Government fires Patterson-Yearwood as LEN Secretary

FINANCE MINISTER ASHNI SINGH FIRED VALARIE PATTERSON-YEARWOOD as
Secretary to the Board of Directors of the troubled Linden Enterprise Network (LEN) sources
have conformed to www.aroundtheregions.com.
According to information out of the bauxite-mining municipality, LEN’s Chief Executive Officer
(CEO), Ms. Tannizia Gasper conveyed the message to Patterson-Yearwood.
www.aroundtheregions.com also understands that Regional Executive Officer (REO) Mr.
Dwight John, will act as Secretary in the interim.
CEO John also replaced Patterson-Yearwood as the signatory for LEN’s bank account.
LEN employees recalled Patterson-Yearwood’s firing mirrors that of the Board of Directors who
were removed last year shortly after the PPPC taking office. Like now, it left more questions
than answers.
“This is the exact way that the former board of directors were treated. They were not notified but
were removed and while their tenures would have all expired in December, they were removed
without completing their terms as Directors. The entire agency was thrown into disarray and
once again we are going down the very road,” an employee noted.
Another noted, “You can remove the Board Secretary as politics dictates that but at least do it
professionally and with courtesy as just making a random decision because she doesn’t see
things politically like you is not right and should never be condoned.”
The repetition of contempt for senior LEN officers by both the A Partnership for National Unity
Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) and Peoples Progressive Party Civic coalition
administrations makes workers feel vulnerable to the whims of the new board whenever they are
sworn in.
“I cannot continue like this as this will send anyone mad. Something has to be done, and, sadly,
the very points that we the staff raised with the minister the other day, he is doing. How do you
expect the staff to feel operating with this level of tension and fear that is being spread here? Tell
me, as I am lost for words,” the LEN employee noted.

With Patterson-Yearwood’s sudden axing, employees are more uncertain whether their
outstanding leave passage and gratuity will be settled, since it was her skillful intervention and
approach that ensured they were paid.
Patterson-Yearwood could not be reached for comment.
Since the establishment of LEN in 2010, all three CEOs have been women with Patterson
Yearwood serving from 2010 to 2015; Nikita Miller between 2015 to 2017, and Tannizia
Gasper from 2018.