Former Army chief, General Hudson Austin has landed a state paying job with the Tillman Thomas-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) government. A government document submitted to Parliament shows that Austin has been hired at $4000.00 a month as a Building Supervisor at the Richmond Hill prison where he was an inmate for nearly 25 years. General Austin was among seventeen former government and military officials convicted for the murder of their former colleague, Marxist Prime Minister, Maurice Bishop in a bloody palace coup on October 19, 1983.
During his stay in prison, Austin who has experience in the construction industry, played a key role in the erection of several buildings on the compound. At the release of his sentence from prison, Austin was hired by the State to play a leading role in completing some of the building projects that he had started at the prison. General Austin is the only former revolutionary figure whose name appears on the list that was provided to Parliament by Prime Minister, Tillman Thomas based on a question asked by Opposition Leader, Dr. Keith Mitchell.
However, the NEW TODAY newspaper has since learnt that former army Major, Leon “Bogo’ Cornwall was recently hired by the State to do work at the Richmond Hill prison in the Education programme. Cornwall was among the last batch of prisoners to be released in September 2009 after serving lengthy sentences for the execution of Bishop and a number of close colleagues following a feud for control of the then ruling New Jewel Movement-led People’s Revolutionary Government (PRG). The ex-army officer who served at one time as Grenada’s Ambassador to Cuba, and a former teacher at a secondary school on the island, was a key member of the teaching staff in the prison education programme.
The document that came before Parliament also gave an insight into the salaries and allowances paid to several public officers who were hired by the Thomas government after it came to power in July 2008 after defeating Mitchell’s NNP in general elections. The persons earning the highest salary was Attorney-Generals, Jimmy Bristol and Rohan Phillip whose take home pay approached the EC$16, 000.00 a month mark. This fell below the estimated EC$19, 000.00 a month that was earned by Jamaican attorney-at-law, Hugh Wildman, who served as a Special Prosecutor under the NNP watch and head of the Financial Intelligence unit (FIU). According to the document in the possession of this newspaper, Barbadian, Dr. Hugh Sealey, a brother-in-law to the Minister of Finance, Nazim Burke, has been hired by the new government as Energy Advisor at $8000.00 per month.
Speculation is rife that Sealey is being paid by a funding agency.The document also shows that former government minister and Executive Director of the Grenada Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Christopher De Riggs, who is now the Director in the Office of Private Sector Development is getting a salary of $7500.00 per month. In addition, De Riggs who operates within the Ministry of Finance is also getting other perks like traveling, cellular phone allowances and the customary 50% duty free concessions on the purchase of a vehicle.
Another new entrant in the Private Sector office, Sandra James was hired at $3985.00 per month and also benefits from the usual traveling and allowances that go with the job. US-based medical doctor, Dr. Trevor Layne, who is listed in the document as Consultant to the Oncology Programme run by the Ministry of Health is getting $13, 584.50 per month.Dr. Layne was recruited by the new government as a replacement for Guyanese cancer specialist, Dr. Carl Niamatali whose qualification came under scrutiny after the July 2008 polls.
Another person earning in excess of $10, 000.00 a month is former OAS diplomat, George Vincent who has landed a contract which pays him $10, 867.60 per month. In the Ministry of Finance, two other civil servants with above average salaries who landed job with the new government were:
*Hainsley Edwards - System Administrator - VAT Unit who is taking home $4250.00 per month
* Natasha Marquez-Sylvester, Head of the Debt Management Unit with $6600.00 per month, as well as traveling and concessions on the purchase of a vehicle and 12.5% on total salaries at the end of her contract.
In the legal profession, those persons with notable salaries were:
* Solicitor-General, Dashan Ramdhani who is taking home $14, 739.00 in salaries and other perks including inducement and allowances in lieu of private ;practice,
*Karen Samuel - Senior Crown Counsel $11204.00 per month in salaries and other perks.
*Naeisha John - Crown Counsel - $8777.00 in salaries and other perks.
