People’s National Movement (PNM)-appointed chairman of the Point Lisas Industrial Port Development Corporation Limited (Plipdeco), Annette Wattie, yesterday fired two employees.
When contacted, Plipdeco’s line minister, Jearlean John, stated, “I prefer to let the Honourable PM lead on this matter, in light of her clear and unambiguous statements at last Thursday’s post-Cabinet meeting.”
Wattie and the Plipdeco board have not yet resigned since a new government took office.
On June 1, attorneys separately representing Niegel Subiah, vice president of Business Services, and Richelle Lyman, the company’s corporate secretary (who are both on leave), wrote to Wattie objecting to her request for their clients to attend a meeting to discuss disciplinary charges. They also raised concerns about Wattie’s continued role as chair following the election of a new government.
On June 2, dismissal letters signed by Wattie were sent to both Subiah and Lyman.
The four-page dismissal letter sent to Subiah outlined six charges of misconduct:
One charge alleged that Subiah dishonestly informed the Human Resource Manager that the board of directors had approved salary changes for vice presidents, when in fact, then-board chairman Daniel Dookie had unilaterally decided to submit the proposal to the Corporation’s line ministry for approval.
Another charge alleged that Subiah accepted an increase in his base salary from $38,525 to $58,885 per month, which he was paid from September to December 2024—despite knowing that the Corporation’s board had not approved the increase.
The letter concluded that Subiah’s conduct was a fundamental breach of his employment contract and stated that “you are accordingly to be dismissed with immediate effect, that is with effect from today’s date.”
Second dismissal letter
Wattie also signed a six-page dismissal letter to Lyman, outlining ten charges of misconduct.
One charge stated that Lyman was guilty of misconduct contrary to Section 99(1) of the Companies Act.
According to the letter, Lyman failed to discharge her duties and act in the best interest of the company when she agreed to and received an Additional Responsibility Allowance of $15,000 per month (amounting to 49.5% of her approved basic salary of $30,308.37) between September 1 and December 31, 2024. The allowance was for additional responsibilities—Legal Services, Estate Services, and External Relations, assigned without board approval.
Legal response
Former attorney general Anand Ramlogan, who represents Subiah, sent a letter to Wattie yesterday stating that her “purported dismissal” of his client is “ultra vires and illegal…harsh, oppressive and contrary to good industrial relations.”
Ramlogan advised that the dismissal is null, void, and of no legal effect. He also posed a series of questions for Wattie to answer in order to properly advise his client:
1. Why did the board at Plipdeco refuse to tender its resignation in accordance with well-established corporate protocol and policy after a change in government? It is for the government to accept or reject the offer of resignation.
2. Why has the board ignored the Prime Minister’s call for PNM-appointed boards to tender their resignations? Every member of your board was appointed by the PNM administration.
3. Did the board seek the prior approval and guidance of the newly appointed line minister for Plipdeco, the Honourable Jearlean John, before it:
• purported to dismiss our client?
• decided to publicly advertise the position of Vice President, Technical Services?
• continued to push for the purchase of a scanner?
• continued to issue instructions to executive management as if acting under the newly elected government’s policy?
4. Does the board intend to repay Plipdeco the monthly salaries/allowances it received after the change in government?
5. Does the board intend to reimburse Plipdeco for tickets purchased to attend the PNM’s Red Fete, in light of the complaint to the Integrity Commission?
Plipdeco board of directors (as listed on the company’s website)
• Annette Wattie—chairman
• Richardo Garcia
• Ricardo Lewis
• Cindy Manson
• Sheldon Baptiste
• St Clair O’Neil
• Stephen Harris