Management shake-up at UDC - Board replaces two senior officers

Two senior managers at the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) have been sent home as part of what the board has hinted is an effort to improve its performance.

"The corporation is seized of the urgency required in this process of transformation and the full utilisation of the assets in its portfolio to secure and assure the sustainable development of our country," said the board of the UDC as it announced that deputy general managers Robert Stephens and Lorna Perkins were no longer with the state entity.

Stephens, who was the deputy general manager for subsidiaries management and revenue generation, was mandated to define, develop and implement a corporation-wide vision for revenue generation and operational efficiency and secure buy-in from stakeholders, as well as to engage investors to facilitate partnerships.

Perkins, who was seconded from the Cabinet Office in 2015, had responsibilities including the management of projects in assigned areas from concept through implementation, with particular focus on high-priority projects.

"She was also tasked with ensuring that the designated planning areas are incorporated in the national development planning process, with the resulting development plans, improved operational efficiency and effective service delivery while facilitating the development of the human resources," said the UDC board as it thanked the two for their service.

According to the board, Yvette Sibble, general counsel, will now have oversight of the subsidiaries management and revenue generation portfolio, while George Harty will serve as chief engineer for the Planning Development and Project Management Division.

The latest management changes at the UDC comes less than two months after the board replaced Desmond Malcolm as general manager. Malcolm's replacement, Dr Damian Graham, started on February 3.