Patterson breaks silence on LEN fiasco

LINDEN ENTERPRISE NETWORK (LEN) was not an oasis for A Partnership for
National Unity Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition senior officials said its Board
Secretary, Ms. Valarie Patterson.
Patterson denied persistent complaints that numerous APNU+AFC ‘big wigs’ in the bauxite-
mining municipality were preferred ahead of their less-fortunate residents for loans from LEN.
Instead, Patterson said only legislator, Mr. Jermaine Figueira, and now-deceased Regional
Democratic Council (RDC) Vice Chairman, Mr. Douglas Gittens, were beneficiaries of financial
backing from LEN.
“The…issue of the board prioritising giving loans to APNU+AFC leaders in the
community…has no factual base. The only two leaders that I can say had loans was the MP
Figueira and… the now-deceased Vice Chairman, Mr. Doulas Gittens,” Patterson revealed.
She said parliamentarian Figueira repaid his loans, but denied the legislator had two loans
simultaneously.
“The second was disbursed based on the first being settled and the second loan (according to) my
information from the CEO is that that loan is already settled. The other person (Gittens)
…provided full security and his loan was up to date and I am not aware of any other,” Patterson
said.
“Based on the discussion with CEO Ms. Tanniza Gasper, Mr. Figueira would have repaid his
second loan as he did with his first loan according to her. As a matter of fact, the reports that a
number of APNU+AFC leaders receiving loans from LEN is inaccurate and I want to state that
for the record,” Patterson said.
She dismissed as nonsensical criticisms that recipients got loans based on affiliation to the then
ruling APNU+AFC party. She insisted all were based on merit of every applicant.

“The sub-set of the board is the Credit Committee, and I sit on that. I can say to you we don’t
approve loans based on the ‘Who’. We only look at the Who in terms of character not in terms of
political or religious affiliation,” Patterson emphasised.

LEN has been beset with problems which former Chairman, Mr. Orrin Gordon failed to counter.
She Gordon heeded advice of other members LEN would have easily rid itself of CEO Gasper
described as a very poor performer, ineffective and inefficient.
Gasper was also guilty of several infractions, Patterson told www.aroundtheregions.com