BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IT seems not only school children are adjusting to new placements since the commencement of the new academic year, but also senior government officials with the recent announcement of a shuffle in the National Security and Education Ministries.
Cabinet met on Monday, September 5, 2011 and a post-Cabinet press briefing informs of the respective middle management positions that have been recently filled.
Having served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education for an approximate decade and contributed 40-plus years to the development of the Federation’s educational landscape, Osmond Petty will now act as Force Personnel Officer to the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force.
The communiqué indicates that Petty’s responsibilities are vast and varied.
“Mr. Osmond Petty has recently been assigned the new responsibility of Force Personnel Officer in the Police Services and in addition will have special responsibility for creating an upgraded training programme for the Police and for designing and implementing a wide range of projects including the building of police stations and other important infrastructure that are highly critical in the new thrust to improve the police services and crack down on crime and violence.
The funding for many of these projects and activities is being provided under the 10th EDF – the tenth issuance of the European Development Fund – which is dedicated to the improvement of national security.”
The position, left vacant by his reassignment, has been filled by Ionie Liburd-Willett, who, according to the communiqué, is former Head of the Teacher Education Division of the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC).
Prime Minister Dr. Denzil L. Douglas had earlier informed of restructuring/splitting of the Ministry of National Security into two ministries - one of Homeland Security and the other of Police and Defence Forces.
The Cabinet release notes that the appointment of Permanent Secretaries for these ministries has also been discussed by the body.
Astona Browne was the Permanent Secretary of that ministry before the division was made.
“The Cabinet of Ministers also discussed impending changes in permanent secretaries and other senior positions in some government departments. These matters will however be concluded upon further discussion as is customary in these important high-level executive decisions.
In particular, permanent secretaries are to be identified for the new Ministry of Homeland Security and the new Ministry of Police and the Defence Force. Preliminary discussions have been had on these matters.”
Some learning institutions across the island are also operating under new leadership, a change which took effect with the commencement of the 2011-2012 school year.
Dr. Hermia Morton-Anthony was Principal of the CFBC before she took up her post as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture; and according to the release, she has been appointed President of the institution.
“Consistent with Cabinet's decision of two weeks ago upon recommendation by the CFBC Board of Governors, Dr. Hermia Morton-Anthony has assumed the Presidency of the CFB College. It is to be recalled that in 2008, the CFB College, by an Act of Parliament, became a new corporate entity directly controlled by a Board of Governors.
The CFBC Act made provision for a president of the College and vice-presidents with specific areas of responsibility.The CFBC Board has taken a decision to activate the presidency at the beginning of the new College term beginning September 2011. It must also be noted that earlier attempts to recruit a president for the College did not conclude as anticipated.”
Additionally, the Deane-Glasford Primary School is under the headship of Avonelle Martin, Estridge Primary School is being headed by Keisha Dolphin, while Valencia Syder has assumed headship of the Dr. William Connor Primary School.
Syder fills that position which was left by Anthony Wiltshire, who was reassigned to the headship of the Bronte-Welsh Primary School.
Retired principals of the Deane-Glasford Primary School, Estridge Primary and Bronte-Welsh Primary Schools, Elsie Patrick-Leader, Iona Phillips and Daun Hazell respectively, were congratulated by the Cabinet “for their outstanding contributions to the field of education”.
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