Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) chairman Terrence Beepath yesterday tendered his resignation with immediate effect, citing a “difficulty to work with management of the corporation, recent attacks on his personal and professional life and that his personal safety and that of his family has been compromised.”
Beepath also attributed his resignation to the recent reinstatement of general manger Ronald Forde, which he said “created an even more challenging work environment for him.”
The T&T Guardian was told former chairman of the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation, Edwin Gooding, is tipped to replace Beepath.
In his resignation letter dated December 1, addressed to Finance Minister Colm Imbert and carbon copied to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan, Beepath said the ordeal had caused “tremendous pressure” on him and his family, leading to him demiting office.
“During the short period for which I was appointed, I have found the experience to be extremely challenging, having particular regard to the recent attacks on both my professional and personal life. In the circumstances, it has been extremely difficult to work with the management of the corporation, as I was faced with much opposition to move forward in creating a better organisation. The recent reinstatment of the general manager has further created an even more challenging working environment,” Beeptah wrote.
Beepath, who was given a three-year contract, served for six months. Last month, the PTSC had commissioned an independent investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against him.
In a brief telephone interview yesterday, Beepath said the return of Forde was one of the things that triggered his resignation.
“The board made a decision to tell him (Forde) to take his leave. And then the minister (Sinanan) asked him to come back. So it created a bit of an infringement there..... and kind of a bad blood. Of course, now that he (Forde) is back, you know when management and board have little issues you cannot get nothing done. It becomes a stalling process.”
Days after he went before the Joint Select Committee of Parliament and spoke about what was needed to make PTSC operations more efficient, Forde was sent on immediate leave last month. However, within 72 hours, he was reinstated in his substantive post.
Beepath admitted that there was “tension” between himself and management, which was creating undue stress and pressure for him.
“I decided I could not work with that.”
Asked if he resignation had anything to do with the allegations of sexual misconduct against him, Beepath said, “No.”
He said that matter will come to an end in early 2017 since the “accuser asked for more time.”
Contacted yesterday, Forde could not say why Beepath had resigned.
“I don’t know. I only only heard about it on the news like every other citizen. Probably his (Beepath’s) conscience guided him, but I don’t have a clue why he resigned.”
Also contacted yesterday, Sinanan said he had not seen Beepath’s letter.
However, he said Cabinet will decide on a new chairman tomorrow.