UPDATE: Perline Scatliffe is new Water & Sewerage boss
Minister for Communications and Works, Hon. Mark Vanterpool whose portfolio the Water and Sewerage Department falls under said he is pleased that Mrs. Scatliffe-Leonard was appointed to this post. “She possesses the drive, management and administrative skills to improve the services offered by the Water and Sewerage Department.”
Meanwhile, according to a government source, Engineer Bernard Grand is expected to be confirmed to the post of Deputy Director of the Water and Sewerage Department in the coming weeks. Mr. Grant has acted in the post for almost three years.
The former Acting Director Manoherlal Kerof was advised by Minister Vanterpool a few months ago that his services were no longer needed and his contract would not be renewed.
The last confirmed Director of the Department was Julian Willock, who was also the former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Works.
Please see previous story posted on October 8, 2012
Water & Sewerage Dept. shake-up: Kerof out! Scatliffe in!
- Pending personnel changes could come next month to Dept.
Word just reaching this news site from our team of reporters and well placed sources within the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) Government is that a personnel shake-up is on its way at the Government run Water and Sewerage Department.
It is this news site’s understanding that the contract of Manoherlal Kerof, the acting Director of the Water and Sewerage Department, will not be renewed and he will be replaced by the Ministry of Communications and Works' Human Resources Manager, Mrs. Perline Scatliffe-Leonard.
The move may come as early as next month, according to a source close to the government of the day. Virgin Islands News Online understands that Mr. Kerof, who has been acting Director for the last three years after the departure of former Director Julian Willock, was told by Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark Vanterpool that his services would no longer be needed after his contract expires next month.
It is this news site’s understanding also that former legislator Elvis J. Harrigan was also at one time being considered for the post, however, that never materialized, according to an NDP source.
The Water and Sewerage Department has been under the spotlight for the past years over issues of a lack of water bills, inconsistent supply of water in some areas, the lack of public sewerage systems in some of the larger communities on Tortola, such as East End, Long Look, Road Town and Sea Cows Bay, and the drastic fall in revenue after the departure of Willock from the Department in 2009.
The Biwater project, a contract awarded to the United Kingdom company to fix the water and sewerage woes on Tortola, has also sparked national debate and was also a hot election issue.
As of press time, neither Kerof nor Scatliffe-Leonard and the subject Minister could be reached for comments.
Mrs. Scatliffe-Leonard has years of experience working in the Ministry of Communications and Works and has risen to the post of manager of the Human Resources Unit within the Ministry. If she is transferred to the post to act as Director she will become the second none engineer to manage the department with the first one being former Ministry of Communications and Works Permanent Secretary, Julian Willock.
She will also make history by becoming the first woman to head that Department.
The Water and Sewerage Department is charged with ensuring an adequate and reliable water supply throughout the Territory, along with the development of efficiently run sewerage systems to strengthen the Territory’s waste management capabilities.
The Director of Water and Sewerage Department is a Government job with a salary of $62,900-$92,150 in Grade 17.
.png)
Follow Us On
61 Responses to “UPDATE: Perline Scatliffe is new Water & Sewerage boss”
TO BREAKING NEWS; Please Myron so why you aint fire your JMADOWN PS for a local…two faced hypo....
Moreover, the action(s) needed to address rising cost, improving quality, responsiveness, and upgrading and improving infrastructure to produce potable water and treated effluent may be both controversial and politically difficult. Nonetheless, economic growth, economic development and economic sustainability require courage and skill in making the tough calls.
Now I have mixed emotions about this. While I am glad a local is being considered I am looking at the qualifications needed. If she has no Technical knowledge and will definitely need th esupport of the present Deputy then why didn't that individual get the job. Then maybe the Deputy might not want to step up to the challenge. However it goes she will be counting on the technical skills of others which would make it easy to pull the wool over her eyes. I think the Technical know how is needed in that department now more than ever.
To E.Leonard those ares you identified in your last paragraph can be addressed by a strong Technical skills in the field, efficient and organized administrative skills and good support staff. For instance a capable HRM and Office Manager being placed at WSD not just persons looking for a payday or counting their time to retirement. It's just a matter of having individuals do their jobs. Willock was a LEADER that's why he got it done without the full force technical skills.
True, a technical background can be a vital asset in performing well at the top level. Nonetheless, it is not an absolute that one needs to perform at the top level. At the top level, one needs managerial talent, ability, knowledge, skill, interpersonal skills, problem-solving ability.....etc to get the job done. Perline just need to demonstrate effective managerial and leadership skills in planning, organizing, directing and controlling personnel, financial and other resources to get the job done. She needs to put the right people in the right positions to be successful;she needs the flexibility to put right team in place. The bottomline is lets not give her an "F" before the class starts.
Purline dont give a crap about water and sewage. It is all about position one's self to do what it takes to get a handsome retirement package. Ask drex. All of them the same and that is why communication and works will always fighting for last place. Because no one cares for the work, they just care bout the check
I once labled Tilford Oneal as having done more damage to the Territory's finances than any other leader of this Country but this is likely to be surpassed by this Adminstration if strict controles are not put on our present Ministers. Believe it or not, except the Governor or the Deputy Governor arrest this problem, I am afraid that we could be in for a long hot summer.