Sir Vincent Beache to chair HLDC Board

The Housing and Land Development Corporation (HLDC) will have a new Chairman from February 1.

National Security Advisor Sir Vincent Beache has been named to take over from Berisford Phillips, who according to Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, has been removed {{more}}because he is likely to be the candidate for the Unity Labour Party (ULP) in the next general elections.

“It is likely from all appearances that Berisford is going to be the candidate for the ULP in Central Kingstown. There may be other names, but he is vying for it and I didn’t want somebody who is likely to be the candidate or might be the candidate to continue to chair a board,” Gonsalves said.

The Prime Minister strongly rejected suggestions that Phillips was removed because of the problems experienced recently with the Government’s housing projects, including the collapse of a house on September 19, 2014, at the Clare Valley Housing Development.

“Nah, nah, nah, nah, he was not responsible for that!” he said emphatically.

The Prime Minister also confirmed that HLDC general manager Elvis Charles is also being replaced, but he declined to name the new manager, as everything has not yet “formally been put in place.”

SEARCHLIGHT has, however, been reliably informed that Charles will be replaced by Kenyatta Alleyne, the present manager of Infrastructure at the Roads, Buildings and General Services Authority (BRAGSA).

The Prime Minister said Charles will be assigned to assist Housing Minister Montgomery Daniel with the ‘Lives to Live’ programme, under which houses will be built for the disabled.