By Vina Fredrick

For about three weeks the National Development Corporation has featured in this newspaper and not for anything good. The first story centered on a letter to a member of Nicholas John’s Chambers informing her that she had been handpicked by the Corporation to represent an NDC client.

This week another story appeared on our front page where in it was disclosed that the NDC’s executive chairman may have abused his office in favour of a private client. Moreover that the client had somehow been given access to private documents of the NDC in his quest to secure a joint venture deal with the Corporation. Thursday’s paper had barely hit newsstands when the reactions started pouring in.

We recieved several calls from obviously irate readers who demanded the removal of the NDC’s executive chairman. Then there was the opposition. Their first barrage was in the form of a press release that was read on air by the host of NewsSpin Timothy Poleon. Noted the release: "The Labour Party has read with considerable interest, the story entitled "NDC: Disturbing Questions, No Answers".

This exposÈ, follows an earlier story in the same newspaper. The minister for the National Development Corporation, Senator Ausbert d’Auvergne, must take direct responsibility for the actions of Mr Nicholas John. Senator d’Auvergne, must act immediately and relieve Mr Nicholas John of responsibility for the Corporation."

Further, said the release, "No individual has any right to select an attorney-at-law for a client. It is even more reprehensible when a lawyer seeks to do so. Mr John has openly used his position to advance the interests of his firm and now, a long-standing client of his. This is nothing more, but "cronyism", pure and simple

"It is abundantly clear that Mr John has compromised the reputation and integrity of the NDC. The chairman of NDC must be seen to act beyond self interest. He is the chief investment officer of the state and must inspire trust at all times in all his dealings. Investors must feel confident that officers of NDC fully respect the confidentiality of proposals submitted to the Corporation. Prime Minister Stephenson King must insist that Senator d’Auvergne acts quickly to save the reputation and integrity of the NDC."