–says Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon
–Winston Brassington never operated as free agent

GOVERNMENT’S chief spokesperson, Dr. Roger Luncheon, addressing the line peddled by sections of the media which portrays the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) and its head, Mr. Winston Brassington, as acting as free agents, or doing as they please, has said that any decision taken by NICIL and its Head, Winston Brassington, must necessarily have Cabinet’s endorsement before it is acted upon.

He deemed this principle a matter virtually “laid down in stone.”

“The pilgrimage of this governance chain of recommendations and decisions of the NICIL Board to ultimately consideration by Cabinet, and its endorsement by Cabinet, is virtually laid down in stone. It is cast in stone,” Dr. Luncheon remarked.

Speaking at his usual post-Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the President, in Georgetown, Dr. Luncheon, as Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Secretary to the Cabinet, and a member of the NICIL Board of Directors, said that, like all other boards, the emphasis on “governance mechanisms” is primary; and at the end of the day, those mechanisms always prevail.

“The basis on which decisions are made indeed constitute a major part of these governance mechanisms of which I speak. The NICIL Board is no different. Associated with the NICIL Board are a number of parties that consider recommendations from management, and these considerations are taken up the ladder to eventually (reach) Cabinet.

“Cabinet’s endorsement of board decisions plays an important part in these governance mechanisms. So, indeed, whilst we might be encouraged to pander to this notion that this NICIL and that NICIL and the other NICIL seems to be engaging in activities that are unrelated to these governance principles, I hasten to correct that impression,” Dr. Luncheon said.

Speaking in regard to the role Mr. Brassington plays in relation to NICIL decisions, Dr. Luncheon said: “If you think Brassington is a free agent, this morning, on the 25th June, 2014, I would want to disabuse your mind. Behind all of those decisions attributed to NICIL, and (which have) been the subject of all endless range of criticisms in sections of the media, let them address those concerns where they actually should be — at Cabinet.”

(By Telesha Ramnarine )