CMR has been informed that Dr. William Petrie Director at Mosquito Research & Control Unit (MRCU) has resigned from his post.
We can confirm today that after 30 years at the until he will be leaving to head up the Miami-Dade Mosquito Control Division in Florida.
In a press release Deputy Governor Franz Manderson give him high praises for his contribution to the agency. This is considered a significant lost to the Cayman Islands and future mosquito research and control efforts.
For some time now there's been some rumors about persons leaving the unit because of communication issues with the ministry staff. Whilst no official sources will confirm this it appears the timing of his departure coincides with general complaints and some employee dissatisfaction with Chief Officer Jennifer Ahearn.
Petrie was a staunch supporter of Oxitec's bio-engineered mosquito project and it will be interesting to see how his departure impacts the future roll out of that project; which was recently given approval for further island wide expansion.
Dr. Petrie’s last day at MRCU will be Friday, 4 August, and he takes up his position in Miami-Dade on Monday, 14 August. The ministry’s deputy chief officer, Nancy Barnard, will act as the MRCU director until a successor is appointed.
He leaves behind a 30 year history and local knowledge base that will be hard to match.
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
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