Elton Georges out! Sheila N. Brathwaite in! as Complaints Commissioner
Mrs Brathwaite will assume the position of Complaints Commissioner effective July 1, 2015.
This was confirmed by the Government Information Service (GIS) via a press release dated May 4, 2015 and issued on behalf of the Deputy Governor’s Office.
The other two persons who this news site had reported were interviewed for the post were Sister Islands Coordinator Mr Vincent O. Wheatley and former Ag PS Arlene Smith-Thompson.
His Excellency the Governor, John S. Duncan, OBE, approved the appointment of Mrs Brathwaite in consultation with the Premier of the Virgin Islands, Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE and Leader of the Opposition, Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE, according to GIS.
It was our information that some eleven (11) persons had applied for the position, including persons who are not residing in the territory but only the three aforementioned were shortlisted and interviewed.
Fmr stalwart public servant, businesswoman & author
According to the Release from GIS, Mrs Brathwaite has had a long and successful career of almost 30 years with the Government of the Virgin Islands and served as the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour and the Ministry of Health and Social Development. She retired from the Public Service in 2010.
Mrs Brathwaite has represented the Government at seminars, workshops and conferences throughout the Caribbean and in North and Central America, London, Geneva, Gibraltar and Kenya.
She is the author of two published books titled, ‘A Timely Journey of Faith’ and ‘Voices of Women”. She has also served as a lecturer for the University of the West Indies Certificate of Public Administration Programme and coordinated classes for the Commonwealth Youth Programme.
Mrs Brathwaite holds an executive diploma in Strategic Management from the Chartered Management Institute in the United Kingdom, a Master’s in Business Administration and a Certificate in Global Leadership from the University of the Virgin Islands. She also holds a Bachelor’s in Chemistry and Mathematics and a Certificate of Public Administration from the University of the West Indies.
Responsibilities of Complaints Commissioner
The Complaints Commissioner is responsible for reporting on the complaints that have been considered, including a summary of how they have been resolved, the Commissioner’s findings and the recommendations made. She will also appoint mediators where necessary to help resolve disputes; promote public awareness of the role of the Complaints Commissioner and encourage all public officers and public authorities to respond constructively and helpfully to complaints made directly to them as outlined by the Complaints Commissioner Act of 2003.
Mr Georges will proceed on leave effective July 1, 2015 when Mrs Brathwaite officially takes the seat.
The Complaints Commissioner is a government post in the salary grade of 19 with a range of $102, 233-$107, 071.
It was in 2009 that the Virgin Islands had its first Complaints Commissioner (CC) where persons were able to lodge complaints against Government departments and other statutory bodies.
Mr Georges, at a ceremony to announce his appointment a few years ago, told reporters that his vision for the office was to aim towards improving the overall quality of the public administration, management and service, "As officials become more aware of investigations and reports that flow from those recommendations they become more aware of the standards they should strive to achieve when serving the public,” the new CC had said.
See previous story carried by this news site by following the link: http://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/hunt-is-on-for-new-complaints-commissioner
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16 Responses to “Elton Georges out! Sheila N. Brathwaite in! as Complaints Commissioner”
I mean if you are a retired folk, why not sit on your porch and enjoy a glass of wine and watch, like myself, the young people aspire.
No. I did not apply for the post. I am not a BVIslander
retired people have a wealth of experience and understand discretion and are usually not afraid of minister authority.
I welcome her to a very important post. And I hope she can get departments to make good on complaints.
Poor Mr. Georges couldn't get any response, let alone cooperation. She will have to read his reports to see how to move forward.