*Jo Francis - Crown Counsel - $9086 in salaries and other perks
* Petrona Sealey-Brown - Chief Parliamentary Counsel - $14182.00 per month in salaries and other perks
*Tahyra Gellineau, Magistrate, Southern District - $11,134 per month in salaries and other perks.
Another attorney-at-law, Feron Lowe, a senior member of Congress who has left his job at the private law firm of Ciboney Chambers to become Policy Advisor in the Ministry of Agriculture is earning only $4500.00 a month.
In addition, defeated NDC candidate, Ingrid Rush who was hired after the elections as Manager of Food Security in the Ministry of Agriculture is also paid $4500.00 a month for the job.
In the diplomatic field, the Thomas government also provided the salaries and allowances paid to all newly hired Ambassadors and other high profile members working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
*Ambassador Stephen Fletcher in Brussels - $59, 748.00 a year
*Ambassador Marcelle Gairy in China - $59, 748.00 per annum.
*Ambassador Dessima Williams who is the island’s envoy to the United Nations - $59, 748.00 a year.
* Ambassador George Mc Leish gets $50, 364 a year for his posting in Caracas. In addition, he takes homes an entertainment allowance of $6520.56 per annum, Spouse allowances of $6520.56 a year, Child allowances of $3912.34 a year, and “Special Allowances” of $44, 100.72 per annum.
* Defeated NDC candidate for St. George North-west, Ingrid Jackson who is assigned to the Grenada Embassy in Washington as Attaché is receiving a monthly salary of $$3688.00, as well as a Housing Allowance of $2988.59 per month and Child Allowance of $1956.17.
* The Grenada Honorary Consul in New York, Derek James is making $3890 per month, plus housing of $2988.59 per month and Entertainment Allowances of $3260.28 per year.
* Richard Nixon who is serving as Counselor in China is getting $4508.00 per month and other perks such as Spouse, Entertainment and Child allowances, plus a 12.5% gratuity on his total salary at the end of his contract.
*Alice Thomas-Roberts, Chief of Protocol - $5000.00 a month plus allowance of $1500 for Clothing, an additional $4944 and $1260 per annum in Traveling and for use of Cell Phone respectively.
The Congress administration also indicated that another of its political activist Faye Thompson landed a job as Executive Assistant in the Ministry of Housing at $5000.00 per month coupled with the usual perks for traveling allowances and 50% duty free concession on the purchase of a vehicle.
Also in the Ministry of Housing, the notable persons who were hired after the last elections were:
*Joseph Noel, Project Officer, Salaries of $50, 400.00 per annum, plus traveling of $412.00 per month and 50% duty & tax concessions on the purchase of a vehicle.
* Anderson Simon, Project Co-ordinator, $4000.00 per month, as well as traveling and 50% concessions on the purchase of a vehicle.
In the Ministry of Tourism & Civil Aviation, figures were given for:-
* Betty-Ann Lazarus, Public Relations Officer in the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation - $3000.00 a month plus traveling and 50% duty-free concessions on the purchase of a vehicle.
*Ovide Hercules, Facilities Officer - $3000.00 a month
*Devon Romain, Facilities Officer - $3000.00 a month
*Gerard Mc Phail, Chief Implementation Officer - $3000.00 a month
There were also some notable figures in the Office of the Prime Minister:
*Aaron Moses - Policy Advisor - $8000.00 per month. Moses has since taken up a new posting with government with funding being provided by an external agency.
* Vincent Roberts - ICT Co-ordinator, $5500.00 per month
*Lincoln Depradine, Communications Director at the Government Information Service (GIS) - $5500.00 per month
*Phillip Alexander - Special Assistant to the Prime Minister - $5500.00 per month
*Richard Simon, Press Secretary - $5000.00 per month
*Nigel Noel - Security Co-ordinator - $4500.00 per month
In the Ministry of Sports, former policeman ad ex-member of Parliament, Kenrick Fullerton who has been hired as Advisor to the Minister of Sports, Patrick Simmons is getting $4500. 00 per month plus an additional $500.00 a month as “inducement”.
