BELTRAIDE finds new direction and loses 5 workers

There is trouble at BELTRAIDE, the beleaguered trade and investment agency of G.O.B. Earlier today, five members of staff, including two in senior ranks, handed in their resignation. The situation has been topsy-turvy since last year when a new Executive Director was brought back from the US and installed as head of BELTRAIDE. But that did not last too long and soon enough after allegations of mismanagement and improprieties Guadalupe Lima was sent packing in October and was quickly replaced in November by Michael Swift, who was also recruited from the U.S. The rumblings persisted and this past Monday, Swift flanked by the Chairman of Board, Allan Sharp, held a staff meeting to outline what was referred to as a new direction. Staff was asked if everyone was onboard. Eleven of the sixteen members agreed and five said they needed time to reflect. News Five has confirmed that Franjeev Pananbalam, Jonathon de Silva, Desire Mitchell, Egbert Bevans and Chevron Smith called it quits this morning.