May 8, 2003 – Clement "Cain" Magras, former acting Tourism commissioner, has been nominated to a three-year term on the Government Hospitals and Health Facilities Corp. board by Gov. Charles Turnbull.
In a release issued Wednesday, Turnbull said he is confident that Magras "will bring a wealth of knowledge and vision to allow our hospitals to continue being a premier health-care facility for the Caribbean."
If his nomination is confirmed by the Legislature, Magras will replace Beverly Chongasing, whose term has expired.
Magras is associate director of the federal grants management unit of the Office of Management and Budget. A Democratic Party stalwart, he was previously a senator for two terms, commissioner of Licensing and Consumer Affairs and executive director of the Legislature.
His nomination to be Tourism commissioner in 1999 was rejected by the Legislature in the face of objections from the hospitality industry that he lacked expertise, experience and commitment and of a complaint alleging sexual harassment filed by a Tourism staff member.
He then moved to Florida; two years ago, he returned to assume the $54,000-a-year OMB post. Last May, in raises given by the governor to hundreds of unclassified employees, his salary was increased to $70,000. In March, a federal judge ruled that the harassment case brought by Heather Carty could proceed with the Attorney General's Office representing Magras both in his capacity as a government official and as an individual.
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