Graham walks from UDC

Dr Damian Graham has resigned from his post as general manager of the Urban Development Corporation (UDC).

In a statement yesterday, the UDC indicated that Graham resigned in order to pursue other career opportunities, wished him success in future his endeavours, and thanked him for his work as general manager.

Appointed on January 3, 2017, Graham had been tasked with leading the UDC in its charge to redevelop specific areas in downtown Kingston, including the waterfront as well as the development of Montego Bay in St James and Ocho Rios in St Ann.

One of Graham's top priorities had also been the development of National Heroes Park to include the Parliament building and a so-called 'Government Circle' on lands surrounding the park.

Yesterday's announcement came a week after The Sunday Gleaner revealed that Graham had been named the first defendant in a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against the UDC after a seeminigly botched attempt to fire one of its employees.

Farrah Blake, a manager at the UDC subsidiary St Ann Develop-ment Company, has asked the court to order the UDC to pay her damages for conspiracy to induce breach of contract or conspiracy to cause loss by unlawful means.

An imbroglio between Blake and the UDC's leadership had reportedly been simmering for months but only intensified when Blake received a letter informing her that her services would be terminated on September 10.

In court documents filed, Blake accused the defendants of unilaterally setting ridiculous targets for her to meet and changing scores on her appraisals that had already been approved.

Up to yesterday evening, calls to Graham's telephone went unanswered.