Newly appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Dominica Air and Sea Ports Authority (DASPA), Ian Pinard said improving operations at DASPA will be his main focus. Pinard who was a former Minister in the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) Government made the disclosure during an interview on State-Owned Radio DBS.
He assumed the position of CEO of DASPA effective Monday, December 2, 2024.
Pinard replaces Mr. Benoit Bardouille who held that position for several years.
“I am getting to know the staff, I am getting to know the management team, getting to know all the operations at DASPA and so far I am getting the grasp of it,” Pinard said. “ And eventually when it needs improvement we are going to improve, what we think works well we are going to continue and leave it as is. We are going to see how we can improve the operations and that is going to be our major priority.”
He continued, “My role is to come in to make sure that the port moves smoothly, both the sea and airport and we continue to improve.”
Pinard also believes that his experiences will assist him in carrying out his duties.
“ I am happy to be here, I bring a lot of experience to the table here,” he said. “Being a former Minister and a Parl Rep, the General Manager of Petro Caribe, also before that the Sales and Marketing Manager of PetroCaribe, and before that I was an accounts and loans officer at the Credit Union.”
He added, “So, I bring a lot of experience to DASPA. I am prepared to work with the staff. We have a very good staff here and I am prepared to work with everybody and keep the communication channels opened.”
Meanwhile, Pinard praised Bardouille for the excellent job he has done as CEO of DASPA.
“I think he has been a great manager, a great ambassador, not only at the port, but the country,” Pinard noted. “Bardouille is well known all over the region, all over the world. He has done very well for Dominica and I think that is why he has been promoted by the Prime Minister to be an ambassador now.”
He promised to continue what Bardouille started and to further improve the services at the port.
Moreover, Pinard explained that every day the port deals with customers, “and we have to improve in terms of our customer service and make sure the operations run smoothly.”
Pinard served concurrently as the Member of Parliament for the Soufriere Constituency and the Minister for Public Works and Ports before resigning as a minister of government on March 2, 2016, and as a parliamentarian on April 26 of that same year, amid allegations of inappropriate behavior.
After stepping down from his ministerial role, Pinard held the position of Acting General Manager at Petro Caribe Dominica for some time.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit announced at the International Airport ground-breaking ceremony on November 9, 2024, that as of December 1, 2024, the former DASPA CEO, Benoit Bardouile, would be “elevated to the rank of Ambassador and Advisor to the Prime Minister of Dominica.”
I want to see how many under 17 girls he will employ
Dude, padna just clean the dirt/muddy floors at the customs where your workers and general public people walk and breathe every blessed day. Index, index, index a b c, 1 2 3 to find boxes. Proper “modern” restrooms with easy flush for sake of workers sanitation. Easy job 👌 stop overlook basic basic stuff like the last guy.
what nonsense is that….build on what?….are not seeing the port….have u ever been to the port to see hove disorganized it is? it’s a same for in this day and age….is the government trying to preserve christopher Columbus port? can’t u all go on YouTube and look at other islands ports?
The former and present ministers in the Roosevelt-led concoction have all performed far below par. Why? Instead of being people centered they performed at the behest of the incompetent, tyrannical imposter ((Roosevelt).
The appointment of Ian Pinned as the new CEO of the Dominica Air and Sea Ports Authority is tantamount to recycling a combination of inefficiency and ineffectiveness.
Sixty plus (60+) years of Laziness and Incompetence do not change overnight. In Roosevelt’s world, complete loyalty to him always trumps competence and ability.