Woman to lead port as search for new boss begins

| 17/09/2021 | 49 Comments
Cayman News Service
Port Authority of the Cayman Islands

(CNS): Elizabeth McField will serve as the interim acting port director from 25 September, the Port Authority of the Cayman Islands (PACI) revealed Friday. Joseph Woods, who has been acting in the job for almost three years, has said he will be going back to his old position after revealing long running conflicts with the board directors. While the board begins the search for a permanent director, McField, who is a human resources professional, will focus on addressing some of the staffing challenges that have plagued the port for some time and is expected to serve in the job for three months.

“While the operation of the port has been effectively maintained, there have understandably been issues in the administration and HR areas, some of which have been highlighted in auditor general reports,” the new board chair, Cline Glidden, said in the release.

“We have immediately started the recruitment process for the position of port director and in the interim have appointed Ms Beth McField, who is highly qualified in HR and business administration as the acting director for a three-month period during the recruitment of the port director.”

Glidden said that while the operational side of the port will continue under the capable staff that have been managing it over the past three years, McField will concentrate on correcting the human resources and administrative deficiencies so that “the new director is welcomed into a happy, productive and efficient port when they are appointed, hopefully within the next three months”.

The chairman thanked Woods for his stewardship during “challenging times” and said he would still be around to allow the port to benefit from “his proven competencies”.

Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan also offered his thanks to Woods on behalf of the ministry. “For the past three years Joey Woods has demonstrated outstanding dedication to service. Under his stewardship, the Port Authority has maintained a positive financial position, and despite the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the port operations have run smoothly and efficiently.”


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Category: Government Administration, Jobs, Local News, Politics

Comments (49)

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  1. Rick says:

    Without commenting on the appointment of a woman and HR professional, why did we dispense with a proven Director in the person of Mr. Joseph Woods??? Is he not Caymanian enough? Clearly his competencies are not in question. I know he has the certified training and background for the critical competencies. We also know that the history of the Boards have been very patchy and incompetent. So, why was he not confirmed to the position?

    The responsible parties in Government owes the tax paying public an explanation. This is one more area that I am extremely disappointed in this Government, despite supporting them initially.

    • Anonymous says:

      No question Woods has shown himself to be the most competent and hardest working PD.
      He resigned apparently due to …..best to let him explain.
      A great loss to the Port.

  2. Anonymous says:

    What are these “staffing challenges that have plagued the port for some time “? Why so vague? Someone important or some protected group going to be embarrassed?

    • Anonymous says:

      Staffing challenges due to Woods insisting that people do their jobs. Some staff didn’t like that and ran to Kenny, their champion ,who has filled the board with his yes men and women.
      Enough said .

  3. Say it like it is. says:

    Only Caymanians (and there seems to be many) would think a background in HR would qualify someone to run a port as busy as ours. This I’m, afraid only reveals the world of make believe that many live in when supporting local people for promotion.

  4. Anonymous says:

    Can paper Caymanians sit on boards? I never see any out there?

    • Hancock says:

      I think the likes and dislikes sends a message. Paper Caymainians are not wanted. That tells you something.

      • anon against ignorance says:

        5.52pm The several thousand Caymanians who now have full British passports are not referred to as paper Brits as they are not. They should be grateful for being granted full British citizenship and cease disparaging holders of Cayman status.

      • Anonymous says:

        I think your extrapolation of what likes and dislikes to that comment mean tells us something about your mentality.

    • Anonymous says:

      Many “paper” Caymanians not only sit on CIG boards but also hold positions of chair and deputy chair.

      Word!

      • Anonymous says:

        True. But most of them love Cayman and in their hearts and actions are Caymanian through and through.

        • Anonymous says:

          Thank you 7.23 am for recognizing that some paper Caymanians are committed through their Civic duty, for the betterment of the community that accepted them as fellow citizens.

    • Anonymous says:

      Yes they can and do, just not on the political boards that get news reports.

  5. Anonymous says:

    Clearly Minister Bryan has no understanding of corporate governance. Turning over management to a politically appointed Board is out of bounds. This does note bode well for the other SGCs

  6. Anonymous says:

    If someone is capable of running the port on an interim basis then surely they can do it permanently. It doesn’t seem that it would be a particularly challenging job.

