Deputy Transport Officer Backs Creation of Assistant Chief Post
The Department of Transport says it needs stronger leadership across its regional offices, and that is why a senior post now linked to Police Corporal Jhawn Gamboa is being considered. Deputy Transport Officer Peter Williams says the creation of Assistant Chief Transport Officer positions has been on the table for several years and is meant to address the department’s growing operational demands. But questions remain about the timing of the proposed appointment and whether it affects Williams’ own role inside the ministry. When we put that question to him, he declined to respond.
Peter Williams, Deputy Transport Officer
“ Yes, there is a need for an assistant, chief transport officer, which just to clarify, an assistant chief transport officer is not the same as a deputy chief transport officer, I know there is, there’s some misnomers as it pertains to that. But certainly, yes, there is need. You see, the thing is an organization like the Department of Transport has to evolve. It cannot remain stagnant in terms of the existing ranking structure. And so there have been moves, in fact from, from previous administration. I can think back as far as when we had CEO Marconi Leal was with us we were looking at the organogram and the ranking structure of the department. And since then we’ve seen the need for an assistant chief transport officer. In this case, we’re trying to see if we can get two chief assistant chief transport officer who would have a regional responsibility and to provide that support to the deputy chief transport officer and upwards to the chief transport officer. So as it pertains to an assistant chief, yes there is need for an assistant for that, for that rank in the department.”
Police Corporal Jhawn Gamboa
Reporter
“Was there any point in the whole advertisement and talks of an assistant to the deputy, was there any point where you felt as though there was an attempt to unseat you or to push you out of the ministry?”
Peter Williams
“I will refrain from responding to that, to that question for the time being.”
When asked, Superintendent Aaron Gamboa dismissed suggestions that family connections played a role in Jhawn Gamboa’s opportunity, insisting the appointment was based on merit rather than personal ties.
Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.
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