Sep 2007 Financial News

Wehby gets leave from Grace to serve as minister

Sep 13, 2007

DON Wehby will take two years leave of absence from GraceKennedy to assume his role as minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Finance.

"It has been a longstanding tradition of Grace to give public service," said GraceKennedy's chief executive, Douglas Orane, who served as an independent senator between 1998 and 2003.

According to Orane, Prime Minister Bruce Golding had, earlier in the week, requested Wehby's service in the ministry for a two-year period.

Joseph Taffe will assume the responsibilities of Wehby in his absence.

Wehby, a chartered accountant, joined Grace in 1995 and became group chief financial officer in 1999 before being promoted to head of GK Investment and group deputy CEO of the conglomerate.

It is not clear what specific tasks he will be charged with in the finance ministry, but his thinking appears to be in line with the Jamaica Labour Party's stance on budget legislation going into the election.

Back in 2003, Wehby in his capacity as vice-president of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), had lobbied for legislation to prevent finance ministers from expanding their budget deficit. Back then, he declared that there was need for legal measures to force ministers to remain within their budget.

Source:
The Jamaica Observer
Thursday September 13, 2007

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20070912T230000-0500_127313_OBS_WEHBY_GETS_LEAVE_FROM_GRACE_TO_SERVE_AS_MINISTER.asp