He made the remarks while answering questions about the Port Authority while he and new Chairman Hannes Babak were guests on the LOVE 97.5 talk show “Jones and Company” with hosts Wendall Jones and Godfrey Eneas.
The Port Authority had faced widespread public criticisms in recent weeks after top Bahamian executives, including former Chairman Julian Francis, former Executive Vice President Barry Malcolm and former Deputy Chairman Willie Moss left the company.
During a town meeting in Freeport last week, licensees of the Port Authority and invited panelists lashed out at the direction in which they felt the company was heading.
“In any organisation there are times when there are changes and sometimes they are misunderstood,” explained Sir Albert. “First of all, Mr Francis said himself that his philosophy was different from that of the shareholders and they parted on the best of terms.
With respect to Barry Malcolm and Willie Moss, the level of business during the last couple of years in the Port were such that we were top heavy in management, really top heavy. And you would have seen those changes, and now to balance it out we are out trying to recruit some young vice presidents who will eventually move up in positions that the Barry Malcolm’s held in the past, and as I said, but right now we are at a level where we think we are comfortable but for the need for some vice presidents to work on the ground and to move up into the managerial role.”
While declining to reveal details of Mrs Moss’s departure, because the matter had yet to be resolved, Sir Albert said Mr Malcolm was still on good working terms with the company.
He dismissed the view that executives had been let go from the Port Authority because of Mr Babak’s ascension to chairman. Sir Albert admitted that the company had not carried out a suitable public relations campaign after recent developments.
Sir Albert said the public held many misconceptions about the Port Authority, its role and the work it was doing in Freeport. Boasting the company’s construction of two high schools in Freeport, its scholarship programme and other initiatives had launched to promote the social and economic well-being of the city.
Mr Babak revealed that the Port Authority had taken steps to re-brand Freeport as a tourism friendly city, adding to its reputation as an industrial center. He said the Port Authority was also trying to attract some of the many American “Baby-boomers” who were looking to retire in Florida but unable to find beach property they desired.
Sir Albert said the company was also encouraging a new trend of Bahamians looking to Freeport for second homes.
By: RAYMOND KONGWA, Nassau Guardian Senior Reporter
