There are big changes ahead for Education Facilities Company Limited (EFCL) management.
Education Minister Anthony Garcia yesterday read the Riot Act to board members as he announced vice chairman Ricardo Vasquez would act as chairman following the resignation of former chairman Arnold Piggott.
Garcia hinted that “significant changes” will be made to the board and senior management at the company, which “may involve additions to the board and some members of management having to revert to their substantive positions.”
Garcia signalled his intention as he met with the board yesterday, according to an Education Ministry statement.
Piggott resigned last Friday following allegations of corruption, nepotism and mismanagement levelled against the EFCL in recent weeks. The Attorney General’s office and Finance Ministry are now conducting audits on EFCL. Piggott resigned citing family commitments and “the protection of my reputation and family name.
During yesterday’s meeting with the EFCL board, where a revamping mandate was issued, Garcia told directors that he was disappointed over several issues. This included the board’s operations, reporting lines not being adhered to, retrenchment exercises, the slow pace of construction works being carried out and the process to be undertaken when emergency repairs are to be undertaken when schools are forced to close.
Garcia stressed his ministry should be notified in writing of any changes to upper management in the company. He also expressed dismay over the lack of confidentiality amongst EFCL staff members.
The press statement didn’t detail what “significant changes” will be made to the board and senior management. But it did say other board members may be brought in and some management officials will have to return to posts they held before.
Vasquez, the statement noted, promised to revamp the entire reporting process and liaise directly with the ministry’s executive team on any staff changes. He said all infrastructural works will be dealt with expeditiously, in particular the Morvant/Laventille Secondary School, which has been closed for the last month because of a pigeon infestation.
Vasquez also said the 10 schools under the New School Construction programme will be treated with urgency. On the issue of lack of confidentiality in the company, he said he would be employing “strict measures to prevent this from occurring.”
