Russell Appointed New Marine & Ports Director
The Governor, under the recommendation of the Bermuda Public Service Commission, has approved the appointment of Richard Russell, a former Lieutenant Commander of the Jamaican Coast Guard, to the post of Director of Marine and Ports within the Ministry of Tourism Development and Transport.
The Ministry said, “Lt Cdr Russell will work under the policy direction of the Permanent Secretary, Francis Richardson and as the Director of Marine and Ports, he will be responsible for the overall management and operation of the Department, which consists of eight sections including the Pilot Service, Bermuda Maritime Operation Centre [BMOC], Boats & Moorings, Ferry Service, Tug Service, Dockyard Maintenance, Aids to Navigation and Head Office Administration.
“Lt Cdr Russell officially commenced his employment on Monday 28th July, 2014.
“He is the former Lt Cdr of the Jamaican Coast Guard and during his time in the Jamaican Coast Guard he also served as the Jamaican representative to the International Maritime Organisation [IMO].
“Lt Cdr Russell also previously worked at the Jamaican Maritime Authority and during his tenure he was instrumental in the establishment of Jamaica’s Port State Control Regime which met and surpassed and continues to surpass the Caribbean Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control requirements for the inspection of foreign flagged vessels visiting Jamaican Ports.
“In addition to his duties as Nautical Surveyor, which among other things included ship surveys and inspections and marine casualty investigations, Lt Cdr Russell served on several committees dealing with port and ship security, fisheries related matters and marine pollution and environmental issues.
“Lt Cdr Russell was also head of Jamaica’s delegation to the Marine Environment Protection Committees [MEPC] and Ship Design and Equipment Sub Committee [DE] meetings of the International Maritime Organization [IMO] Headquartered in London England. He is a trained Maritime Security Officer as per the requirements of the International Ship and Port Facility Security [ISPS] Code and is also qualified as a Maritime Auditor/Lead Auditor in respect of the International Ship Management [ISM] Code.
“Lt Cdr Russell enjoys yacht racing and has skippered the JDF sail training vessel Saucy Sue to Victory in two Kingston to Grand Cayman races and once in the Miami to Montego Bay Pineapple Cup race. He is married and has one son.”
No one can me that there was not a qualified BERMUDIAN for this post!
well tell me who in bda has more maritime experience than this fellow then we can stomp n shout…
I wonder how the Jamaican’s would respond if a Bermudian got a top position in their country and they had qualified people.
I don’t question this guy’s credentials but surely there must have been a Bermudian, born or PRC,here to take the job.
What happened to the last Director? He did not last long. Hung around long enough to get the fat pension then quit?
The last Director of Marine and Ports was Francis Richardson who is now the Permanent Secretary for Tourism and Transport. So no, he didnt hang around long enough for a ‘fat pension’ and then quit.
Smoke and mirrors I tell you. I do not trust this Governor. Why even report that the Govenor under the recommendation of the Bermuda public serivice commission approved the appointment of Mr. Russell. This Govenor does as he wishes. Oh wait a minute, I see why he quickly approved this recommendation duh hello, the fella isn’t Bermudian.
This appointment puzzles and angers me. In December 2012, did Bermuda vote for real change, or just a cosmetic makeover?
This appointment reeks and stinks of the same old crap-of-the-past served up on a different plate.
My growing disillusion is now growing almost as fast as Jack’s beanstalk.
This choice was made by the Civil Service without political interference. Changing the politicians doesn’t fix a broken Civil Service.
Another foreigner! This is crazy! There are at least 2 people that I know of who are capable of performing this job! No faith in our own. Scary!!!!!
Yes indeed, his appointment leaves many somewhat betwixt and with a bad taste in their mouths
This don’t look good at all for those aspiring to advance while employed by the Marine and Ports. Who were they that held these positions in the past? And as mentioned above, there isn’t a Bermudians capable of holding down this job? Hog-wash!
Hopefully this isn’t another Edmond Heatley.
here we go again. yes there may be a local that is qualified….however we seem to disrespect our own, insubordinate toward our own, and discredit our own. I assure you, this man will straighten our that department….no more drunken sailors to start with
This man may have the best credentials in the universe, but the BIU will continue to control that Department!
And don’t forget it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Government is the only Employer that I know that doesn’t do cross training or believe in moving people upward and onward!!!!!!!!!! They make me sick!!!!!!! They talk about Career Opportunities!!! Crap!!! If it doesn’t pertain to your job sorry you can’t do that course and when opportunities arise what happens??? Sorry you are not qualified!!!!
This Governor seems to not like Bermudians.
The Governor’s role in this is to ceremonially rubber stamp the hire. The Public Service Commission were the ones making the decision.
PSC = inept
That’s a whole different kettle of fish.
well its all fair i’d say…seems like some Bermudians don’t like Governors…if u dish it , you also gotta eat it …lol
In all my years at sea in and around Bermuda I can’t remember one Bermudian holding this position.
All were ex-pats with status.
I stand to be corrected of course.
The last person to hold this job was a Bermudian (and a black one at that). A quick check on bernews shows that the last person to hold this job is now Permanent Secretary for Tourism and Transport. So consider yourself corrected.
Thank you.
Been away for 25 years.
Gracia………..
Go back and re-read this article. Who vetted this candidate? The Bermuda Public Service Commission. So, why is the Governor being criticized?
When the BPS made errors in their vetting of Dr Edmond Headley there was only one lone voice of criticism, now here the criticism bypasses the BPS and lands straight in the Governor’s lap?
The successful candidate has done nothing wrong, why do you not have the courage to ask BPS to explain themselves to the public? Afraid to criticize the weakest link?
Well, when Heatley came around the PLP talking heads tried to blame it on the OBA. Now they’re going to try to blame the Governor.
Please spare a thought for the PLP on this. They weren’t able to blame racism so they had to come up with something else. Do you even know how difficult that can be?
They had to think about it and actually come up with someone to blame – and invent a real reason. I bet they long for the old days when pulling the race card is all they ever had to do.
Hey I know several Bermudians who could have done this job. One guy I know can tie a reef knot, and he even knows the words to Sloop John B!
Yet we have to hire another foreigner.
It seems when the Governor breathes he is doing it in the wrong direction. This blame game needs to stop. Mr Ferguson is a well qualified and an astute individual. He has a job to do and is unable to please all of the people all of the time.The Public Service Commission need to be accountable for this appointment. Why the need to go to Jamaica when there are innumerable people who could have been trained for this position.. It would be interesting to look at the make up of the PSC. I wonder if they have heard of succession panning? This appointment is an abomination and should never have been permitted in this current economic climate. It would be interesting to research how many Bermudians are being appointed to positions in Jamaica. On the other hand, many Bermudians are enjoying the British welfare and educational systems.
It won’t take him long to figure out that he surrounded by incompetence at all levels. 6 months.
is
Some one in Government and the Public service association,must have seen Mr Russel work and like his quality.The Marine and Port portfolio of any country is probably the most expensive to maintain and it worst if it goes into neglect.So we should hope for the best from him base on his qualification.
This is not about blaming any political party, it’s about getting it right. And, it’s the BPSC responsibility to get it right.
Is it the best value and use of public funds to seek out foreigners for these positions, when the government will be engaging in massive downsizing? Did Bermudians apply? In such a highly specilized field, the Bermudian candidates will be very limited, however, that does not mean that there is no Bermudian qalified, able and willing.
lf Bermudians are being locked out, it’s by and from other Bermudians. We have witnessed their mistakes, but they are never held accountable.
http://bernews.com/2014/01/not-a-job-filled-according-to-political-pressure/