Winston Riley, who has given ten years of dedicated service to the organisation. In a telephone interview yesterday, Raymond confirmed that he will be handed the mantle tomorrow at the JCC's office. "It's difficult to follow him (Riley) because he is a top class guy," Raymond said. The JCC played an integral role in the Uff Commission of Enquiry into Udecott.