* Stephenson Worme - Human & Public Relations Officer - $3500.00 per month
* Kevin Andall, Youth Co-ordinator $3717.00 per month
* Kathleen Henry-Andrew - $3500.00 per month
* Robin James - Small Business Enterprise Co-ordinator - $3500.00 per month
The above article is re-printed from
The New Today (May 29, 2010)
Original article found at:http://spicegrenada.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2271:austin-and-cornwall-land-state-jobs&catid=500:may-29th-2010&Itemid=143
Damond, after reading your post I have come to the conclusion that you have an unforgiving spirit. It also seem to me that you have no idea of the legal system and how it works and also if you are ask for them to pay the families of those that died I assume that you might have live in out of the country for too long. If you are asking for payment for the families perhaps I should ask for the same for ( Scotthilda )?Noel, Stcharan Philip Andy Courtney, Stanisclause, and Lalcy all of whom was murdered and went unrepeated. Maurice is as guilty for lots of these crimes and human right abuses. Remember Grenada is not a republic. And may I remind you that the truth about what happened on October 19th 1983 is still unclear. the bottom line is that these men have done the time for the crime committed and they are out .It is my belief that they can all make a genuine contribution to Grenada remember it was a team effort that made Grenada the most progressive government in the Caribbean, lead by Maurice Bishop it was not Maurice Revolution it was a peoples revolution. Free of corruption and it was a joint effort. Despite what you think of these men they have server Grenada very well. may I ask you a question if it was Maurice and Unison Whiteman and Norris Bain that killed these men whish was their intention would it of been ok would it be justifiable? Damond while we must not forget what happened on October 19th 1983. we must seek to engage them back into society .Personally I believe That Bernard Coard skills and knowledge is badly needed in Grenada today to get this our economic house in order and I do believe that we should have back in the Ministry of finance. It was his expertise that had made Grenada economy grew by 5.5% every year and after those self serving governments came in the destroy all of that and pocket the people’s money and you have certain government officials say that the "dam" money is mine
Many people may not agree with this but again we just have to agree to disagree. Like I said we are not a republic. Remember the daughter of Bishop have forgiven those men met with them forgave them and she also made it known that her father was not free of guilt so is time we all move on and do what is best for the country even if it mean getting the 17 back to work. Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country and they can do a lot of good for the country in the past and even in prison and that is why they are given the job back in the prison. In closing would you like to see them on the street with nothing to do? It’s been 22 years and counting man let’s move on.
0
0
By: John 6/5/2010 11:23:41 AM
It's amazing and strikingly sad to know that though Grenada is designated an independent nation it cannot legally survive on its own. The British Privy Council should not have had to determine the final decsion of the group of 17. A few white men who live thousands of miles away from Grenada should under no circumstances left with the final say where the freedom of the gang of 17 is concerned. The British Privy Counsel, the British...did not experienece what the Grenadian people went through...This should have been final decision made by the Grenadian people. I am beginning to think that we ouselves still believe that we're inadequate to decide our own future...the very same issue Maurice Bishop eas trying educate us to overcome...The British used us as a people-slaves...when they decided that we're of no use to Britain anymore, they conspire with the few knowledgeable ones to relieve them of the burden of caring for the decendants of slaves...they grant Grenada its independence at a high cost...Grenada, like Jamaica, Haiti...were put in a financial bind...forced to compensate (money enslavement) their colonial powers for that ridiculous independence (never ending payback monies)...only to England, France, Portugal, Spain, Dutch...advantage. Why would someone in this day and age assume that a few white men in Englang (Privy Council) who may have never visited Grenada, may not even know where to find Grenada on a map, have never met/nor spoken to the survivers and victims of the gang of 17 have the right to make decisions on behalf of people of Grenada?
