The President of the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Dr. Hyginus ‘Gene’ Leon, has resigned with “immediate effect” from the regional financial institution.
According to a three page letter sent to the Bank by his St. Lucia-based lawyers, Dr. Leon is of the opinion that “he will never be treated fairly” after he had been sent on administrative leave in January.
The letter adds that it is also evident that the Bank has lost all trust and confidence in Dr. Leon and that he has therefore made the extremely difficult decision to resign with immediate effect.
The lawyers are also threatening to sue over the matter and have given the CDB until May 4th to negotiate a separation package.
Dr. Leon’s attorneys point out that their correspondence should be viewed as their client’s pre action protocol letter regarding the entire situation since they will be moving to the courts in Barbados or elsewhere deemed appropriate to enforce their client’s legal and constitutional rights.
In January it was disclosed that Dr. Leon, a St. Lucian-born economist, had been sent on administrative leave until April this year, but the CDB has provided no details on the circumstances surrounding that decision.
The lawyers said that Dr. Leon’s suspension ended on April 14 and he endeavoured to return to work the following day but was informed by the CDB’s Director, Human Resources, that he had no authority to restore Dr. Leon’s access to the Bank or return of his bank-issued devices such as laptop and cellphone.
