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GuyOil creates ‘fat cat’ position for unqualified sitting Director
By Abena Rockcliffe-Campbell
The Guyana Oil Company (GuyOil) recently undertook a multi-million dollar restructuring exercise which saw the establishment of two new positions. But the two posts were filled under questionable circumstances—one was given to an individual whose qualifications are said to be unsuited for the job.
There are at least five other persons operating in positions for which they are not qualified—three are acting and two have been appointed substantively. These and other reasons are what caused a few GuyOil employees to flag the company as a sinking ship.
GuyOil’s Corporate Services Manager, Shundell Brotherson
The employees who spoke to Kaieteur News on the grounds of anonymity said, “Make no mistake, GuyOil is still financially sound. But if we continue along this trajectory, the current successes will quickly disappear.”
Late last year, S.V. Jones and Associates was hired to restructure GuyOil.
When the “massive restructuring” was over, two new job descriptions were created and approved by the Board.
One of the created positions was Corporate Services Manager. Shundell Brotherson was appointed to hold the post.
Kaieteur News understands that Brotherson is a former GuyOil Board Director. She was a Director at the time when she was made Corporate Services Manager. To get this position, Brotherson had to be interviewed and approved by her colleagues on the Board.
“That surely seems incestuous to me,” said one GuyOil employee. “So the Board instructed a restructure to be done to create two new positions and then put one of its own Directors in that position.”
The position created and given to Brotherson ranks second in the company structure; above her is only the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The position of Corporate Services Manager attracts an over $530,000 basic salary per month; cell phone, vehicle and other allowances are not included in that sum.
Additionally, the requirements set out in the job description for the post of Corporate Services Manager mandate that the incumbent must have “a Post Graduate Degree in Management or Administration.” Brotherson does not possess this qualification.
Kaieteur News understands that Brotherson has a degree but not a Post Graduate “and her degree is in Economics not Management.” The former Director worked at the Ministry of Finance as an Analyst “but was never in a managerial position. So she neither had the required qualification or experience.” Yet, she was chosen over persons who worked at GuyOil and are both qualified and have experience in management. Some of these persons have MBAs and some had Post Grads.
The other position that was created was Facilities Manager. That was filled by Brion Singh who has the required qualifications.
Further, employees note that five persons are currently operating in positions for which they are not qualified, “this is the case while qualified persons are being stifled. Some of these people do not even have a diploma.”
This year, GuyOil fired its Marketing and Sales Manager Eric Whaul. Finance Manager Uma Joseph – Daniels was instructed to resign. Also, within the last year, at least five senior managers parted ties with the company. There were about three acting CEO’s.
GuyOil remains one of the most profitable state organizations in Guyana.
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