Mrs Scatliffe-Leonard was confirmed in 2012 as the second Director but first female to Head the Water and Sewerage Department before she was reassigned to the Ministry of Communications and Works in September 2016.

She returned to W&SD as Director in February 2017, taking over from Michael E. Davis, who was serving as the interim head of the Department.

The retirement of Mrs Scatliffe-Leonard was confirmed by Deputy Premier and Minister for Communications and Works Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5).

Mrs Scatlife-Leonard has “Retired after serving for 33 years,” Hon Rymer told our news centre today, January 25, 2023.

Will she be running for office?

Many are now asking whether the now retired W&SD boss will be running for office, as there have been unconfirmed reports she is seeking to run in the Seventh District as an Independent Candidate in the 2023 general election.

Mrs Scatliffe-Leonard had not responded to our request for a comment, up to time of publication.

‘Perline Scatliffe is a good potential candidate’- Claude O. Skelton-Cline

Host of the Honestly Speaking radio show Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline had named Mrs Scatliffe-Leonard as one of several women he considered to be good political candidates worthy of consideration for the 2023 general elections in the [British] Virgin Islands.

“That’s the kind of person that I believe is worthy of consideration, serious consideration, in the next upcoming election. I believe that Perline Scatliffe is a good potential candidate, that meaningful consideration should be given to a person like her,” he said during the September 28, 2022, edition of his show on ZBVI 780 AM.

He further named Janice A. Stoutt and Arline T. Smith-Penn as other potential candidates for office, as well as former Fourth District candidate in the 2019 election, Ms Luce D. Hodge-Smith.

Skelton-Cline had previously named Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) Dame Janice M. George-Creque Pereira as a potential candidate for the office of Premier.

Host of the Honestly Speaking radio show Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline (left) had named Mrs Perline R. Scatliffe-Leonard (Right) as one of several women he considered to be good political candidates worthy of consideration for the 2023 general elections in the [British] Virgin Islands. Photo is from Honestly Speaking show on December 10, 2020.