by Linda Straker
- Section 10 of law establishing authority states appointments in accordance with section 5 shall be published in weekly Government Gazette
- Review of gazettes since July 2022 shows no notice announcing board appointments
- Finance minister responsible for appointing Chairman and Deputy Chairman
Willan Thompson, former Commissioner of Police and current National Security Advisor to Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell is the Chairman of the Grenada Authority for the Regulations of Financial Institutions (GARFIN).
Section 10 of the law establishing the authority states appointments in accordance with section 5 shall be published in the weekly Government Gazette. Section 5 speaks to the appointment of the Board of Directors. A review of gazettes published since July 2022 shows no notice announcing Thompson’s appointment or the other board members who are paid for their services.
The board members as published in the 2022 annual report of the authority are Chevanne Britton, Deputy Chairman; Kimberly Andrews, Laurel Seraphin-Bedford, Allan Bierznyski and Valentine Fraser.
According to the legislation, the minister serving in the finance ministerial portfolio is responsible for appointing the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Board. It is unknown if the board was appointed while Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell was serving as the finance minister or by Dennis Cornwall who became the finance minister in April 2023.
The Board is responsible for the policy and general administration of the affairs and business of the Authority and may make by-laws:
- for the administration, management and control of the property, affairs and business of the Authority
- governing the functions, duties and remuneration of all officers, agents and employees of the Authority
- concerning conflicts of interest in respect of directors, officers and employees of the Authority
- governing the time and place for the holding of meetings of the Board and the procedure in all things at those meetings; and
- governing the conduct in all other particulars of the business and affairs of the Authority
