Tony Astaphan and Charles Savarin have made a number of disparaging
comments on Kairi FM about my prior contract through the Environmental
Coordinating Unit (ECU) on the United Nations Development(UNDP) funded Project.
I would be happy to receive their invitation to join them by phone on
Saturday evening April 2,2011 or other convenient time to respond to any
questions on that contract or on any other pertinent subject.
Let me state as follows. 1. I was the International Consultant on the project.. Dominica's
National Biodiversity Strategy & Action Plan..Capacity Building Needs &
Country Specific Priorities after my retirement from DuPont in 1998
2. There were other consultants considered for the position. I have
appended my resume below for study and to evaluate my experience and
qualifications for such an assignment. Tony and Savarin implied falsely
preference and no "tender"
3. I did complain about the tardiness of some of the reports from the
five local consultants (Marie-Jose Edwards, Albert Bellot, Dr Steve John,
Julius Green & Mrs Ambrose George). Content of the consultant reports were
generally aligned with what was required. However, matters were quoted in
some of the individual reports without proper citation of authorship and
it was apparent that there was cutting and pasting from unknown sources in
some submissions.
4. A considerable amount of my time was devoted to meetings,
providing guidelines, inserting my own input, editing,and putting sections in order
in the reports
5. Mrs Lloyd Pascal ( alias Congit Gabriel), Project Coordinator, was
to edit the submissions before they came to me for compilation. She did a
poor job of that and I did say that she should not be employed in a public
agency as wife reporting to the head of the agency. I still hold that view
and think that arrangements should be made for her termination from that
position
6. Attached is the second draft titled Dominica's National
Biodiversity Strategy & Action Plan. Assessment of Capacity Building Needs & Country
Specific Priorities. Discussion Document, April 5, 2004. The Discussion
Document was followed by a more comprehensive detailed report to the ECU from
me
7. The other component of the assignment was Dominica's Second
National Report. That report with local consultant Mrs Ambrose George provides
information on the extent of Dominica's compliance with the principles and
rules of the Convention on Biological Diversity and was completed and
submitted to the ECU by October, 2003 for onward transmission to the Cabinet for
approval
8. There was disagreement between Mrs Pascal and myself on format of
the first draft of the full report, a 100 plus page document
9. In that crucial meeting with the ECU, and part of the Steering
Committee, Colmore Christian's (PS, Agriculture) position was that if there
was disagreement.. then someone had to go..and so my contract was terminated.
My reference to corrupt political reasons relates to the fact that both Mr
and Mrs Lloyd Pascal were staunch supporters of the Dominica Labour Party
when Charles Savarin of the Dominica Freedom Party was Minister of Tourism
in the Coalition Government.
10. I referred the issue to Charles Savarin as a friend then, a person
I taught at the Dominica Grammar School and knew and trusted over many
years and because there were matters of great importance to tourism in the
report. I received no response that any action was taken
11. I was given partial payment which I indicated to Colmore Christian
I intended to use as a charitable gift. Those funds were used to help
support the DAAS mission during my Presidency as aid for the International
Youth Soccer Tournament,DSC scholarships, Smithsonian Summer Internship, Cadet
Corps, Youth Camp etc..
12. I have NO intention to seek any assignment from the Dominican
Government but will continue to provide assistance in non-governmental areas
where my contribution can make a difference
13. Dominica Academy of Arts & Sciences (DAAS) achievements can be
seen at...._www.da-academy.org/daaschronicle_
(http://www.da-academy.org/daaschronicle)
14. I have copied this response to the ECU, and Ministries of
Agriculture, Tourism & Diaspora Affairs
Clayton A. Shillingford
Strong, highly organized, results‑oriented leader with extensive expertise
in corporate, university and privately owned enterprises. Skilled in team
building, professional recruitment, staffing and employer/labor relations,
diversity awareness, and performance measurement.
Accomplishments and Abilities
President of the Association for Cooperation in Banana Research in the
Caribbean and Tropical America, (ACORBAT), 1975‑1981, receiving several awards
for leadership of ACORBAT. Recognized by numerous DuPont corporate awards
for contributions to product development, quality assurance, marketing,
diversity, and people development. Founding member and President of the South
Florida Association of Dominicans, (SOFAD) , 1990-1993, and President of
the DuPont Black Employees Network, 1994-1996.
Organized, led, and participated in several international conferences
including the International Congress of Plant Pathology, the American
Phytopathological Society, the Organization of Tropical American Nematologists, the
International Network for Improvement of Banana and Plantain, and the
International Society of African Scientists. Published numerous papers and
reviews on thesis research, banana diseases and agricultural products for
several peer-reviewed publications and in regional and international conference
proceedings.
Demonstrated ability in planning, designing, and implementing programs in
research, business and marketing. Proven verbal and written communication
skills. Possesses a strong commitment to environmental protection, broad
botanical knowledge and extensive, diverse experience in agricultural
research, development, marketing, and sound business practices.
Professional Experience
Dupont Agricultural Products, Stine Lab, Wilmington, DE
Research Associate, Product Support and Renewal
1993 - 1998
Product Development Manager, Worldwide Banana Markets
1988 - 1992
Product Development Manager, Latin America and the Caribbean
1980 - 1987
University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, Visiting Professor
1979
Jamaica Banana Board, Kingston, Jamaica
Technical Director, R & D Dept
1977 - 1979
Manager, Crop Productivity
1977
University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, Research Assistant
1975 - 1977
Jamaica Banana Board, Kingston, Jamaica
Manager, Quality Control
1972 - 1975
Senior Plant Pathologist, R&D
1970 - 1972
Pathologist, R & D Department
1967 - 1969
Dominica Grammar School, Senior Science Master and Sports Instructor
1962 - 1965
Past Professional Affiliations
· Diploma of Membership of the Imperial College of Science and
Technology
· Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society of North America
· American Phytopathological Society, (APS), Caribbean Division
· Association for Cooperation in Banana Research in the Caribbean
and Tropical America, (ACORBAT)
· Organization of Tropical American Nematologists, (OTAN)
· International Network for the Improvement of Banana and
Plantain, (INIBAP)
· International Society of African Scientists, (ISAS)
Education
University of Illinois PhD, Plant Pathology
1977
University of the West Indies Diploma in Management
1973
University of London M.Sc. Mycology and Plant
Pathology 1968
University of the West Indies M.Sc., Botany/Dominica Forest
Ecology 1967
University of the West Indies B.Sc., Botany, Chemistry, and
Mathematics 1962
Corporate‑Sponsored Training and Additional University Coursework:
Management
· Leadership, Decision- Making and Risk Analysis
· Management of Change and People Development
· Organizational Development and Effectiveness
· Production Management
· Teamwork and Multiculturalism
Marketing
· Marketing and Customer Satisfaction
· Marketing of Fresh Fruits (UWI)
· Quality Assurance
· Strategic Marketing Process
· Strategic Quality Planning
Business and Financial
· Budget Preparation
· Financial Management
· Business Planning
· Business Process Management
· Global Business
· Business Law
· Competitive Measurement and Investment Strategies
Research and Development
· Aerial Application (Cranfield Institute, UK)
· Environmental Stewardship
· Research Program Development
· Computer Applications
