Kem Tonge Declines EDP Appointment Less Than 48 Hours After PM’s Scathing Remarks

Former Social Security Board chairman Kem Tonge has declined an appointment to chair the Entrepreneurial Development Programme Board, less than 48 hours after Prime Minister Gaston Browne publicly ridiculed his performance and revealed that he had ordered his removal from the Social Security Board.

The timing of Tonge’s decision has raised questions about whether the Prime Minister’s stinging public criticism influenced his refusal to accept the new government appointment. However, Tonge has not publicly stated his reasons for declining the position or directly linked his decision to Browne’s remarks.

During a radio programme on Saturday, Browne accused Tonge of failing to defend the proposed Social Security investment in Jolly Beach during a contentious public meeting.

The Prime Minister said Tonge attended the meeting, took “copious notes” and remained silent while Cabinet ministers were left to defend the proposed transaction.

“He didn’t utter a single word,” Browne said.

Browne then revealed the instruction that followed: “Take him off the board.”

Tonge was subsequently replaced as chairman of the Social Security Board, but the circumstances surrounding his departure had not previously been disclosed so bluntly.

The Prime Minister complained that Tonge, despite holding a paid chairmanship, failed to publicly defend Social Security or explain the potential value of the Jolly Beach investment.

According to Browne, Tonge could have argued that the resort was a valuable, income-generating asset and challenged some of the criticism surrounding the proposed arrangement.

Instead, Browne said Cabinet ministers were once again forced to absorb the political pressure.

“Everything came right back to Gaston Browne and the Labour Party, the members of the Cabinet,” he said. “We always have to do all the fighting, and people who we pay, they don’t wanna fight.”

Browne also accused Tonge and other members of the Social Security Board of disrespecting Cabinet by failing to attend a government-arranged visit to Jolly Beach during the controversy.

He said the board was invited to inspect the property, listen to the Government’s explanation and assess the resort’s potential, but neither Tonge nor the other members attended.

“Neither chairman nor other board members showed up,” Browne said, describing their absence as disrespectful.

The Government had argued that transferring income-generating assets to Social Security could help reduce the State’s substantial outstanding obligations to the pension scheme while providing it with a sustainable revenue stream.