(CMR) Willem Jacobs, Deputy Director of Operations for the Cayman Islands Port Authority (PACI) has tendered his resignation after being with the organization for over 26 years. The resignation comes five months after Acting Port Director, Joseph “Joey” Woods also resigned. Jacob's resignation leaves two key positions now vacant at the organization creating a management vacuum.
The latest resignation appears to have triggered an emergency staff meeting on Wednesday closing the port for cargo clearance and pickup today from 1:30pm to 3:00pm.
Exclusive sources have shared that the ongoing recruitment for port director has been extremely challenging with several persons applying with no industry specific experience. Some persons are wondering if the minister responsible for tourism and transport, the Honorable Kenneth Bryan might be minded to dissolve the board in order to bring back Joey Woods. Woods had indicated that he was resigning because several board members were reappointed that he could not continue to work with.
CMR understands that the position was to be re-advertised in an attempt to attract more viable candidates.
In the interim, Elizabeth McField has been serving as Acting Port Director – initially on a three month contract which has been renewed for a further three months whilst the recruitment process continues.
Jacobs joined the port in 1995 as an IT project manager and over the years was promoted to IT manager, operations manager and finally took the reins of deputy director of operations in December 2017. While at the port he created various programs that are used by the port authority.
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