Port President: "I am 100 percent behind Don Allee" - WLOX.com - The News for South Mississippi

There are new developments at the State Port of Gulfport. In the wake of criticism about leadership, the Port Authority President says he supports the Executive Director 100 percent.

Meanwhile, the two chairmen of the legislative port committees met behind closed-doors Friday with port commissioners. The chairmen of the state Senate and House port committees voiced serious concerns and disappointment Friday about a lack of progress on the port expansion project.

Much of the recent criticism involves port leaders changing direction or not delivering what they promised.

The port authority issued a news release defending progress made on the project and saying the goals remain the same: increasing cargo capacity and creating jobs.

"I am 100 percent behind Don Allee," Lenny Sawyer, Jr. told WLOX News. 

Sawyer is president of the Port Commission and has been a member of the group which oversees port activities for the past 15 years.

He was responding to a letter to the governor, written by Gulfport councilman R. Lee Flowers, who's calling for new port leadership and describes the port project as, "fraught with missteps and stumbles."

Sawyer said, "We're right on schedule," defending the project. "Where in the state of Mississippi is there $57 million worth of construction going on? Right now, there's $57 million under construction at the Mississippi State Port in Gulfport, Mississippi."

The two chairmen of the Senate and House port committees are disappointed with the lack of progress on the port project.  Senator Brice Wiggins and Rep. Alex Monsour met for nearly an hour behind closed doors with port commissioners.

"I'm disappointed in what I've heard. That's why I'm here at this meeting today. I think as you can see, with chairman Monsour and myself and the attention we're paying to it, that this is a serious issue. And we're going to do everything we can to make sure the taxpayers get what they deserve," said Sen. Wiggins.

"We want this port to be dredged. We want this port to be competitive with our neighboring states. And that's which way we're going to move to be competitive with them and get the business here in the State of Mississippi," said Rep. Monsour.

As for leadership, Chairman Monsour said, "I think we've got a good team here."

But Senator Wiggins says the leadership, along with the entire project should be scrutinized. 

"It's something that needs to be looked at, in addition to that, everything. I'm for a whole review of where we need to go. But yes, I'm all for looking at the leadership," he explained.

"We've got a great executive director. We've got a great staff. And we're right on schedule," said commission president Sawyer.

The news release from the port authority also emphasizes the commitment to deepen the Gulfport ship channel from the current 36 feet to 45 feet.  At its current depth, Gulfport can only handle the smallest two out of the six classes of cargo ship.

Once the channel is deepened, and it will take years, the port will be able to handle four of the six classes of cargo ship.

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