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A reader has questioned why UK real estate firm New River has hired Government CEO's Charlie Parker when - despite claims online - he hasn't developed "a major infrastructure vehicle for funding the Island’s infrastructure"...
I was flabbergasted to read that Mr Parker has accepted a Non Executive Directorship (NED) of a Listed Real Estate Investment Trust and question how the Chief Minister thought it appropriate to approve this appointment without reference to other Ministers, or without issuing a press release to tell the public - his ultimate employer?
And how could Mr Parker accept the position without first obtaining written approval from the SEB in accordance with the terms of his employment contract? All the time knowing the Deputy Chief Minister had expressed concern? It beggars belief!
Mr Parker has clearly not been a NED of a listed investment entity before otherwise he would fully understand the onerous obligations and responsibilities that come with the job. The very notion that he can do all of this in three days a year is incredibly naive and I am sure that the LSE & FCA will be surprised to read his letter to the Chief Minister, 29 October 2020, where he reasserts this claim
CLICK TO READ: Charlie Parker's letter to the Chief Minister.
Why would New River hire him on what appears to be a very generous fee of £50,000 per annum? Does his claim to have developed a major infrastructure vehicle for funding the Island’s infrastructure and regeneration plans, in his biography, published on their website, give us a clue? If this vehicle has been developed it has not to my knowledge been approved by the Council of Ministers or the States.
It would seem that this is not the first time questions have been raised concerning his employment – North Wales Live reported 8 November 2005 on the potential conflict of interest of his going to work for Enterprise PLC, who had been awarded service contracts worth £180 million over 10 years, through its subsidiary Enterprise – Liverpool, a joint venture with Liverpool City Council, where Mr Parker was Executive Director for Regeneration.
He played down these concerns by saying, 'My new job at Enterprise will be based in Manchester, with a national brief and as such it will not involve me in anything to do with Liverpool, as that would be highly inappropriate'.
At the end of the day, we the Jersey Tax Payer are rewarding him with a highly lucrative package to focus all of his time and effort, seven days a week, on transforming Jersey’s government and making significant savings, a task that is far from complete.
Ron Mitchell
La Vielle Davisonnerie, St. Saviour
