( L - R ) Chen, Marks, Ammar jr

( L - R ) Harding, Porteous, Russell, Templer

Three well-known government supporters have been named to a 14-member board of the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), despite repeated criticisms about the number of Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) backers being appointed to state entities.

A key confidant of Prime Minister Bruce Golding, businessman and former National Democratic Movement (NDM) member, Wayne Chen, had already been named to head the UDC board.

Chen is joined by Government Senator Tom Tavares-Finson, JLP councillor Sally Porteous and former NDM executive, Robert Russell.

Three other persons are expected to be named to the board which also includes Sancia Templer, chief technical director in charge of development and planning in the Office of the Prime Minister.

Wednesday, Dwight Nelson, minister without portfolio in the finance ministry, defended the composition of the board in the face of more questions about the appointment of the government supporters to the board of state entities.

"The minister responsible for the UDC, the prime minister, has named the board based on their competence and expertise," Nelson told journalists at the weekly post-Cabinet media briefing.

Appointments defended

Nelson also defended the appointment of Chen who helped Golding to launch the NDM.

"He (Chen) brings to the board his awareness and his concern for the development of Jamaica based on his exposure to the needs of the Jamaican people and certainly being a trained attorney he brings his legal skills," Nelson added.

Nelson's defence of the new UDC board comes less than a week after Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller blasted the Golding administration over its appointment to state boards.

"If you check the boards of the present government, most of the people, and it is not only board, but also important agencies, the people appointed are either JLP supporters or people who made significant contributions or worked behind the scene for the JLP," Simpson Miller charged.

The UDC board was dissolved almost four weeks ago after the prime minister demanded its resignation.

In Parliament on Tuesday, Golding argued that his action was necessary based on the deep divisions that had developed among the members.

Ten members of the 17-member, Louis William-led board had written to the prime minister indicating that they were no longer willing to work with Williams.

UDC board

Wayne Chen — chairman

Audrey Marks — deputy chairman

Michael Ammar Jr

Lennox Elvy

Daniella Gentles

Zackary Harding

Patsy Kelly

Sally Porteous

Robert Russell

Michael Subratie

Tom Tavares-Finson

Dr Cleo Taylor

Sancia Templer

Desmond Young

The UDC board was dissolved nearly four weeks ago after the prime minister demanded its resignation.