Port boss ‘felt compelled’ by leave request
Port Authority of the Cayman Islands
(CNS): The embattled port director, Clement Reid, told the Port Authority of the Cayman Islands (PACI) Board he had felt “compelled to agree” to requests by then opposition leader McKeeva Bush, who had repeatedly asked for a specific member of the port staff to accompany him on overseas trips, when he granted 63 days paid leave. In a response in February to the litany of allegations against him revealed by the auditor general, Reid claims he was placed in a “difficult” position and was not “entirely comfortable” but “felt bound to agree” because of who was asking.
The admission comes in a document that was posted briefly on the Port Authority of the Cayman Islands website before being mysteriously removed. It is now in the CNS Library.
The document reveals the full responses Reid gave to the board to allegations outlined by the Office of the Auditor General in a special report that highlighted a catalog of concerns about the mismanagement of the authority.
When asked about his decision to allow a member of staff to take more than two months paid leave over a 12 month period to accompany Bush on various overseas trips to act as his driver, Reid made it clear in his response that he did not feel he had a choice to say no. He said Bush had implied it was official business and Reid believed it was of significant importance.
It was revealed that the same member of staff was later arrested on drug-related charges, and when Reid sought legal advice about whether or not he should be suspended, he raised the issue of his frequent absences on paid leave for Bush and was advised to speak to the board about that leave. He was then told the board was adopting a policy that in future any such requests from MLAs should go through the Protocol Office.
In the same document Reid indicates that the theft of boat engines was not a closed matter and investigations were ongoing. He said that he had never authorised the release of the engines, which were being held at Harbour House Marine. As the probe to discover what happened continued, the director said it was evident that a policy about the port’s assets was required, which was being worked on.
Reid also claims that the more than $130,000 spent on renovations and furniture, which was not tendered, came about because no one considered in the budget the need for new office space for new staff when they came.
At the time, Reid said in his response, he was serving not just as director of the port but deputy director, cargo operations manager, port engineer, facilities manager and project manager and was authorising his own work. He said the aim was to reduce his office and create new offices and a meeting room. In addition, builders found structural problems with his office that had to be tacked on, all of which pushed up the costs.
The director said that since then he has employed a facilities manager so this kind of unapproved spending will not happen again.
In the long response Reid points to a range of issues to justify some of the decisions and the recommendations of consultants Deloitte, who were employed by the board to examine operations. The director paints a picture of a dysfunctional authority that was understaffed and lacked the necessary policies for the management team, but it is also apparent that he blames others for some of his own failings.
Category: Government oversight, Local News, Politics
Pity he doesn’t feel equally compelled by the public’s request that he leave.
Cotton (Slave) Republic? USA
Slave/Colonial Republics/Monarchies? UK, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Holland, France, etc
Banana Republic? Pick one in Central America
We could go and on
The point is that many of the countries that we aspire to resemble today (including others not mentioned above) were initially based on exploitation….
So go easy on my little turtle ‘republic’, please.
And while you at it, broaden your understanding of this life, grow up a little please, and stop being so downright hateful
Not just this document that is now missing from the PA website. Look at the minutes numbers and dates – several sets of minutes have disappeared.
Okay. Unna idiots.
Nobody really cares about you’all 50 or so views.
Stop being influenced by these 10 or so Cayman haters.
Move on. Support Cayman.
In 2 months you will look back at this story and say “what de ——?”
McKeeva Bush or any other politician did not hire Mr. Reid nor could they fire him. So he can’t feel “bound to agree” to anything any politician requests of him without going through the proper channels.
I don’t care if the Governor was asking for this employee to accompany him overseas, there are procedures in place for a reason and if no policy or procedure exists, when in doubt, go back to the Board.
He only sought advice on these absences after the employee was later arrested and he was seeking legal advice on that issue?
$130,000 on renovations and furniture with no review or approval from the Board? Is he friends with Ben Carson? Time to check out who is the interior designer, it better not be a family member or friend.
These are public funds. You don’t just decide on your own to spend that kind of money without consulting with someone.
So only now is he admitting that he was in over his head but he didn’t bring this to the Board’s attention, it is the convenient explanation now that he was serving as everything except the janitor therefore “it wasn’t me and when it was me, it wasn’t my fault” Poor leadership skills.
Why did he just do nothing until these issues were addressed by the Board instead of going on a wild spending spree?
The Board seem to have faith in him since they giving him a second chance. I shouldn’t be surprised, as much as Eric Bush screwed up and look where he is.
