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
We know and we understand what they have done, and we have forgiven them and many of the people of Grenada are working and living along-side them without a problem so to those Green-card carrying Grenadian who seems not to forgive and want to Grenada to copy the American way of the justice system we in Grenada do not wish to subscribe to that. We still want to be free from imperialism and neocolonialism and mental slavery. My sympathy goes out to all those who lost their love ones, and yes it hurt to lose a love because I understand what it means to lose a love one. But again I HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST, and I know that Jesus will say to them go your sin forgiven thee. For anyone of us to be forgiven we must first forgive the person that offends us and seek the forgiveness of those that we offend and our world will be a better place to live. How unfortunate it would be if Christ misunderstood you or anyone for that matter. Go with GOD.
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By: John 6/6/2010 2:04:40 AM
What’s unfortunate about that, the law is the law and they paid the price. There was no other price stipulate the in the book for the crime. You we cannot just give Government unlimited power to do what they want. When the revolution was the in thing many people was crying out for the west minister system and that is what comes with it. Perhaps they could of tried them in the Haig but they don’t try political prisoners there they try real human right violation cases and that knew that they could not win because they could not win them there because they would have to bring real witnesses and they did not have that. the people they interviewed was giving them the truth and they did not wanted it so they set up a kangaroo court and tried them and that is the end result of not doing it right the first time. so Damond The General and all of the 17 men are still Grenadian and whether you like it or not they are going to be living among the people of Grenada . The last time I check they was not the ones cutting off neck and stabbing the people of Grenada ,they are not the one running the GANGS , they are not the ones bringing in the COKE into Grenada and raping, beating killing our women and committing incest .
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By: John 6/6/2010 2:03:38 AM
Stallion Where that is true the fact remain that Bogor and them was doing this job in the prison I believe that they should continue doing so even if it mean paying them for the job they have the experience, they been there before how many educated prisoners that came out of Richmond Hill that was willing to do what they did while they was in there. On the question of transparency , it’s all good but what good will it serve if the end result would be the same .My friend ,yes I say my friend because I have spoken to you before and I believe that you are a smart person let us not be fool we all know how politician talk before an election. Transparency is just political sweet talk so let us not grind the in the mill. Again I believe that it takes a rehabilitee junk to council one and it takes a prisoner to do the same. Perhaps they should give my friend senator the job along –side Bogor and KB along- HA that would be a good pair a general and a 1st or lieutenant, Lloyd noel and Leslie Pear there was lot of options but these men never contributed to making the prison a better place while they were in there. So you see Tillman did not have many options, oops is this all Tillman’s or the new……? I am sure that he has an explanation and so I hope that the leader of the opposition will have a very good explanation when his time come to face the music he seem to be raising concerns now but I hope in the near future he will have real answers for the Grenadian people. They have convection have not yet come. Like the rest of the Grenadian masses I am waiting patiently in the sun.
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By: John 6/6/2010 1:26:03 AM
It's unfortunate that am misunderstood here...at the forefront of every action is a reaction. There's always a consequence to one's behavior/action. To openly accept these men with open arms back into society and restore their civil liberty as though nothing had happened and allow them to engage in government activities is a slap in the face of those who died during and after the revolution. Everyone who is accused/found guilt of barbaric and heineous crimes against humanity should have some sort of punitive (monetary responsibility) attached to their sentence or freedom. In continuation, it's important to note that forgiveness does not excuse anyone from facing the consequence of his/her action. Once again, I reiterate the fact that it's irresponsible of the our country and the Caribbean region to rely on a few white men (Privy Council)thousands of mile away... have never had to experience what the people of Grenada/Caribbean have been thru, may not even know where to find Grenada on the map...would never feel threatened because these guys will never be allowed to enter England make decision(s) against the will of the majority. In fact, if the British Privy Council had Grenada and Caribbean region interest at heart, why didn't they ule against the monetary mandates and sanctions passed aways the Caribbean islands during their push for independence...It's unfortunate that some of these men within the Privy Council may have even acted/reached a decision while under the influence of alcohol/drugs. As long as the release of these men were not in their backyard...who cares!
I would be interesting to find out whether or not these guys are carrying security monitoring devices.
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By: damond 6/5/2010 10:32:17 PM
john i agree with the last sentence of your post about them being on the street.the only issue i have with the state job is if anyone else had applied for the job and how was the selection made.it is fine by me that they got the job but the selection process raise a red flag.i am sure there are other qualified indidviuals that could have done the job,but like i said all qualified citizens deserved a shot at this high paying job.tillman campaigned on integrity and transparency so i hope he give an explanation to the public as to how they landed the job.
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