Director suspended as port begins probe
Port Director Clement Reid (Photo courtesy Cayman 27)
(CNS): After weeks of revelations regarding a catalog of issues surrounding the beleaguered port director, Clement Reid, officials confirmed Wednesday that he had been suspended from his job and an internal investigation has been opened. In a short statement from the Port Authority of the Cayman Islands board of directors, they said he had been “suspended with immediate effect for a period of up to three months in order to facilitate an internal investigation into matters allegedly concerning Mr Reid”.
The directors said that Joseph Woods has been appointed as acting port director and operations would continue as normal.
“A further statement will be made once the investigation has concluded,” the board added. The directors gave no further comment and did not answer CNS questions about why the board had now made the decision, even though the allegations had been raised about the director from last year.
Documentation released just last week showed that in February the board had given Reid a second chance after an auditor general report exposed a list of issues and financial irregularities.
But he was not suspended, despite allegations in the report that he had mishandled recruitment at the authority and exceeded the personnel budget, spent money on office decorations that were not approved, failed to properly investigate a theft of boat engines and given a wrecked vessel to the wrong person, as well as allowing a member of staff to have 63 days paid leave to work for the former opposition leader.
The information that was released by the port about the director had revealed that his second chance was based on him addressing some of the problems he had created regarding the mismanagement of recruitment and salaries and to draw up and implement certain policies.
However, there was no indication in the statement Wednesday that the board had concluded that Reid had failed to meet the requirements following his letter of warning and as a result he was now being suspended. Nor was there any indication that Reid may have committed further infractions or actions of misconduct.
Category: Local News
read miller shaw or e&y reports…it tells you everything you need to know.
OK PA Board this is a great move and its about time you had the intestinal fortitude to do the right thing. However your work is not completed until such time you remove/demote all the persons Reid hired that was not in compliance with the relevant Laws. This MUST happen without delay as to not do so will only make his wrongdoings same right. If a job was advertised for a specific salary then pay the employee that salary and not a one cent more. Further, if persons were hired and the job was not properly advertised then terminate their services and do the recruitment properly. If there was candidates who scored higher than the person holding the position now, offer the job to the highest scoring candidate and release the current holder. We are demanding that the rights things be done without fear of favoritism or nepotism.
Whats going on 8:52am The Top corrupt and we keep removing those at the very bottom thereby all we are doing is contaminating and reinfecting the replacements. the next problem is the UK policy of in some countries or territories where we operate there is a tradition of corruption in which the political elites work with business in framework of unsavory relationships. In a nutshell so long as the top play ball and do their bidding we are okay with it and allow it to continue until it becomes a problem to us.
Remember that Joey Woods was “sidelined” from RCIPS because of his high integrity. As soon as he does anything against Lodge “principles” he will be pushed out also. Lodge controls Cayman Islands Government, including statutory authorities and much of the private sector.
The only people “excelling” in CIG are Lodge members. If your’e not a snake you won’t survive!!
Good man Joey, but what the hell is this constant reference to Lodge about ?
Probably someone who was blackballed in some Lodge, or has no idea what it is all about.
At $25,000 at month and pension do you really think you need to be getting benefits too my bye. Could you please tell us how that red diesel deal with the port transpired taking into effect the arrest and incarceration of the principal on drug money laundering charges in the US! try hush!
Can you prove that he was making that kind of figure whilst he was employed?? The Premier does not even make that high salary….. Ignorance at its best….
no disrespect to Joey, but what competence does Joey have to be acting Port Director?
Probably a lot more than you….
Just probably. But you don’t have a clue who I am. Nevertheless Joey is a top guy, excellent character, hard worker and a ton load more of platitudes to describe the good man Joey is. Glad to hear that he was selected by Deloitte. I know why I question his competence to be Port Director. Check his credentials and experience against the other Port Directors that Cayman will be competing against. What does Cayman wants? To become a leading Port or just have a “Nice Guy” to manage an agency. Big up Joey and nuff respect but don’t let them set you up for failure
I don’t need to know who you are And I really don’t care who you are for that matter because your arrogance says it all?? Whats wrong with this place is that not every body is alike. Clement may have done a lot of shit to hurt himself in the long run and time has caught up on him finally. Now the Woods is ACTING your questioning his credentials. Well maybe what you should do is do some checks on this man and maybe you can answer your own retarded questions. He was one of the most highly decorated police officers thats Caymanian whom was ever employed with the force along with all the other many credentials that he has attained durning and after that. Give the man a chance. He may or may not be chosen as a perminant candidate but I’m quite sure that he will do his very best while ACTING..