I am looking for one ray of hope here, perhaps it is that Clement Reid did not personally benefit from this fiasco. He is not dishonest just plain stupid and mckeeva and others seemed to capitalize on that. SAD!!
Arrogant is the word to describe him. He felt he was above the law. Saw no need to practise good management as ” he run tings”.
“He was then told the board was adopting a policy that in future any such requests from MLAs should go through the Protocol Office.”
Sounds like the Board is taking a line from the DG Hon. Franz “From this point forward” Manderson and no one is held accountable for the current mis use of Govt money or resources
Lol
Hear ya now! I’m sick of hearing about this guy’s utter stupidity & easily persuaded ass! What the hell does he mean “he felt compelled to agree” to requests by McKeeva???? It should never matter who these requests come from if it goes against protocol! That’s what rules are for and they should go for EVERYONE! When he should have shown his authority and stood up to these “persuasive entities” he put his tail between his legs and backed down. He is a ‘YES” man, weak and in no way shape or form deserves his second chance for the position of Port Director.
Hey, 3,000 people became Caymanian because politicians said so. Thousands more if their children are counted, and all quite possibly illegally (and certainly not in the best interests of Cayman or Caymanians. Telling politicians we answer to laws, not to them, said no Cayman government worker, ever!
Actually. although in general may be true, not so in the case of the NRA – that was a mess when the Director stood up to…oh the same politician…quelle surprise!
And subsequently had his job “made redundant”! I think this is the point,
So while the Leader of the Opposition (who gained that position with a total of 201 votes (33.84%) of his own tiny constituency, and a total of a little over 1% of total votes casts) blusters about procedures and legal processes, he also brags on the radio talk shows about the “Good Old Days” when Mr Jim (Bodden) would (illegally) interfere with the hiring and firing of Caymanian workers at the old Holiday Inn.
The reality is that McKeeva continues a tradition of top politicians bullying and blustering and threatening top civil servants (and expat employers) who refuse to comply with his wishes. “I can’t work with them” has previously seen more than one top civil servant put on required leave for many years.. No wonder that Clement felt “compelled” to grant McKeeva’s request, and wrong as that might be, I give him credit for speaking the truth!
Truth
“It should never matter who these requests come from” you are correct it should never matter. But reality is it has always mattered. It is the old, if Mac wants it he gets it, mentality. Wrong, Wrong, Wrong. Those who bought into it are still guilty.
Mac should make a statement explaining his reasons for choosing this man to be his driver.
My guess is he made an official request which was denied, either because the business was not official or there was no protocol for the opposition leader to have a driver overseas. So he switched to Plan B: asking the friendly head of a statutory authority for one of his staff.
Its all in the friend serving or servicing friends clan..
Not one of his staff – a specific one. Repeatedly. Who was subsequently arrested by the police.
I assume you have a good idea already- want to share?
I feel it for Mr. Reid.
What he is not saying is that after the election the PPM had to do favours for MAC to form a Gov’t.
That is where the pressure came from.
So much of our money has been wasted. Where is the PAC? Ezzard and his team should be all over this. Come on Saunders we are depending on you.
They are very busy on the trip with the Premier. Look at the wonderful picture of them all at the English party. They really know how to live it up!
At who’s expense? I think the public should see the cost of that group that traveled to the U.K. to represent Cayman at a Coat of Arms Party. Quite a group. Meanwhile back in Cayman the PD gets away with everything…………and keeps his job. Sad days for Cayman again……..no accountability in any department of Government. Party on Boys……
The director said it was evident a policy about the port assets was required, sheeeeeeeee. Question, how do someone prepare a budget to manage a business and not know the company assets, required maintenance, replacement and their security. Oh well guess that’s the new meaning of accountability.
Ask the CFO
A policy to dispose of assets? Come on Clement! Someone tells you someone has taken the Port’s engines (assets) and you don’t say “tell them to return them, or I will report you to the police?” Neither do you make an effort to get them back? Two years and you don’t receive them and you don’t report them stolen to the police? Is it that the actions of a prudent Port Director? Could it be that they were not stolen in the first place? Is it true that the person who took them is a close friend of yours? Someone you know personally? Do you mean to tell me that you didn’t know that it is theft when someone takes something that isn’t theirs? Ignorance of the law is no excuse. The police lock people up every day for stealing. Stealing is against the law. Now you are told that someone took the Port engines and you didn’t demand they return them, nor report it to the police? That just doesn’t sound right to me. And you are trying to say you didn’t know what to do because there was no policy to say how to dispose of assets, which by the way you are saying is someone else’s responsibility? And you are touting yourself as the only competent leader the Port has? OMG! Do you have any intelligence whatsoever? You think everyone is fool fool and believes you eh? No way! Not today bobo. The Board really needs to remove you quickly! You ain’t no portion of a leader.
