That aside, another appointment to the board that has drawn criticism
is Anuar Barrow. He’s the Prime Minister’s 27 year old son and an
independent businessman who owns and operates the Quick Stop Personal Finance
Center. His mother, Lois Young is Secretary to the BTL Board – a post
she formerly held from 1988 to 2004. We asked the Prime Minister, why his own
son?
Jules Vasquez,
“It seems like overweening nepotism.”
Hon. Dean Barrow,
“No man. As I explained my son is as you put me in an uncomfortable
situation, obliging me to say this, is very personable, very bright, very knowledgeable
in terms of the cutting edge issues with respect to the modern day corporate
culture. In that context, for me to be able to have him there to play the extremely
constructive role that I know he will play but also as my personal eyes and
ears is I think to be understood. I have a lot politically riding on this. The
nation has a lot riding on it as an issue of overarching importance. While completely
the board of directors is wonderful, I don’t see that anybody can grudge
me wanting to have that extra edge which in my view and on the basis of my thinking
Anwar’s presence represents.
But please, I absolutely am positive that having him there is a good move.
Having him there means that the personal connection with the staff, which is
very important, the messages of reassurance that I want conveyed to the staff
and repeat it over the days ahead, that that will get through to them loud and
clear because the messenger is my son.”
Jules Vasquez,
“You can see though how it can be interpreted from outside. His mother
is the secretary of the board, he is a member of the board, and if it should
end up in court your brother is on the Court of Appeals. View it from outside,
imagine you don’t know these people, you don’t know that Miss Lois
is a pre-eminent attorney, that Anwar is a young bright businessman, that Denys
is a widely respect jurist, imagine from the outside you’re looking at
this and saying, are we running a famili-opoly.”
Hon. Dean Barrow,
“Those who are looking at from the outside will no doubt be enlightened
because of this interview and because of the material that will be readily available
if they just dig a little deeper. It is a little bit of a misfortune that this
should become anything of an issue but I am happy to confront it squarely and
to say that I am absolutely comfortable with the decision I made, that even
after the reflection triggered by the concerns that people have expressed, I
know that it was a good move and that it will pay dividends in terms of the
particular role that Anwar will exercise.”
Anuar Barrow was sworn in as a temporary senator for a single session
on Tuesday in the absence of Pulcheria Teul.