E.G. Maduro blasts hypocrisy in Gov’t over hiring of UK nationals
Edmund G. Maduro, speaking on his ‘EGM Show' on ZROD 103.7 FM on Thursday, July 21, 2016, said his show was not intended to destroy any one, but rather to educate and inform the people of the territory about their rights. In light of this, he read an article from one of the local online news sites, which stated that Premier Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith was concerned about United Kingdom nationals filling top security posts in the Virgin Islands but that was so because of a lack of local talents to fill those positions.
Premier Smith’s statement seemed to contradict that of Hon Vanterpool, who said in the House of Assembly in June that more locals should be made to hold top positions in the VI.
“It is important that we keep our own people as head of our institutions so that they know and they feel it when they have to make decisions. They ain’t making decisions and then four years later they gone; they don’t care what happen to us...I want us to understand that we must protect ourselves. Every time we try to protect ourselves and fight for our own people to be in the right positions, they are saying that we are being protectionists,” Hon Vanterpool had stated.
UK taking over?
The Superintendent of Prisons Mr David Foot, Commissioner of Police Michael ‘Mick’ Matthews and incoming Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Kim Hollis QC are all UK nationals.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference at Office of the Premier on July 18, 2016, Premier Smith, who was asked whether he shares the concern that UK nationals have been filling sensitive security positions in the VI, said “I am concerned yes, that we are not at the point where we have the capacity to fill all these positions. But I am also satisfied that we are making progress and that we are really engaged in succession planning so that we will be able to have persons ready to fill the positions when they become vacant.
“In the BVI, what we have been speaking about for a long time is succession planning and that is a process to ensure that, as time goes by, BVIslanders will be more prepared to fill these positions where they are not now prepared,” Premier Smith Smith responded.
Who is lying?
Premier Smith’s response, however, did not sit well with Mr Maduro, who said someone is not speaking the truth.
“Here is the Premier saying we not ready and here is the minister raising the questions as to why we are not given the jobs. Where is the hypocrisy coming from? These are serious issues. So who is telling the lie?” he asked.
The talk show host said the statement by the Premier was “totally reckless,” adding that for the Premier to express that there are no locals or Caribbean nationals who can fill those posts, “is surely disappointing, and it hurts my soul. That is a grave insult my people.”
According to him, for the last 20 years the territory has been at a constant fight to ensure that a son of the soil is the Commissioner of Police, Superintendent of Prisons, Heads of departments, Permanent Secretaries, among others.
He pointed out too that Mr Vernon E. Malone and Mr Reynell Frazer were locals who held the position of Commissioner of Police and that the Superintendent of Prisons and DPP positions were also held by locals or Caribbean nationals.
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13 Responses to “E.G. Maduro blasts hypocrisy in Gov’t over hiring of UK nationals”
It is important that we keep our own people as head of our institutions so that they know and they feel it when they have to make decisions. They ain’t making decisions and then four years later they gone; they don’t care what happen to us...I want us to understand that we must protect ourselves. Every time we try to protect ourselves and fight for our own people to be in the right positions, they are saying that we are being protectionists,” Hon Vanterpool had stated.
Really??!!### when them railroad the Hill man in immigration here now chatting Piss.