You don’t know any of that. If there had been a policy in place, it might have permitted the theft and everything would be fine
Policies were in place long before he became directir he just ignored then because of the friend clam plain n simple.
The board needs to be changed too, at least the chairman should be relieved of his duties.
Turtle Republic
… without turtles (or bananas) to fall back on.
Bit harsh on turtles.
why is anybody surprised??? read miller shaw or E&y reports….
the question is why has gig not acted on these reports?
and people wonder why companies prefer to pay permit fees for expats as opposed to ‘free’ locals….
i am sick of the local incompetence and corruption.
@ 2:48 FYI – Corruption and incompetence is systemic in Cayman including locals and expats. Stop speaking out of your arse!
Expats also do shady things but doesn’t mean every expat is a crook. The manager of the Pines Sue Nicholson ran off after stealing nearly 1 million of public monies and not one expat complained or spoke of their disgust. The Pines board refused to press charges look at the composition of the board they are still in place. Please stop with the bigotry and double standards about being sick of locals. You can always leave and go back to your perfect country.
Unadulterated bullshit!
“Not one expat complained or spoke of their disgust”.
Really? You think that expats (people from all over the world) have an underground Lodge-like network to suppress Caymanians and give free passes to other expats?
Get a grip on reality!
Oh do tell where in the world there is a country of such a high standard, that we little Island people can aspire to be like?!
Oh wise one, please tell us which country is free of corruption and the “natives” aren’t ever implicated in any scandal. Please do oh wise one, it’s obvious that your presence on this island is for the benefit us all to learn from your superior intellect.
Listen here expat, are you telling me your country doesn’t have rogues too? I am sure you all never contemplate getting an expat to replace them. Likewise, we don’t need an expat to replace a rogue, thank you very much for offer. I know you may be a bit confused because this rogue says everyone but himself is incompetent doesn’t necessarily mean that it is true. We have many other locals with the knowledge, experience and integrity to do the job. We are not out of options.
Notice how quiet the comment field is when it’s an expat caught up in a crime?!! Hmmm, double standard.
McKeeva is still premier of these Islands no matter what Alden says. Nobody with a pair of balls in Government to stand up to this cat with 100 lives.
So he is either lying or so unfeasibly stupid it beggars belief. Either way he is clearly not up to the job.
I did a little research as to the structure of the Port when Clement Reid first took over the Port; an organization that he claims had no executive level to support him; one that he paints as dysfunctional and incompetent. I am going to name them so the public can judge whether Clement is being truthful when he alleges that he had no support and they were dysfunctional.
Deputy Finance – James Parsons CPA qualified
Will Jacobs – Manager of Cargo Ops – more than a decade of experience
Joseph Woods Jr. – Manager of Cruise Ops and Security – 21 year veteran of the police and more than a decade of experience managing cruise operations and security
Sandra Barnett – Human Resources – over 20 years managing CUC HR department and more than a decade managing the HR department at the Port
Chris Krohn – Manage of IT – more than a decade of experience at the Port
Dale Christian – Manager of Cayman Brac – more than two decades of experience with the Port
Bruce Reynolds – Manager of the Cargo Centre – more than a decade of experience at the Port. Worked his way up the ranks.
Bruce Wright – Supervisor of Maintenance – more than three decades in the construction industry
Did anyone hear of any problems at the Port before Clement Reid became Port Director?
Could it be that he wanted people who were new and inexperienced and who he could control? In his report he boldly stated he did not need to consult with the CFO before making salary decisions that ultimately put the Port over budget. Who sounds arrogant and incompetent by that, the CFO or the Port Director? You be the judge.
wow now that puts it in perspective!
Hey. Just thought of something. Where is the proof that McKeeva Bush requested the Port worker each and every occasion that he was off? Did anyone check for that? Surely one would have expected that documentation before he signed off on the payment so that he could cover his ass. Could it be that Clement had one request and then used that excuse for all of the other instances? Let’s FOI the Port for all of the requests from McKeeva Bush for each of the dates the Port employee took off and was paid for to see if they exist or if this is just another fat lie by Clement Reid. And if he says it was done via telephone calls, let’s see his call log for those periods. I’ll bet there ain’t any to substantiate his claim, just like his claim that there was an ongoing investigation into the boat engine theft.
Big Mac doesn’t leave paper trails of requests. But check airline records and I’m sure that you will see that he made the trips with Big Mac.