I THINK SOME OF US NEED TO BEGIN TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX. WILL SOME OF YOU PLEASE READ SMALL ISLAND?
0
0
By: damond 6/5/2010 5:46:04 AM
I hope those law abiding Grenadians who are victims or survivals of victims of Hudson Austin, Leon "Bogo" Cornwall and the 17 henchmen heineous and barbaric acts against the state, Bishop and his cabinet members, and other Grenadians would seek punitive (money) damages from whatever financial gains these guys inherit...take them to court and sue them for financial losses, psychological damages and go after the state for punitive damages as well. I think our court system and government have lost their minds...this was a premeditated and well-planned out violent act against the state. I am not asking for these men to be killed. I am simply saying that they should have lost the right to be favored or equally compete with law abiding citizens. This is morally and legally wrong. I assume Grenada will soon see a PRIME MINISTER BERNADARD COARD, DEPUTY PRIME MINSTER LEON "BOGO" CORNWALL, ATTORNEY GENERAL SELWYN STRACHAN, ETC. I have been researching precedent cases that have led our court system and government to reach such a decsion but failed.
0
0
By: damond 6/5/2010 5:19:46 AM
Crimes like mass execution, especially of a nation's head of state, cabinet members and innocent
citizens, or anything where the core of the criminal act is a betrayal of trust is considered a
Crime of Moral Turpitude. A Crime of Moral Turpitude suggests that the nature of a particular
felon's crime defines them as having an antisocial character defect so profoundly vile that a felon
capable of certain crimes can or should never be trusted by members of polite society ever
again.
Convicted murderers do not have many rights and certainly not the right to have his name
removed in any way from its attachment to the crime.
I believe the moment he became a convicted
murderer he lost the right to have any but the most basic rights such as the right to freely move
about, far less to be hired by any future government(s) of the same state.
The employment of
Hudson Austin and Leon "Bogo" Cornwall by the NDC government is an unfortunate slap in the
face of the Bishop's family and families of fellow Grenadians who were massacred by Hudson Austin,Leon Cornwall and the others. From a legal and moral viewpoint, these men should under no circumstances be allowed freely roam the country, fare less to secure any government contracts, nor be employed by the government of
Grenada.
The employment of these men is a disservice to the people and does not send a positive
message. In fact, it does not serve as a deterrent to criminal activities. It sure shows that one can commit the most heineous crime against the state and yet gain equal opportunity as law abiding
citizens to government services and resources.
Yes, God expects us to be forgiving human beings,
simultaneously, he does not mandate that we forget...he expects us to not recind to our old ways.
THe most norious criminals are now employed at competitive salaries...law abiding citizens
are forced to compete with those who viciously set the country a century back. I hope there is some stipulation in place that sanctioned the earnings of these murderers to punitive damages. I hope monies are deducted from their monthly allowances to compensate survivors of those who fell victims to Hudson, Cornwall and group of 17 heineous and murderous deeds to the state, especially our hero's mother (MS. Bishop), family members of the Creft, Bain...and local citizens. I wondr if these guys have won the right to own and to carry their automatic rifles...they have access to deadly weapons! Is/was there a bigger conspiracy that we are unaware of? Can someone help me on this?
0
0
By: damond 6/5/2010 5:00:36 AM
MY Friend Hangman if it appears that i am going soft of these guys may i say that this is far from it although my last posting may give that impression so lets put the record straight ,This guys have on record committed the most barbaric crimes against our people and our former prime minister the great Mr Bishop and as a result of the british legal system(the appeal board) these guys are now on the street and this is where i come in for i say that instead of them being a loose cannon in our country we should used what ever skill they have to give back to society and at the same time put them under constant Watch so that there will never be a repeat of what had taken place on that dreadful day yes i know that families are still suffering from their lost and may be we can find it in our hearts to forgive but should never forget and i do mean never forget the dreadful deeds that took place then by these men and so that we can move forward as did south africa did under the great Mr Mandell and try and unite our people as one nation together.
Pgs
