'Don't blacklist me' - Former USF head admits to not having requisite qualification, but said she served her country well

Suzette (Camille) Buchanan, the former head of the Universal Service Fund (USF) - who was hired by the agency's board without the master's degree required for the managing director position stated in the advertisement of September 11, 2016 - yesterday defended her short stewardship of the entity.

Buchanan told Parliament's Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC) that despite not having the stated academic qualification, her experience of nearly 20 years made her suited for the job.

Though she had resigned, Buchanan made herself available to the committee, and the members expressed their gratitude for her presence. Buchanan detailed her political affiliation to the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) but said that she was working for all Jamaica as the then managing director of the USF.

"I saw an advertisement. I took note of the advertisement. I applied for the position. I was shortlisted. I was interviewed, not once, but, in fact, twice. In that interview, the observation was made that there was the absence of the master's. However, on the other side, after having over 20 years in running businesses; having served a total of three years as director and chief executive officer of Caymanas Track Limited; served on several boards, including the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission; running my own business and having to handle my finances; serving 14 years combined in representational politics, and having the affairs of an entire division to handle at the parish council level ... ," she said before she was interrupted by PAAC chairman Dr Wykeham McNeill, who asked which constituency she had served in.

She said that it was the Gregory Park Division, in the constituency of St Catherine East Central, and that she served between 1998 and 2014.

SERVICE TO COUNTRY THE ULTIMATE GIFT

"I was still going to work and spending nights there to ensure what was not done was put in place so that a fund that was set up to benefit the people of Jamaica, they could in fact get benefit from that. I also will not apologise for having served in representational politics and being appointed at the USF because I do believe that service in any capacity (to) your country is the ultimate gift. And I also believe that when we have served in representational politics, we should not apologise, and we should not be blacklisted," she continued, in defending her appointment by the board, headed by chairman Robert Lawrence.

Buchanan was forced to come to her own defence after several attempts to get a direct response from Lawrence on the process that hired her without the requisite qualification failed.

Buchanan listed her academic qualifications as Canning College in Western Australia and a Certificate of Merit from the Caribbean School of Media and Communication (CARIMAC).

Canning's website says that it is an institution offering quality pathways to university for international students who are continuing their education.

Lawrence told the meeting that there had been a great deal of "looseness" at the USF prior to the arrival of Buchanan, hence the board was of the view that decisive action was needed.

It was felt that many persons were unable to do their jobs although they were academically qualified.

The USF was one of several entities under the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology, which has been brought into disrepute following allegations of nepotism, cronyism, and corruption. Findings to date have led to the resignation of the portfolio minister, Andrew Wheatley. The Office of the Prime Minister now has oversight responsibility of the ministry.

erica.virtue@gleanerjm.com