Deputy Transport Chief Sidesteps Questions About His Future

Questions surrounding the future of Deputy Chief Transport Officer Peter Williams have resurfaced, but Williams has opted not to publicly address whether he believes he is being pushed out of the Ministry of Transport.  The speculation began last month after reports emerged that the Ministry was seeking to appoint an Assistant Deputy Chief Transport Officer. The development prompted questions over whether the new position could diminish Williams’s responsibilities or eventually lead to his removal.  Love News approached Williams for clarity on the matter, but he declined to comment on the speculation or discuss his current relationship with the Ministry.

Reporter: Was there any point where you felt as though there was an attempt to unseat you or to push you out of the ministry? 

Peter Williams, Deputy Chief Transport Officer, Department of Transport: “I will refrain from responding to that question for the time being.”

Reporter: Is there a need for an assistant? Do you require an assistant? 

Peter Williams, Deputy Chief Transport Officer, Department of Transport: “Yes, there is a need for an Assistant Chief Transport Officer, which just to clarify, an Assistant Chief Transport officer is not the same as a Deputy Chief Transport Officer. I know there is there’s some misnomers as it pertains to that, but certainly yes, there is need. You see, the thing is, an organization like the Department of Transport has to evolve. it cannot remain stagnant in terms of the existing ranking structure and so there has been moves in fact from previous administration I can think back as far as when we had CEO Marconi Leal with us we were looking at the organogram and the ranking structure of the department. And since then we’ve seen the need for an Assistant Chief Transport Officer. In this case, we’re trying to see if we can get two Assistant Chief Transport Officers who would have a regional responsibility and to provide that support to the Deputy Chief Transport Officer and of course to the Chief Transport Officer. So as a pertains to Assistant Chief, yes there is need for an assistant for that for that rank in the department.”

On July 17, the CEO Chester Williams told Love News that Peter Williams remains essential to the Transport Department and is not being cast aside.  Peter Williams has served as Deputy Chief Transport Officer since July 2021.