PWD Director Hodge Out! To be assigned to RDA on secondment
Hodge was confirmed to the post as Director of the Public Works Department (PWD) on November 1, 2022.
While it is still unclear what his role at the RDA will be, a few weeks ago the CEO of the RDA Anthony S. McMaster told senior staff that Mr Hodge will be joining the team.
PWD has been criticised for poor public infrastructure
The PWD has come under fire over the past two years for the poor road conditions, potholes and lack of consistent maintenance of public infrastructure. It is also believed that staff at the department is demoralised, and it is alleged that the Minister for Communications and Works Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5) cannot get the department to efficiently move things forward. The working relationship between Hon Rymer and Mr Hodge is also unclear currently.
However, Mr Hodge has said the department is lacking the funding to do the things needed to carry out the mandate of the department. It is also unclear when he will leave the PWD, his role at the RDA or if he will ever return to the PWD.
Another CoI fallout?
Many government departments are at a standstill, afraid to act even when they are doing right because of the UK imposed one-man Commission of Inquiry (CoI). Many Opposition legislators including Leader of the Opposition Hon Ronnie W Skelton (AL) and Hon Myron V. Walwyn (R6) have lambasted and blamed the CoI recommendations and implementations for the state of the country.
They note that the CoI has sent the country backwards, slowed down progress, taken away rights and rendered the civil servants to a go slow.
Recent research has also shown that because of the CoI, poverty has increased in the Virgin Islands (VI) as there have been millions of dollars spent on the CoI and UK police officers, which has therefore robbed the local Treasury of funds for education, health and infrastructure.
Hon Walwyn noted the increase in poverty has resulted in some residents living in their cars and eating one meal per day.
The CoI script was that all Virgin Islanders, especially the political class, are corrupt and only the UK can save the VI. It is a narrative that has been rejected by the progressive class, the media, talk show hosts and members of the House of Assembly. The CoI did not look into the Governor’s Office, the Police or the Court System, all subjects under the Governor.
RDA boss unaware of Hodge's move
When contacted, McMaster told our news centre that he is not aware of Mr Hodge being moved from the PWD to the RDA. He did; however, confirm that the RDA, PWD and Ministry for Communications and Works have been working closer together to address the infrastructure issues in the Territory.
McMaster alleged he does not know how the increased level of cooperation has led to a statement that Hodge is being moved from the PWD to the RDA.
He said he does not know what the future will hold as the current situation is just an increased level of dialogue and working together to improve the VI’s infrastructure.
“The Minister wants us to work closer together because he wants the infrastructure to be fixed,” he alleged, again denying that there has been any talks or confirmation of moving personnel from one department to the next.
VINO also reached out to Hon Rymer and Mr. Hodge but comments from them were not received before publication.
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12 Responses to “PWD Director Hodge Out! To be assigned to RDA on secondment”
RDA has migrated significantly for on its original mandate and is now a dumping grounds for certain people/positions. The cost of running this unit and the benefits need to be analyzed to ensure value for money which I am having difficulty seeing this. Beat of luck but don’t see the value in this at this time.
This place never ceases to amaze.
The RDA is a construction activity. And to deliver the best services at the lowest cost, it must be staffed with best people, ie, qualified, experienced people , etc, getting value for money. Public Works still has a critical role to play but must be led by a qualified and experienced engineer. We have tried non-engineers on a full time basis but the outcome was not impressive, leaving PWD with a bad name, ie, lessness. Someone remind me that Public Works at its best was under the leadership of civil engineers, eg, Clarence Christian, Bennett Smith, etc.