Controversial Gov. McCleary begs to stay another year!
This was confirmed in an interview with ZBVI Radio Station journalist Zan Lewis.
Governor McCleary told Mr Lewis that he requested and was granted an extension for a 4th year as Governor of the Virgin Islands. He said his contract was initially set for three years and would have been up in August 2013.
One of the reasons given for the request to stay was because, according to the Governor, “It’s a great place to be in…it’s a challenging job, it’s a wonderful place to live.”
When asked what he was hoping to accomplish in his final year, the controversial Governor told Mr. Lewis “before I go, I would like to see a number of things completed. I would like to see a parole board up and running, I would like to see a lot more attention being paid to the environment. We need to do a lot more to implement, for example, more use of renewable energy, better recycling, I would like to see the whole question of the environment mainstreamed and I think that is what the government is trying to do.”
His newly found stance on the environment has caused water cooler talk in many circles, as under the Virgin Islands’ Constitution there is a democratically elected Member of Parliament who is appointed Minister for Natural Resources and Labour and is responsible for the subject of the environment. Mr McCleary is an appointed civil servant of the United Kingdom Foreign Service.
The Governor, in justifying his additional year, told Mr Lewis that “I would like to see a reduction in the number of people at Balsum Ghut. The prison is overcrowded and we need to tackle that problem. So there is a lot more to do but, I think that we are on the right track, we got a lot achieved over the last couple of years and I very much hope we can achieve more in the next year.”
The Minister for Education and Culture shares responsibility with the Governor for the Prison Services.
Mixed reactions from the Public- some saying he needs to go and has failed in many areas
Julio S. Henry, a talk show host and businessman when asked about the Governor and his additional year told this news site. “I basically think he dropped the ball on the financial services situation, I think the Governor should have been a little more protective. I think he should have responded more favourably in the BVI side. He never really came out and voiced anything, whether for or against, on what was happening and what is still happening right now because the Guardian Newspaper in England is still calling the BVI financial services basically a sham. I thought the Governor should have said something to the contrary.”
Outspoken businessman, writer and talk show host Donald E. de Castro was not so diplomatic. Mr de Castro felt that neither the governor nor government are any good and stated, “both the Governor and the government should be gone.”
He felt the Governor should be looking out for the interests of the people and thought the Governor was not protecting the people from the government.
“The way the situation is, the people need some kind of protection now from what’s going on,” de Castro stated, “and he’s the only person that really could do anything about it because he [can] always recommend to the UK that the people are not satisfied with what’s going on.”
“I don’t know if his extension is in the best interest of the people or for the best interest of the government or his personal interest,” de Castro added.
de Castro said he doubted very much that the Governor’s interest was in the best interest of the people.
Meanwhile another resident and businessman, Edmund Maduro, claimed that “the Governor is a man down to earth, and everybody will not like exactly everything that he says or he does because nobody is perfect, but I continue to have much respect for His Excellency and have no qualms with him being given another year.”
The Third District Representative Hon. Julian Fraser, RA, when told about the extra year requested by the Governor said, “It came as no surprise to me.”
The former Minister for Communications and Works added, “It has become the norm around these parts, the Virgin Islands in particular, for a Governor to seek an extension of their term.”
Hon. Fraser felt more often than not, extensions are granted, even in the face of objections from a Premier. He stated though, that he did not believe that there were any objections in this instance.
“Unlike a politician, the Governor can see where he may have wished to have something completed, so he could ask for an extension, we [politicians] can’t,” Hon. Fraser explained.
Another outspoken resident, Natalio Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru, said he was not surprised by the governor’s request. “I am not aware of the specific circumstances that surround his extension but regardless of which person sits in the Governor’s chair, the UK policy is unchanged but we must continue to push for an evolved, mature relationship with the UK, representing our desire for better governance and increased participation in a democratic society.”
Two senior civil servants who could not give their names as civil servants are not allowed to talk to the media, told this news site that “it’s a sad day for civil servants as he has not helped and protected us from political victimisation, so his extra year is a step backwards for the moral, service being non-political, and the professionalism of the service, this man has contributed zero in building the service.”
Governor’s History in the VI- no regard for the constitution & Rule of Law
In many circles, especially in the legal and public sector, Governor William B. McCleary has been described as one of the worst governors the Virgin Islands has ever seen since the days of Mr J. A. C. Cruikshank who caused the great march of 1949 because of the way he governed at the time.
His alleged non-commitment to the Virgin Islands’ Constitution of 2007 and the rule of law continues to be challenged in the courts and many of his actions have blatantly violated the constitution.
Mr McCleary is facing a long list of cases brought by civil servants against him for unfair dismissal, challenging of his power and decisions and the violations of their civil rights.
About a year ago, Governor McCleary interfered in the work of the Public Service Commission, which is illegal under the constitution, and instructed them in writing on what to do even after they had voted unanimously for a Permanent Secretary sent on leave to return to work. When they refused, he illegally fired the Senior Public Officer claiming it was over a letter signed by the Officer.
He has also designated many of his powers under the constitution and Police Act as it relates to the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force to his close ally and friend Acting Police Commissioner David Morris, powers he never gave to the former Police Commissioner Rynell Frazer. Both McCleary and Morris are from the UK.
It is alleged that the powers have been used to harass and victimise police officers.
He had also dismissed a Magistrate from the service based on flimsy charges by her immediate supervisor. The matter is now before the courts. There is also a long laundry list of violations and where many have alleged Mr. McCleary has selective justice to civil servants in that he turns a blind eye to certain things while others he goes after and takes a personal interest with his own agenda.
Governor McCleary told a local radio talk show that he is not a “racist.”
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52 Responses to “Controversial Gov. McCleary begs to stay another year!”
Vino, on another matter, you have been slow with Morris. Where is he? Is he coming back in July to be appointed Commissioner? James is doing a fine job and he is from the Caribbean -our own people. Good riddance to Gov and Morris. Let's take charge of our own economy.
Food for thought...
Edmund dey chatting cocka-may-may when the man here allegedly oppressing we people firing dem left right and entre…Edmund better go suck an egg!!
Really Governor!! is that the only reason. Why dont you deport the convicted sex offenders and drug users that you are allowing to remain here in the VI? That is sickening and disrespectful to the entire Virgin islands.
The man not finish putting you neg#$% in ayo place that's why he want to stay to finish the job.
Is there any circumstances in which you would write a positive comment about a UK appointed governor (unless, of course, he was dead or departing)?
I didn't think so.
So all you pretending to put out reasoned arguments against are not really doing that. You just uploading your prejudice over and over again. That makes intelligent analysis of what's happening in the BVI impossible. Just an echo chamber of prejudice, pumping up the hatred and bringing down our community.
This is a problem. If you think that a word like 'discriminate' cannot apply to someone because of the complexion they born with, you are in a dream world.
Tell me, can a Tutsi in Rwanda discriminate against a Hutu?
Can an ANC employer discriminate against an Inkatha employee?
Can a black man give a job to another man instead of to a woman, just because she's a woman?
This uneducated approach to real life is so sick it is bringing our country down. Do you not understand that we are all human beings? And that all human beings have the capacity for evil and kindness?
If you go through life thinking the world owes you something because you happen to be born black, that you cannot commit evil in the way every other human can just because your ancestors had evil committed against them, then you become a major problem - not just for yourself but for society.
Quit this nonsense talk. Let's recognize reality, not some half-baked victim stuff ayo making up so you sound like you is oppressed and don't have confront REAL LIFE.