David Mapp Now Port Authority’s Executive Director Following Vote At Wednesday Board Meeting

ST. CROIX — The Virgin Islands Port Authority at a board meeting today voted to make David Mapp, above, the permanent executive director of V.I.P.A., after he had served as acting director for the months following the ouster of former executive director, Carlton Dowe.

David Mapp, brother of Governor Kenneth Mapp, has served at the Port Authority since 1986 — over 30 years — in a variety of positions, and is a well known figuer among industry officials around the Caribbean and in Florida.

The board vote was unanimous; Attorney General Claude Walker, a board member who serves as its secretary, said the vote was a show of confidence in David Mapp’s ability to lead the port. “Mapp has been at V.I.P.A. since 1986, and he has served as acting executive director on many occasions during that time,” Mr. Walker said. “He was given a chance to serve over the last seven months or so as the acting executive director, and the board decided to elevate him to serve as the executive director based on his stellar performance.” All seven board members voted to make David Mapp the head of V.I.P.A. He will work on a NOPA and not a contract, Mr. Walker revealed, a decision that moves away from the prior agreement with Mr. Dowe, which saw the former director exiting the job with a severance pay of no less than $92,500.

Asked whether some would view David Mapp’s new role as perk of his brother being governor, Mr. Walker said emphatically that David Mapp is his own man.

“He’s his own man; his reputation stands by itself,” Mr. Walker offered. “It’s unfair to say that simply because his brother just so happens to be the governor, that that’s why he’s in the position; that’s incorrect.”

Damian Cartwright, a senior engineer at V.I.P.A., was also elevated to assistant executive director.

The appointment of Mr. Mapp comes six months following the firing of Mr. Dowe, with V.I.P.A. giving no reason for the termination.

The board’s termination of Mr. Dowe’s contract, which came two years ahead of expiration, happened at a time when V.I.P.A. was undertaking major projects at the territory’s various ports, including the Gallows Bay Terminal Facility dredging.

Voting to terminate Mr. Dowe’s contract during the December board meeting (in executive session) held at the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport, were board members Beverly Nicholson-Doty, who’s also the commissioner of tourism, Mr. Walker, Dept. of Public Works Commissioner Gustav James, Laurel Hewitt-Sewer and Yvonne Thraen.

Board Chairman Roberto C. Cintron voted against terminating Mr. Dowe, stressing that there was no cause behind the dismissal. José A. Penn also voted against the dismissal.

Mr. Dowe confirmed his departure to this publication the day it happened during a telephone interview, telling The Consortium that the board’s action — which the board admitted to — was without merit.

“The board indicated today that they had no cause,” Mr. Dowe said. V.I.P.A. confirmed the termination in a release later the same day, stating that Mr. Dowe was relieved of his duties without cause, pursuant to Section 8 (c) in the employment agreement between Mr. Dowe and the authority. That section of the contract sees the Port Authority compensating Mr. Dowe for the remaining two years of his contract, even if he was no longer employed with the authority.

Mr. Dowe wasted no time in his attempts to make sense of his termination, telling The Consortium that his firing was politically motivated. “All of this is political mischief and shenanigans coming down,” Mr. Dowe said the day he was fired.

Asked if he believed that his termination was enabled by talk in the community that he would be joining the gubernatorial race in 2018, Mr. Dowe said he would not respond to speculation.

Mr. Dowe issued a company-wide letter to employees, writing in a statement that it was his honor to have served them, while commending employees for their dedication to results during his tenure.

“My results-driven, can-do spirit has been evident during my time with V.I.P.A.,” he wrote, adding, “However, as I always say, I Carlton Dowe could not have done this without your commitment and dedication to service.”