Carlton Dowe Is Headed Back To Port Authority As Executive Director

Carlton Dowe, fired from the Virgin Islands Port Authority in December 2016 where he served as executive director, is headed back to the authority in the same position he held when let go, people with knowledge of the matter have told The Consortium.

The authority is expected to make the announcement later this month, these people said. Meetings were held this week on the selection, and these people said Mr. Dowe was chosen. The Port Authority’s Board of Governors has scheduled a meeting for June 26 to be held in the V.I.P.A. conference room at the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport.

Multiple calls placed to Mr. Dowe were not returned.

When the board fired Mr. Dowe in 2016, it said the decision was made “without cause.” At the time of his firing, Mr. Dowe’s contract was two years away from expiring.

Mr. Dowe confirmed his departure to this publication the day after his removal in a telephone interview, telling The Consortium that the board’s action was without merit.

“The board indicated today that they had no cause,” Mr. Dowe said. V.I.P.A. confirmed that its release of Mr. Dowe from his duties was without cause, pursuant to Section 8 (c) in the employment agreement between Mr. Dowe and the authority. Mr. Dowe had to be compensated for the remaining two years of his contract, even if he was no longer employed with the authority. David Mapp, brother of former Governor Kenneth Mapp, was made assistant director and then director of the authority.

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

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 following his termination, 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.”