News, Top Story

NHC Chairman Defends Acting Managing Director

TIMOTHY Mangal, Chairman of the National Housing Corporation (NHC), has responded to employees who have taken industrial action against the leadership of Claudius ‘Peto’ Francis, Acting Managing Director of the NHC. Claims that actions by Claudius Francis were causing grievances to workers were brought forward on Tuesday by senior industrial relations officers of the National Workers Union. The grievances were related to mould which was said to exist within the NHC office, thus affecting the health and safety of employees.

Image of Timothy Mangal
Timothy Mangal

The grievances have since prompted the National Workers Union to seek a discussion with Guy Joseph, Minister for Economic Development, Housing and Urban Renewal, for a resolution to the industrial move by the NHC workers. In response to the action taken by workers in relation to the leadership of Francis, Mangal said that workers had indicated to him their disapproval of Francis prior to Francis’s appointment by the Board. He said he did not take these proclamations seriously at the time.

This recent development in regards to the industrial action taken, has led Mangal to question the intentions of workers. It has been reported that workers who have stayed away from work on the basis of their claims, have deprived the Acting Managing Director access to important files at the office by keeping the keys to the filing cabinets in their absence.

Mangal alluded that the actions of workers were targeted at the Acting Managing Director instead of being targeted at the mould. The Chairman remarked, “The Managing Director has deadlines in which he has to present Government with a report… you [the workers] decided that you are not at work, and if you are not at work, why are you in possession of keys of the corporation?” Mangal intimated that the industrial action of workers was intended to hinder the productivity of the Acting Managing Director.

Mangal further noted that an air quality test will be conducted at the office of the NHC, and that the proper remedial actions will be taken if the safety of the air is proven to be compromised. “We have engaged the services of a contractor; this week there will be an air quality test done on the building. Based on that air quality test, it will justify whether there’s a problem or whether there is not a problem,” he said.

Allen is a reporter employed at The Voice Publishing Company. He has had a passion for reading, writing, story telling and theater for as long as he can remember. His interest in history, philosophy and the human condition, have inspired him to think deeply about life which has in turn given him many things to write about. He enjoys writing articles which educate, inspire, and enlighten the reader; and articles which provoke the reader to look at things from a fresh and different perspective.Read full bio...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Send this to a friend