Arrogance!!! I only have Joey interest at heart. Many good Caymanians have been promoted to head various agencies but none where ever given the proper orientation to ensure that they have the requisite tools / skills to go and manage a mega agency such as the Port. I think it’s only the RCIPS that has a succession plan (that never get implemented) so how do one expect government agencies to succeed! As you said Joey has many credentials many from RCIPS which has very little to do with Port Authority. What about the economics of Port Management, HR, procurement, high level international communications and liaison (not cruise ship scheduling)? When Joey takes the reign I only hope he is ready and not rushed into the mess that Port Authority is now. Arrogance is just giving people a chance when careful selection is required.
Retard how dumb can you really be??? Its quite obvious that you havent the slightest clue what Joey does at Port authority do you.. Well heres a lil hint what Joey has done time and time again for the Port you will never know. Dumbass…
@8:56 am Ask Deloitte. They verified his credentials and selected him. They charged a recruitment fee for such “excellent” recruitment service. And who was that “independent professional” who took part in evaluating his credentials, skills and expertise.
If a professional firm such as Deloitte could be manipulated, and they clearly were, whose expertise can one trust this days?
8:56am – Mr Woods has the integrity and experience to be put in that position. He has been employed with the Port Authority for over 10 years!!! Look at who they put in HR, getting a six figure salary with barely any experience.
Port Authority, National Roads Authority, Cayman Turtle Centre, Customs, Cayman Airways, and the biggie, Immigration! Six government departments/authorities simultaneously being investigated (guess Cayman Turtle Centre settled theirs with dismissal – great.) Is there an epidemic of, I’ll call it wrongdoing, within the government? What is going on?
This might be attributable to the fact of the first priority item when hiring is based on being Caymanian over being capable and competent. These organizations are all primarily staffed by Caymanians and they are very proud of that fact. Food for thought.
This is a matter of lack of honesty and integrity not competence! I can think of many competent crooks. Can you?
You are so right… Love this comment…
Accountability is key..we have had our share of “non Caymanians in important leadership positions (Police, University,Pines Retirement Home etc)who have mismanaged and displayed “ineptitude” etc for us to decipher WHERE the root of these issues lie. However,accountability is nigh impossible to acheive when those who should be keeping track of whats happening and those to be monitored are all “brothers” in one fraternity. Nothing new here.
This stuff has been going on for years. They’re just getting busted now. The civil service is an embarrassment.
Sorry
What about the police???? Still no word on which one of them stole the cocaine from the evidence locker!!!
Or that billion dollars that went missing. I want a job at government
or Health Authority with $15 million a year in unpaid debts. Isn’t it time to see how much they managed to collect since January?
I feel compelled to post a comment here which is so relevant. The Port Authority’s handbook states that any employee who has worked 10 or more continuous years at the Authority and retires will be afforded the benefit of remaining on the Ports health insurance plan. Mr. Bush it is my informed information that upon my retirement you instructed management to remove me off the plan which was done in Aug 2015. I today having served at the Port for 22.5 continuous years is the only ex-employee not afforded this rightful benefit. Can you explain how this is so? You have breached the Port rules therefore may it suggest that is why you find it difficult to discipline others now when they also do so? It’s time for you to not correct this injustice.
The trump saying ” Let make the Port Authority great again”.
Paul, I am sickened to hear this. This injustice indeed needs to be corrected.
How can we (the people) help?
Can I clarify one thing, just out of curiosity.. Upon retiring and being able to remain on the insurance plan, does the gov’t still pay for this benefit or does the retiree then take over those payments?
(The answer does not change my initial sentiment/concern)
Insurance is Funded by Port upon retirement : same as for any other government employee
But you wasn’t retired Paul you were dismissed!
