Deslandes mum as CASE advertises post
Incumbent won’t say whether he will apply as college seeks president
Published:Saturday | April 23, 2022 | 12:10 AMChristopher Serju/Senior Gleaner Writer
Embattled president of the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE), Dr Derrick Deslandes, has declined to say whether he will be applying to continue on in the post after it was advertised in The Sunday Gleaner last weekend.
Deslandes, whose contract expired before the start of the school term last September, has been locked in a long-running dispute with the CASE Alumni Association, which has been actively lobbying for his removal, citing questionable expenditure on several projects as well as the outcomes during his tenure.
Further, it has complained that the Passley Gardens, Portland-based college lacks adequate security on the campus, concerns which have been heightened following the recent abduction and rape of a female student while on her way to an early-morning assignment.
In a press release issued after that incident, the association said it has lost all confidence in Deslandes’ ability to lead the college and protect students, human and capital resources.
“Deslandes must take full responsibility for the ongoing poor security at the college for the past three years. Student, staff and faculty members have been complaining about various security breaches at the college, but the administration fails to take corrective measures,” a spokesperson argued in a media release.
The past students also called for the Integrity Commission, the Ministry of Education and the Auditor General’s Department probe income-generating and training development projects at CASE.
The association has also taken issue with the decision by the education ministry to allow Deslandes to continue in the post of president, even though his contract expired before the start of the academic year.
Asked by The Gleaner whether he would apply to continue leading the institution, Deslandes said, “Even if I was going to, I wouldn’t tell you. In fact, I have no comment.”
Education Minister Fayval Williams, who promised an explanation for the long delay in advertising the post, did not respond to Gleaner queries up to news time.