Meet Our Board of Directors

Mr. L Robert Honeyghan, General Manager of the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), since January 17, 2022. Mr. Honeyghan is a seasoned management professional with a wealth of experience working in Jamaica’s public and private sectors. He is skilled in government operations, public sector management, diplomacy, economic and social development and strategic planning and implementation. He has successfully led advisory and enterprise teams on business optimization and reorganization, strategic management and operational improvement. In the capacity of Diaspora Community Relations Officer and Advisor to Jamaica’s Ambassador to The United States of America, Mr. Honeyghan has worked to implement policy objectives to connect the diaspora with opportunities in Jamaica, to increase economic and social development within key growth sectors. The holder of a Juris Doctor Degree from Washington College of Law, Mr. Honeyghan was employed to Deloitte and Touché LLP as a Senior Consultant with broad oversight for developing enterprise transformation programs and finance performance management plans for industrial companies among other areas. He has served as Senior Advisor to Senator the Honourable Aubyn Hill at the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC) and is currently the Deputy Chairman of the Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA). Prior to becoming General Manager, Mr. Honeyghan served on Corporation’s Board of Directors. Mr. Honeyghan led enterprise risk management (ERM) transformation programs for public sector government entities, designed methodology and measured enterprise-wide risk culture, created statistically validated approaches, quantified priority risks and probability based impact estimates, for billion-dollar portfolios and provided recommendations to support financial reporting. His interests in Jamaica’s development are evidenced by his contributions to government policies towards increased economic growth for key sectors. These include Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), Special Economic Zones (SEZ), National Water Commission (NWC) and the Jamaica International Financial Services Authority (JIFSA). He has led initiatives that saw partnerships with international corporations and multilateral lending agencies. The multi-sector local and international experience garnered by Mr. Honeyghan has equipped him to lead the government’s agency charged with making development happen for the country and its people.

Deveta is experienced in managing people, processes and strategies in retail, remittances and microfinance. She is currently the Sales and Marketing Manager for ACCESS Financial Services Limited (AFS) having joined the Company in February 2012. Prior to joining AFS, she worked as Special Projects Coordinator in the Office of the Prime Minister, Marketing Manager, for Western Union Jamaica and prior to that, with the Gracekennedy Group. She has served on the Boards of the Child Development Agency, the National Irrigation Commission and currently serves on the Boards of the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) and JAMPRO. Deveta was recently appointed as the Chair of the Advisory Board of the Ex-Im Bank. Deveta obtained a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of the West Indies, Mona and a Master of Business Administration from Florida International University, Florida, USA

Ms. Opal Whyte has over 12 years professional experience managing development projects funded by International Development Agencies, including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) (now Global Affairs Canada), corporate foundations, and the Government of Jamaica. Among her professional roles are Project Manager at JN Foundation, Project Manager at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Rural Agricultural Development Authority and Associate Management Consultant at Trevor Hamilton and Associates. She is an entrepreneur, managing Post Consulting- a management and business consultancy established in Jamaica, where she leads a team of Associates on multidisciplinary projects for clients in the private sector, International Development Agencies, Government of Jamaica, and civil society. Among her core competencies are strategic planning, financial analysis, business development, value chain development, business linkages and capacity development training. Ms. Whyte serves on the Board of the National Water Commission and is a member of the National Land Divestment and Advisory Committee. Educational development includes a Master’s in Business Administration in Finance and Banking from the Mona School of Business and a Bachelor of Science, with specialization in Management and International Relations from the University of the West Indies.

Vinay Walia is the Group Managing Director of Guardsman Group, and serves on its Board of Directors, as well as the Boards of the subsidiaries. With over 30 years of combined experience in financial leadership, corporate restructuring, strategic planning and execution, business development, and process improvement, he is focused on successfully expanding the reach of Guardsman Group in the Caribbean, and introducing new business industries to its portfolio of subsidiaries. Vinay is an innovative thinker with a penchant for problem-solving and an out-of-the-box approach to solutions. Vinay joined Guardsman Group as Financial Controller in 1999, before being promoted to Financial Director, Co-Managing Director, and now Group Managing Director. His primary responsibilities include driving key strategic growth initiatives in line with the vision of the Group, providing financial leadership, overseeing the development of internal talent and guiding succession planning, and ensuring full compliance with government and industry regulations through corporate policies. Prior to joining Guardsman Group, Vinay had a reputable career in audit and accounting, first with A.F. Ferguson & Co. (a representative of KPMG Peat Marwick in India), and later with KPMG Peat Marwick in Jamaica. He is a Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA) with a Bachelor of Commerce degree with honours from Delhi University. Originally from India, Vinay came to Jamaica in 1995 on assignment with KPMG. He fell in love with the island and chose to make it his home. Vinay is married and has three children. He enjoys entertaining family and friends, tending to his garden and pets, and playing sports such as football, squash, and golf.