ROY MILLER, Deputy Director of Tourism in charge of Planning and Research at the Jamaica Tourist Board, will act as Director of the board until a replacement is named for Fay Pickersgill who goes on leave today, quitting as Director of Tourism.
This was confirmed yesterday by Aloun N'Dombet Assamba, the new Minister of Tourism and Industry.
"We have a Deputy Director currently at 64 Knutsford Boulevard, who will carry on the day-to-day operations until we have been able to identify somebody to manage," Mrs. Assamba told The Gleaner. Pressed for a name, she said that person was Mr. Miller. He has been a member of the JTB staff for many years.
Loraine Robinson, the ministry's Permanent Secretary, had earlier told The Gleaner that an interim Director of Tourism would be in place by today.
The need for a replacement director followed the announcement last month by Mrs. Pickersgill, that she would not be renewing her contract next year after nine years in the position. She proceeds on leave today.
When asked why a decision was not yet taken on a replacement, Ms. Robinson said: "We are looking at several options."
The delay in naming Mrs. Pickersgill's successor has to do with the confusion that seems to stem from the upheavals at the JTB in the last three months - including the resignation of five board members, who are yet to be replaced and the departure of several key staff members from normal attrition, downsizing, as well as irregularities at the JTB's New York office.
Board members representing the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association and its sector partners had resigned to make way for a more market-driven board with clout in the international market, especially the tour operators.
Mrs. Pickersgill's office said the decision on a replacement as director would have to be made by the board of the JTB, which is only partly constituted. JTB chairman, banker William Clarke, had nothing to say on who would take over the JTB's daily operations.
"Mr. Clarke says to tell you he doesn't have any information on that yet," said a member of his staff speaking from his corporate office at Bank of Nova Scotia downtown. Pickersgill's vacation leave and subsequent departure were announced October 16.
She leaves the agency in the run-up to the industry's most sensitive and lucrative period, when it would normally be fully engaged in its marketing and advertising campaign to pull business in for the winter.
