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Clyde Lettsome tipped to be new BVI Ports Authority Chairman
He is expected to replace J. Edward De Castro who opted not to have his three-year tenure as Board Chairman renewed after it ended last year September 2015.
Lettsome, who before his 2011 retirement from the civil service served as a Permanent Secretary in the then Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Premier’s Office and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour, will have his hands full as the eyes of the people are on the alleged corruption surrounding the Tortola Pier Park Project.
The Ports is governed by a board comprised of a Chairman, Deputy Chairman, five members and three ex officio members.
Chairman’s Job
If confirmed by the Cabinet of Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith, Mr Lettsome will take over a troubled agency (government statutory body) that has been rocked by some four years of scandal and fallout over the Ports Development Project.
One of Mr Lettsome’s first order of business will be to help in the recruitment of a new Managing Director (MD) for the BVI Ports Authority or the renewal of the contract of the former MD Claude O. Skelton-Cline. To date, there has been no decision to renew Mr Skelton-Cline’s contract after it expired the first week in December 2015.
There has been intense lobbying by the ruling party’s base, for and against the contract renewal.
The Chairman of the Ports Board will report to the Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool (R4), who has the portfolio of all Ports in the Territory.
Mr Lettsome has also served on the BVI Airports Board.
After his retirement from the public service, Mr Lettsome went to work in the private sector with Oil Nut Bay on Virgin Gorda, as the Director of Government and Community Affairs and Human Resources.
The Oil Nut Bay property is own by millionaire David V. Johnson, as part of his Victor International group of companies.
Ports scandal new voice: Hugh E. Darley
The chorus of the calls for an investigation into the Ports Development Project and confirmation of what was said in the two reports have come to light again. This time a former insider, considered the architect of the project, Hugh E. Darley, President of I D E A, Inc., has verified many of what the reports have claimed.
In the Virgin Islands, for two days more than a week ago, Mr Darley spoke to many of the local media, including our newsroom.
He confirmed in his interview that the people of the Virgin Islands did not get value for money on the Ports Development Project. He claimed that the NDP government through the BVI Ports Authority utilised cheap building material and cut back on the number of buildings at the Tortola Pier Park Project.
Mr Darley told our newsroom that the ports development project was to be built for $45 million but the estimates for the project is approaching well over $75 million USD.
The President of his company, with years of experience in the cruise sector industry, Mr Darley also made serious allegations that some $10 Million dollars was overpaid to contractors and others on the marine work portion of the project.
He confirmed what both the House of Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee and the Auditor General said that Hon Mark H. Vantperpool (R4) was pulling the strings on the project. When pressed by our newsroom on this Mr Darley said he is willing to provide the evidence to the UK or anyone to back up his claims.
The former ports project coordinator called on the powers that be to conduct an investigation into the project, something Governor John S. Duncan OBE has refused to do. When told that the local appointed Governor refused to investigate the project despite two reports claiming corruption, Mr Darley said he had already approached the United Kingdom to investigate this project since “your governor seems to have no interest in doing so.”
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57 Responses to “Clyde Lettsome tipped to be new BVI Ports Authority Chairman”
If you think any thing would come out I got news for you. By the way what is there to hide every check, wire transfer etc always have more than one signature. So if any thing have to come out more than one person have to give account don't be fool. Its not so easy . if you ever find one signature there is a red flag trust me thing to talk then.
By the way in most hospitals Doctors don't run the hospital and corporations that own these hospitals have a very good reason for that. Doctors are good when it comes to the medical field but most are terrible in Business. Even when they own their own practice a hire an office administrator to run the business.
Clive Lettsome is a respected fair and intelligent BVI landers that plays it by the book. The Premier knows why he is planning to put him in that position. He is over qualified if anything and really does not need a government job
Wake up
Instead what we have is poorly qualified expats, party hacks, and those who rise to their level of incompetence in accordance with the "Peter Principle". Hospital and Ports are cases in point. Police thankfully is out of the politicians hands but still a mess. This sadly is the situation across the Ministries, departments, and statutory boards.
I find it interesting that Clyde used to be on the Airport authority and then later working for ONB when the airport is presumably being expanded for the benefit of ONB. J*****n is an opportunist much in the Trump vein.
I am not convinced that Clyde will iron out any allegations depending on his friendship with Mark Vanterpool.
In other words, the pool of candidates is quite small and most drink the same kool aide. How is that going to help?
One saving grace--- maybe he can figure out how to get more ferries to West End from St Thomas coordinated with air flights. Forcing people to Road Town and east end is ridiculous when they live on west end.
PWD And water and sewerage need A over hauling and better management Pearline need not to manage water sewage worst department in government.
May the forces be with you.
Advice: Do not read the blogs unless you are in need of a hearty laugh.