Newly-appointed Housing Development Corporation (HDC) chairman Rabindra Moonan yesterday hit back at his detractors after receiving his instruments of appointment, insisting he will help make the HDC a flagship of delivery. Speaking with reporters after the installation ceremony at Cypress Hill’s Housing Development, Union Hall, San Fernando, Moonan said he was not aware of any controversy surrounding his appointment. Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley and Movement of Social Justice have opposed his appointment as chairman, two months after being fired as chairman of Caribbean Airlines Ltd (CAL). “It seems to have been manufactured by certain sectors of the community. There has been absolutely no controversy as I am concerned,” Moonan said.
Told that many people had opposed his appointment, he said Rowley and MSJ did not constitute many. He added: “And this is the hysteria we face in the country, that two people make noise and you say many.
“I am not a politician but if I was I would have asked who or what does the MSJ represent. Dr Rowley, one should remember, I campaigned with him in 1997 to be the leader of the PNM. He failed. But Dr Rowley was fired from the Ministry of Housing so he has no moral authority to speak about me being fired.” Moonan, however, said he remained confident of doing the job he was mandated to do by the Cabinet and Government. “I move forward. I will not be distracted or run off the road with any vehicle,” he added.
Also defending Moonan’s appointment, Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal said Moonan brought a range of expertise to the board. “When we looked at the skills at the board level we thought it was a right mix. We move full speed ahead,” he said. And that was his message to the new board during his address. He said: “My first message to the new board of directors is that there shall be no slowdown in our programme of housing construction to 2015/2016.” Moonan, in his brief remarks, said he felt a sense of deja vu, having been appointed to a different board (CAL) a year ago. Thanking Moonilal, the Prime Minister and Cabinet for “reaffirming faith in me in joining the public service,” Moonan, as a senior public servant, said he had words of advice for his board members. “I recognise, as my board members will recognise, that when you are in public service you are subjected to scrutiny more than anything else in the world but again if you going to a boxing match and you don’t intend to get hit than you not supposed to be there. So be prepared for what we are to face and be prepared,” he said.
However, he also advised them to remain focussed on their own agenda. He added: “We must not be directed by what we read, by what we hear and what is being said to us, because recently I have been reading in certain sections of the media as to what should be our agenda. “I want to tell you that when we meet as a board we will discuss and we will decide to follow the policy of this Government.” Requesting from CEO of the HDC Jearlean John an inventory of the housing estate, he assured her he too was a hard taskmaster and together they would make the HDC a flagship of delivery.