There are reports that a board member of the Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) Jamaica Limited has resigned.

The Gleaner has been reliably informed that Professor Celia Christie has quit.

Senior officials at BNS, including Christie, refused to comment extensively on the matter.

Christie told The Gleaner last night that she was dealing with a serious personal issue and asked for some privacy.

Sworn to secrecy

She also said that the bank's directors were sworn to secrecy and that she had nothing to say about BNS.

However, an impeccable Gleaner source told our news team that Christie resigned on Monday on a "point of principle".

It was not immediately clear if that principle had anything to do with the shock retirement announcement from the bank's president and CEO, William 'Bill' Clarke. He will demit office on October 31.

When contacted yesterday, Dr Herbert Thompson, another BNS board member, said he had heard about the resignation, but could not confirm it.

He told our news team to contact Clarke, because Christie's resignation letter would have been sent to him.

When reached last evening, Clarke was livid. Asked why Christie had resigned, he responded tersely: "Don't ask me. Go and ask her!"