St. George’s Corporation Appoint Richard James
Mayor Quinell Francis announced the appointment of Richard L. James as Acting Corporation Secretary and Transition Consultant for the Corporation of St. George’s, effective July 2, 2026.
A spokesperson said, “The Mayor of the Corporation of St. George’s Quinell Francis, JP, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Richard L. James as Acting Corporation Secretary and Transition Consultant, effective 2 July 2026.”
“This appointment follows the departure of Ms. Candy-Lee Foggo, who has served the historic town as Corporation Secretary for the past 11 years.
Mayor Francis stated: “We want to express our gratitude to Ms. Foggo for her over a decade of service, and we wish her the very best in her future endeavors.”
Mayor Francis said: “The Corporation of St. George’s has a significant responsibility to the residents, businesses and visitors of the Town. St. George is not only the birthplace of Bermuda, but also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it must be actively protected, conserved and managed with care, accountability and a strong sense of stewardship. During this transition, our absolute priority is maintaining an open door and seamless continuity for our community.
“The Council is committed to ensuring that the Corporation is well governed, responsive and operationally sound. Mr. James brings extensive public sector leadership experience, a strong background in governance and organizational improvement, and a proven record of leading public bodies through periods of transition, reform and organizational renewal. We are confident that his appointment will provide valuable support to the Corporation during this important period.
“Because St. George is a town built on relationships, Mr. James will be engaging directly with our local town businesses, community groups, and residents in the coming weeks to ensure their voices are heard and their needs are met.”
A spokesperson added, “Mr. James brings more than three decades of senior leadership experience in Bermuda’s public sector. He previously served as Chief Architect in the Ministry of Works and Engineering and as Development Manager at the Bermuda Housing Corporation. He also held extended acting assignments including Acting Assistant Cabinet Secretary, Acting Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Works and Engineering, and Acting General Manager of the Bermuda Housing Corporation.
“Throughout his career, Mr. James has been called upon to support Ministries, Departments, and Quasi-Autonomous Non-Governmental Organizations [QUANGOs] during periods of organizational challenge and change. His work has included governance improvement, policy development, strategic planning, operational reform, accountability systems, and the strengthening of management processes.
“He is a Registered Architect in Bermuda and holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Howard University, a Master of Architecture from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and a Master of Science in Management from Boston University.
“In addition to his public service and governance experience, Mr. James is an international associate of Franklin Covey and has facilitated leadership and organizational effectiveness programs for more than twenty years across Bermuda’s public and private sectors, as well as in the Cayman Islands, The Bahamas, Jamaica and Suriname. He is certified to deliver a range of leadership programs focused on trust, execution, team leadership, project management, and personal effectiveness.
“As Acting Corporation Secretary and Transition Consultant, Mr. James will assist the Corporation in key areas, including:
- “Engaging directly with town stakeholders and business owners to maintain open lines of communication;
- “Strengthening governance and decision-making processes;
- “Improving administrative and records management systems;
- “Enhancing financial and operational accountability;
- “Supporting the development of policies, procedures and management systems;
- “Improving reporting between operations and Council;
- “Supporting staff and Council during the transition period; and
- “Helping to prepare the Corporation for the appointment of a permanent Corporation Secretary.”
Mr. James said: “It is a privilege to serve the Mayor, Council, staff and people of the Town of St. George during this important transition period. My aim is to help ensure the alignment of the Corporation’s systems, policies, procedures and operating processes in support of responsive, reliable and well-coordinated services. St. George thrives on its close-knit community relationships, and | look forward to meeting face-to-face with local residents and business owners to hear their thoughts, address questions, and ensure a smooth, transparent transition.”
Mayor Francis added: “This appointment reflects the Council’s commitment to responsible stewardship, accountability and service to the Town. We look forward to working with Mr. James as we continue to support the effective administration of the historic Town of St. George.”
Community Feedback & Questions
A spokesperson added, “To ensure all constituent questions, ideas, and concerns are captured and addressed during this transition, the Corporation has established a dedicated communication channel. Residents and business owners are encouraged to submit inquiries directly via email at mayor@stgeorge.bm. The Corporation will provide regular updates addressing feedback in future Corporation General Council Meetings.”