Lets clarify. In 2001 Mr Bush was placed on paid leave about 3 or so months prior to the expiration of his contract. Was he fired? No. My contract was not renewed in 2015 : was I fired? Then how is Mr Bush and his spouse on the Port health insurance for life but I was terminated?
What a shame they took Paul’s insurance away while breaking the handbook rule in the process after 22.5 years of service. Corruption at its highest. Government make this right and give it back to him. That’s the least you can do while you do so much more for others. Take the hign road on this ………..It’s not what you know it’s who you know. Very Sad.
Yes a real shame Bobo!
Just to be clear, the rule as you noted it states retires. I don’t think being removed from the role qualifies as retires. If you did, in fact, retire, then by all means they should honor the rule in effect at the time. If they released you, which is what occurred to my recollection, unfortunately, you would not qualify.
The number of years served should be sufficient to qualify for the benefits, and it should be enshrined in the law. Otherwise, a mean-spirited Director and Board Members could conspire to have everyone “released” shortly before their retirement date and use the savings to give staff bonuses and buy “poofs”; whatever they might be.
So why didn’t you makea claim?
7:43 am , that was not the only one he breached , he’s still breaching rules .
Mr. Paul Hurlston jr
I have worked at the port when you was the dictator and to be honest you got what you deserved. I remember in 2005 when a supervisor pulled a knife on an employee. Joey Woods( head of security) ,Clement Reid (assistant dictator) and you Paul Hurlston turned a blind eye and gave the supervisor a promotion and a raise of pay for his actions. That same supervisor who later told the other employees that it makes no sense to complain to the department of labour because the Port authority have the department of labour in their pockets. I remember when you wrongfully fired hard working employees for returning their pay check because it was an insult to you. Now you talk about injustice. lol you make me laugh.
He even turned a blind eye to sexual harassment complaints. What a shame .
God don’t sleep or slumber my friend one by one they will all fall down.
So how many civil servants are now on paid leave? How much money do we (yes we the people) have to fork out to continue and support those who are completely inept?
Clement is not a civil servant. He is a public servant.
Well that is kinda like: six of one, and/or half a dozen of the other.
Big difference ignoramus, read the laws.
Is Mr. Reid still serving as a board member of the Maritime Authority and if he is have his services on this board also been suspended.?
Mr Dacosta was a PA and liquor license board member and he was removed from one then the other. So what is the difference here?
Mr. Bush your comments in today’s Compass seems to be aimed at muddying the waters. Reid you said is now suspended as a result of further matters that needs investigation, but you said it doesn’t mean he’s guilty or has done anything wrong . Ok but Who is investigating? We know the OAG actually found wrong doing but Reid was congratulated for meeting with the Board at short notice on 15 Feb and told to be a good boy with a second chance . So why the suspension now? Mr. Bush put down the shovel you’re digging a big hole that will cave in on you. Time To Leave.
For 14 years under Paul Hurlstone as PD there were no scandals at the port. Hurlstone was also the Deputy Port Director for 9 years and is a qualified Accountant amongst other qualifications, who prior to the port worked as a Audit Manager in the Office of the Auditor General. So go figure he knows a thing or two about good governance.
Once they put Mr Bush back at the port it immediately started to go down hill. Today we see the result of theirs and his actions. Is it time for him to go?
Mr Bush needs to go, he shouldn’t be sitting on the Board, he knew what Mr Reid did and yet turned a blind eye. If you are going to sack Mr Reid then Mr Bush and all those “redundant employees” getting the high salaries should be sacked also
When they had a GOOD director Mr.Paul Hurlstone there that couldn’t be bought or kicked about as they thought they got rid of him..Now they found one who wasn’t half as smart as him or qualified but could be yes man ..THE WA HE GET THE WA THEY GET…Keep Digging Lets CLEAN UP THE WHOLE GOVERNMENT..
What the board and government did to Paul is a shame and our country and workers at the Port now have to suffer. Let this be a sign to clean up all the boards on Island. So much corruption filled with favors that benefit some but not Cayman in the long run. Time is longer than Rope………but who will suffer in the long run…..wake up Cayman.
You are sooooooo correct anout this..