You have to be joking..!
This is absolutely amazing! His excuses are amazing! Here he paints the picture of a dysfunctional organization with only one competent person; himself. He claims that he was also acting as Cargo Manager. But Will Jacobs was the same Cargo Manager who he said was not capable enough and so he gave him a one month attachment to Jamaica where he became competent enough to become Deputy of Cargo Operations and then Deputy Director of Logistics. So is he saying that Will Jacobs was so incompetent as Cargo Operations Manager that he had to do that job too? Holy hell, this fellow is an incredible story teller! And the stolen boat engines what probe was he conducting to determine what happened to the engines? He already knew what happened to them. The Auditor General’s report clearly stated that! And the Police states no report was made to them about the engines being stolen! Come on Clement, you need to tell the public who was investigating the stolen engines! Why didn’t you tell the Port employee to return the engines when you were told he had taken them?
The more this unfolds the more incredulous it becomes. How in the hell he ever became Port Director anyway? No wonder the long serving staff no longer like him. He holds them all as incompetent! He needs to and should have been fired immediately. The public demands it. He is a disgrace.
Seems like Reid is grabbing at straws.
What a good friend and a bad Boss , that would feel compelled to leave his department and go overseas for fun . I hope that feel compelled to read everyone of these comments on him and his good relationships with former Opposition.
Ahhhhh…McKeeva once again I see. When will you ever learn?!
Reid got it right – “a dysfunctional authority”, he got it wrong by not taking the blame.
As for Mr Bush, has anyone enquired why he needs a personal driver on his trips, does he think he’s the U.S. President or the Queen of England?. Bush claims it was official business, now we hear his acolyte has been arrested on drugs related charges.This sounds more like Alice in Wonderland than a properly functioning Government.
All charges against the individual were dropped
Well that makes it alright then.
Mckeeva. Again. You Caymanians cannot complain, when you keep electing the same “barons” over and over and over; and they continue with their unethical practices.
If mckeeva had a conscience he would resign as he has assisted in turning this man into a XXXXX civil servant. He should also be forced to pay back every cent of paid leave. When will the people who keep electing fhim wake up. I hope he is ashamed of himself. What will our Premier do about this, besides hide behind the Port Board! In any other democratic country/ island both Mr. Reid and mckeeva would be relieved of their duties. Any wonder the U.K is treated us so mean, heck our own home grown are doing worse!! So sick of all of them!!
No surprises here folks. McKeeva Bush’s influence and power has always been unlimited and continues today as Speaker of the House. He effectively has Premier Alden McLaughlin and Deputy Governor Franz Manderson at his mercy with their consent. Like Mr. Reid they also accommodate his requests to keep the peace and maintain unity because without him to prop up the government and Premier there would be no ppm led majority and government of national unity.
Do you really think Clement Reid could have said no to him in an environment of persecution and shifting goal posts subject to the “who you are” principles of governance within government? Let’s not pretend to be shocked when multiple examples exist every month and every year. Whatever happened to the Brac paving scandal? The Chief Officer with oversight of the Care Pay scandal is now responsible for the DEH garbage collection scandal and MRCU Oxitec scandals. CAL flights have often been delayed to accommodate ministers who are running late. Does anyone remember when Mr. Jim Bodden had a flight turned around mid flight? Absolute power corrupts absolutely. That is how the politicians have behaved and still behave because it is tolerated and overlooked if it is politically expedient to do so.
Has anyone in a Westminister system ever acted as the Speaker and publicly spoke to government policies and while maintaining the role of a political party leader? The reality of this politically expedient union between Alden and McKeeva is they that need McKeeva, they fear him and they all facilitate his every whim or excuse his antics in order to all keep their positions and power in order to feed all the piggies at the troughs. Third world politics yes but practiced and seemingly accepted by all with a vested interests in certain outcomes. It is the essence of Cayman kind.
Absolutely agree with the 3 of you. And the sad part is, the sheeple in West Bay will vote him back in. Only way his influence of f**kery will end is when the reaper takes him but knowing the reaper, he’s probably afraid of Big Mac too.
Heaven won’t have him and the devil is afraid he’ll take over!
The politicians only behave this way because democracy has made the people weak.
12:51 pm , I agree and true . that is “Cayman political kind “, not Cayman kind .
In cayman you have the Cayman tourism kind , and Cayman political kind . then Cayman kind .
Not all Caymanians voted for McKeeva so please don’t put us all in the “you Caymanians” phrase.
Democracy – The deaf leading the blind.