    • Port and Lemon says:

      7.10am It seems you find writing a sensible comment, particularly challenging.

      • Anonymous says:

        Perhaps you could enlighten us as to what is so difficult about running a tiny little port?

      • Anonymous says:

        If she’s not capable of running the port then she shouldn’t be interim manager. If she is then why only interim? Not much controversial there. As for how hard it is, well that’s a matter of opinion. Maybe it’s you with basic comprehension challenges.

  7. Harbour Master says:

    Hold tight ! What a friggin mess we in !

  8. Anonymous says:

    Is she really capable of fixing the problems?

    She has a lot of degrees in HR – but she has not been a manager in a HR position or has she?

    • Anonymous says:

      Degrees.?
      What do all those letters after her name mean anyway.?

    • Anonymous says:

      Look at her history she has never held a stable job she has bounced around Dept to Dept within Government and never held a secure job because unfortunately she is not capable at all. She can talk the talk but that’s it….has no idea. Ask for her working history and what she’s been doing for the last 10 years!

  9. Anonymous says:

    Rooting for the new Acting Director. Hope she gets the time to make her mark and secure the post.

    May the wisdom of her ancestors guide her towards innovative competent leadership and she inspire the staff towards excellence, proficiency, and loyalty.

  10. Anonymous says:

    So what,of course leave her right there,anything the men can do women can do it too or even better,and of course she is a caymanian,but also local women can hold big possession too,why not

    • Anonymous says:

      If there’s one saying that went from being empowering for women to plain sexist against men, it’s that one. Women cannot do everything men can do as well or better, or vice versa. I haven’t heard it in years because people don’t say it anymore. But judging from the rest of your comment…I’ll leave it there.

    • Anonymous says:

      I guess you never watched any kind of sport LOL

  11. Anonymous says:

    Congrats to Ms McField. Woman usually do the work of two men. Best wishes for great success.

  12. Anonymous says:

    Call me pessimistic, but they will Likely recruit someone from overseas, whose deficiencies they will ignore and excuse.

    • Anon says:

      I wouldn’t call you pessimistic I’d call you a racist…..

      • Anonymous says:

        I’d call him/her a realist

      • Anonymous says:

        8:56 am: why? This happens all the time. Nationals in most countries get the preference for jobs, and there are stringent vetting of work permits for non nationals.

        Unfortunately, there is still a bias against Caymanians.

  13. Anonymous says:

    You don’t fix the deck for an incoming/new director

    That would be his/her job

    If Beth is good enough to sort it out then leave her be!

  14. Anonymous says:

    It is rather apparent that no one at the port knows what is going on. Good luck all of you!

  15. Anonymous says:

    So basically, Ms. McField should do all the hardwork and then a new person becomes Director or will she considered as a candidate for the position? I guess this is a CIG trend now, women act and men get in the role in most cases.

    • Anonymous says:

      H/R background does not mean you have the necessary qualifications or skillset to run in tandem a national port operation and large cruise port. There are certain jobs that need to be recruited for from overseas. But no doubt the new board have their own guy for the job (wink wink)

      • Rick says:

        The most critical competence for Port Director is security. The Director must have most leader-manager competencies but security is the critical one. Woods was trained years ago and obtained his certification from the right people, then maintained his competence through practice and remaining engaged. Why is he sidelined? This is an important question to answer, considering that he is home-grown. If he was not right for the job, let us know and show us the evidence.

    • Anonymous says:

      It’s not going to be hard work to maintain the status quo in keeping with Kenneth’s desire to be loved by the masses.
      If any meaningful action was taken to impose controls on the runaway entitled night shift workers, that would be “hard work”.

  16. Anonymous says:

    🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 anyone who knows Beth knows this will not end well.

    Ps. Being a woman doesn’t qualify you for anything.

    • Anonymous says:

      HR expertise going to be tested to its limits, all the Port workers have been led to believe that the new board and Kenny will be their saviors. More pay, fewer working hours, all the sick leave they want , nobody checking on them, etc etc.

    • Hafoo says:

      Not even to bear a child?

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