The Board is politically appointed with an OLD elitist entitled “yes” man at the top. They knew what was going on and this is evidenced by giving him a “second” chance in February when they knew full well that his actions were cause for immediate dismissal. The Ministry is now trying to clean up this mess but they have to be very very careful as the Board members are politically protected. It is a disgrace what these Boards can get away with together with rogue Chief Officers in the Civil Service and the rogue Deputy Governor. PROTECTIONISM at its best.
The Board Chairman, Errol Bush is a Lodge Member and part of the problem from when he was the Port Director, he is not the solution.
The Port Board has proven that it cannot effectively investigate itself.
The investigation must be done by the ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION.
The whole port mess is just anothet revelation of how the Caymsn islands is corrupt to the core.
We would not have a government if the Standards in Public Life Law was implemented – because most board members, MLAs, top business people and civil servants would be in jail.
I could not have said it better. Excellent posting.
You were eager to get rid of Paul and bring in “young, fresh blood”.
Well here are the fruits of your labour, Mr. Errol Bush!
Now it is time for all those he hired to go back to where they came from! All those jobs that were not advertised and all that over paying. Think there is about 10 that need to go. All those friends and family that came for the ride, the ride is over now!
Return the port back to the way it was
If he had done this when he had gotten the warning letter and that second chance to fix all his wrong doings he probably would still be sitting on that expensive furniture but NO he had rather try to get ride of other staff to save these peoples jobs to look all good in those peoples eyes… Well I wonder how they all taking the news now that None of them new deputies are acting Yet it took the board to interim Mr. J. Woods as acting Director..He must be the only GOOD HONEST MAN LEFT AT THE PORT AUTHORITY.. Congrats Mr. Woods I know will get the job done..
I totally agree Now that hes on suspension and the board knows all the wrongs that he has done sont they see now that he didnt fix his wrongs even after giving him a second chance.. So let me lay the Law down for you Mr. Chairman FIX HIS MESS AND GET RIDE OF ALL THE STAFF THAT WAS HIRED AND OVER PAID.. HOW HARD CAN IT BE NOW?? NOW IS THE TIME FOR YOU TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT AND TRY TO HAVE SOME BALLS TO DO RIGHT BY THE OTHER STAFF AND YOUR POSITION AS A CHAIRMAN…
Oh my darlin…
Politicians stay out of HR decisions. Your thought process on these matters are totally flawed. You think in 4 year cycles and you always try and “help” a Caymanian.
Most of them wouldn’t last 2 minutes in the job market in the real world i.e off this island.
poor clem clem, he need some saltfish and ackee ….?
So let’s get this straight: Clement was hired as Port Director in 2015. These damning issues & financial irregularities found by the Auditor general were said to have occurred from 2016-2017 (he had not even been in the position a year yet) so you mean to tell me THE BOARD did not look into the daily operation of the port to pick up on any of these findings? I am sure someone HAD to know what was going on! And they had the nerve to give him a second chance in February? Anybody see anything wrong with this situation on a whole? He should have been suspended at the very beginning of suspicion and FIRED as that report came out. The BOARD is utterly ridiculous in their slack approach and they ALL should be removed effective immediately!
The board is a complete waste of time.
Also Mac BUSH MUST GO!!
I totally agree with you here. Look at what happened to the NRA director a few weeks ago he was suspended immediately for the assumed misconduct and and it was sent to the Anti Corruption unit to be investigated. So what is wrong here is that the Chairman has said from the beginning that an internal investigation was being done but how can that be when they are all friends and its very bios to say the lease. How can an internal investigation be fair play when all the players work for the same company. This matter should have been sent to the anti corruption unit from the start as there was so many infractions on the director and some of the staff members.. what would have come out of that internal investigation would have more than likely been in Clements favor. It too the public pressure im sure this time to see that the right steps had to be taken because there was no comments or statements from the board or any Government departments or ministers regarding all this folishness. They all knew what was happening yet it took them what feom september last year when that AG report was done to dinally do something about it. 6 months i may add. 6 months too long.. The board also consist of a chief officer who sat on every meeting and yet he did absolutly NOTHING OR DIDNT REPORT BACK TO THE MINISTRY. He also needs ri be replaced because he serves no purpose or has not done his job that hes being paid to do..
