Deslandes defies effort by CASE alumni to oust him
Published:Saturday | February 18, 2023 | 12:48 AMChristopher Serju/Senior Gleaner Writer
Embattled incumbent president of the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE) Dr Derrick Deslandes has prevailed in his long-running fight with the CASE alumni association which has been trying to oust him, having emerged as the most suitable applicant from the pool that responded to a press advertisement for the position of president, last April.
This was disclosed by Minister of Education and Youth Fayval Williams on Friday, who told The Gleaner that a new contract for Deslandes has been prepared and is now en route to the relevant authorities for approval.
“He is the successful candidate that emerged from the process. That was my update at the end of January,” she told The Gleaner.
In its summary, the advertisement for the position of president which became vacant after the expiration of Deslandes’ contract advised accordingly:
The president is the chief executive officer responsible for the day-to-day management of the institution and all its assets to sustainability and success, ensuring that all targets are met. Providing strategic leadership for the college by working with the board to develop policies, monitor and assess performance, take appropriate actions and lead the management team to establish and execute long-range goals, strategies and plans, which ensures (sic) a sustainable and effective education enterprise, thereby positioning the College as a highly desirable option for higher education and a leader and catalyst to national farm production.”
With the expiration of his employment contract in August 2021, the alumni association stepped up its campaign to have Deslandes removed, citing an alleged wastage of money earmarked for projects at the college, as well as his failure to commit to the job full-time because of other appointments on a number of boards of government institutions.
It listed among the unfinished projects, a plant tissue culture laboratory to be constructed at a cost of $18 million; a state-of-the-art tunnel ventilation broiler chicken house at a cost of $25 million; two commercial aquaponics production facilities for $10.4 million; a licensed commercial medical cannabis production facility, reported to cost $110 million; a half an acre plant propagation shade house, at a reported cost of $4.5 million; and the construction of an abattoir for $29 million.
While the alumni group claims that it has not accused the CASE management of impropriety, the association’s executive and members expressed concern at the snail’s pace of project implementation, income-generation opportunities that are being missed, and the lack of transparency surrounding the execution and the financial status of the projects.
However, it declared that it had lost all confidence in Deslandes’ ability to lead the college and protect students and capital resources.
Since the expiration of his employment contract on August 21, 2021, the terms under which Deslandes retained the position of president of CASE have been shrouded in secrecy.
An email to Colin Steer, director of corporate communication at the Ministry of Education and Youth last Sunday requesting an update on the situation regarding Deslandes’ employment, as well as the outcome of the interviews conducted for the position advertised was met with this curt response on Tuesday: “Received and forwarded. No response’.”
Reporter: Forwarded to whom?
Steer: “I don’t normally share internal procedure with media colleagues. When I get an answer, I will update you.”
Meanwhile, in a page-one story published on February 14, enraged final-year students charged that the college ambushed them with a series of late miscellaneous fees, threatening to withhold their bachelor’s degree certificates until the balances are paid.
In response, Deslandes explained that the college was simply trying to recover money covering medical, insurance and other student costs, it had paid up front.