Minister’s husband work in Housing Ministry a conflict of interest – CEO

Georgetown: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Central Housing and Planning Authority, Leon Saul has flagged the issue of the husband of Minister within the Ministry of Communities Valerie Yearwood being one of several contractors who won bids to construct houses for the government in 2017.

Minister within the Ministry of Communities Valerie Yearwood and her husband Godfrey Yearwood and President David Granger pose for a picture during their wedding in 2017.

He said Godfrey Yearwood; the husband of the Minister should not have been given any contract.

The issue was brought to light after a sub-contractor lodged several complaints against Yearwood that he was not paid for the works done.

“If the contractor in question is the spouse of the Minister, then certainly, it would be a conflict of interest,” Saul noted.

He pointed out that the award of contracts is done by the Board of Directors of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) but he called for the contract which is still ongoing to be reviewed.

“I think that the board should review that based on a recommendation coming from the agency,” he said.

Minister Yearwood has said that she played no part in the awarding of any contract since that is the job of the Board of the Central Housing and Planning Authority, which falls under the Housing Department, which she overlooks.

Saul said the Minister’s husband has not been granted any other contract since the one in 2017. Minister Yearwood continues to dodged questions about the topic only pointing media operatives to the Central Housing and Planning Authority for quires.