Tyrone Reid, Enterprise Reporter

Gordon-Webley dumps 'management garbage'

Acting on a promise to turn around the tainted image of the scandal-ridden National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), newly appointed executive director, Joan Gordon-Webley, has fired 23 management-level employees from the agency that she believes is top-heavy.

The dismissals which took place last week could save the state-owned garbage collection company more than $34.5 million per annum. Among the casualties was the human resource manager, the only position left vacant that will be filled.

"Inasmuch as we are out there removing garbage from the streets, we have to remove our own garbage. We have to clean up," Gordon-Webley told The Gleaner yesterday.

All of the middle-management positions that were terminated were in the department that deals with parks. While the parks manager still has his job, two tiers of middle managers below him have been removed and will not be reinstated.

"It was an excess on the purse of the country," Mrs. Gordon-Webley said. "None of the positions warranted that salary."

The executive director pointed out that one of the persons who was receiving $1.2 million per year, was "supervising the strip from the top of Mountain View (Avenue) to the bottom".

Mrs. Gordon-Webley, whose appointment early last month sparked much public debate, said she was of the view that the executive agency was top-heavy and warned that more cuts were forthcoming.

"We have another set of people who only come to the office to collect their salary," she said.

Warning shots

She also fired warning shots at the company's directors. "I have already told the directors that if, in fact, I have to search and find all these things happening, it means that they are not managing properly and I can't recommend that they stay here because this is taxpayers' money," Mrs. Gordon-Webley said.

While she has discovered several unpleasant situations at the NSWMA, Mrs. Gordon-Webley said she has found some managers and staff members who are hard-working.

"If we are able to have a leaner and more productive NSWMA, then you will have a basis to upgrade those hard-working persons' salary and working conditions which are at the lowest level," she said.