Well the next step now is to rid/sack the full Board of Directors.
Come on now the smallest school child can figure this out. Even though majority of us knows common sense not common still., it’s a sad situation that some can’t be bought at a drugstore. Lol!
This shows us the public the full caused of all this bullshit, lack of negligences someone should had picked up on this before now.
I demand that the full crew on this ship be fired asap. XXXX
I agree. Get rid of the entire board. They serve no useful purpose.
MAC BUSH MUST GO!
Hcw can such a dishonourable MLA remain in the LA?
Based on what’s already public domain, this should be termination for cause.
Excerpt from PA press release in About November 2015 titled ‘Strategic Leader for the Port Authority Selected’
“The Board of Directors of the Port Authority of the Cayman Islands (PACI) is pleased to announce the selection of Mr. Clement Reid as the new Port Director of the PACI. After careful consideration using a highly competitive recruitment process, Mr. Reid was selected as the most suitable candidate, having the vision and experience to progress the PACI forward.”
“I am personally excited that Mr. Reid has been chosen as the new Port Director. His career at the Port commenced in 1999 during my tenure as Port Director, and at that time I saw great potential in this young man. Since assuming the position of Chairman of PACI in 2013, I have been impressed and personally gratified to see that my first impression of Mr. Reid has come to fruition. The entire Board of PACI congratulates Mr. Reid on his appointment and look forward with excitement and anticipation as we all work together to carry the PACI forward in becoming the envy of ports in the region. It will be remiss of me if I fail to recognize the other members of the Board’s Select Committee who joined with me in the selection process, namely Mr. Woodward DaCosta and Mr. Michael Nixon.”, as noted by the PACI Board Chairman, Mr. Errol Bush.”
“The selection of Mr. Reid concludes a recruitment process facilitated by Deloitte. An initial prospect pool was narrowed down to a group who interviewed with a panel consisting of PACI Board members, a Deloitte Human Capital Consulting representative and an independent professional of the community”
Just two and half years have passed: how things changed!!
That letter sounds like reading a fairy tale but in reality is a nightmare.
Interesting.
Did recruiter (Deloitte) offer guarantees regarding placed candidate (Mr. Clement Reid)? Most recruiters offer a guarantee of some type.
What “highly competitive recruitment process” is when inept people are selected?
Deloitte must be disqualified from offering recruitment services ever again. Such an embarrassment. Clearly, the strings were pulled.
Well Mr Bush certainly got part of it right. Our Port Authority has without a doubt become the envy of the ports in the region, where else can employees be paid far above the salary range they are entitled to, be allowed to travel the world with a drinking buddy on full pay, and visit the boss in the Taj Mahal.
Who is Woodward DaCosta?
Same guy on the liquor board
He use to be on the PA and liquor license boards but was removed..
Praise the Lord they did something , but they seen that they had to do it , an investigation was their best excuse . A 3 months suspension with pay , no other civil servant got that little time , they usually get 3 years or more .
Please don’t confuse a Statutory Authority with the Civil Service.
There is no board at the Civil Service.
I would be very surprised if that suspension isn’t extended….likely well beyond 3 months.
It’s about bloody time!
2 port Directors gone under this board… and we point the fingers at the Port Directors… Really….????
The Port Board NEEDS TO GO!!! When they had the retired Collector of Customs to name one on the Board nothing like this happened
You mean the same retired Collector that bent to political pressure from Mac Bush to allow illegal dynamite into the Islands?
This board really needs to go…….the Chair is well passed retirement age and not in good health. Come on Government modernized these boards with younger, educated and knowledgeable in the area they are making decisions that affect the Country. Not filled with political buddies.
To be honest, it seems like the full board of directors should also tender their resignation as they have failed miserably in their fiduciary responsibilities. They all knew about the new hires, and they all knew old Clement back stabbed his way to the top, what the hell were they expecting from him? For the last two and a half years the Port Authority has been a terrible place to work! The dock parking and RW and North Terminal are less than a third world standard. So be honourable an do the right thing!
About… Damned…. Time….
Good! Please don’t let it be paid leave either!
Oooo I guess he is going to enjoy a 4 year paid holiday