More details emerge on Governor’s $1.88M from Treasury
Mr Duncan ordered that over $1.88M of public monies be taken from the consolidated Fund and decided that the Police, Magistrate’s Court, Attorney General’s Chambers and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions be granted these funds.
This has stripped the Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) of his powers as Finance Minister to determine how monies are spent and has overridden the House of Assembly's passage of the Appropriation Act of 2017.
How the Governor wants money spent- The Email
In an Email obtained by our newsroom from senior National Democratic Party sources, Mr Duncan wrote to the Financial Secretary Neil M. Smith, dated March 21, 2017, setting out how the money is to be spent and what he needed it to do.
Governor Duncan has refused to make available the warrant to the media and other interest groups making inquiries in the context of good governance and transparency.
In the Email, Mr Duncan detailed how the police monies are to be distributed and what items are to be paid for, from the creation of a K-9 (dogs) capability to police marine unit repairs.
Mr Duncan, whom many of his critics believe has not done anything in his tenure in the Virgin Islands as Governor, also listed the amounts to be spent on the Director of Public Prosecutions Office and the payment of an additional Magistrate.
With the Financial Secretary (FS) Smith on vacation leave, Deputy Financial Secretary Ms M. Alva McCall received an acting appointment as FS on Tuesday April 4, 2017, according to Government Human Resources officials.
It is unclear when the funds ordered via direct rule by Governor Duncan will be distributed and ready for spending.
One figure given, action was another!
Mr Duncan told the media on March 16, 2017 that he was only going to use Sec 103 for $800,000 to be given to the police to help fight crime; however, once he issued his Email it was over $1.88M, a story first and accurately reported by our newsroom.
The same day, March 24, 2017, of Virgin Islands News Online’s (VINO) story, Governor Duncan held another hurriedly arranged press conference at his office in Road Town, the capital city, to confirm VINO’s accurate story that his use of Sec 103 (b) had indeed totalled over $1.88M.
See details of Email to Financial Secretary Neil M. Smith by Govrnor John S. Duncan OBE below:
47 Responses to “More details emerge on Governor’s $1.88M from Treasury”
Also, let have some proper performance reviews of Government employees - the management consultants who came to look at Government performance were appalled at the arrogant, self important and difficult attitude displayed by so many Government employees. Firing a few civil servants for a bad attitude would soon bring the others into line.
And finally (although I good go on about lots of other things), why not buy a tow truck and start removing badly parked cars from Road Town. $200 recovery fee would soon pay for the truck.
God Be With You.
Pray for the BVI
Every Public Servant is guided through a process where they are alerted to their duty as a Public Servant to be confidential and professional with matters that pass through their hands and in the course of execuing their duty. While many of us, myself included, have sometimes chaffed at the muzzling of our voices (especially around election time or on other publicmatters that affect us as much as anyone else), I cannot condone the wilfull, malicious and (no doubt) biased leakages of Government documents to the press by so-called Whistle-Blowers. This is not only a breaking of our Oath of Secrecy but is a crimminal offense. While many may blame lower level staff for talking things on the street, I am of the firm opinion that these "whistle blowers" are well-placed, highly ranking and trusted career Civil Servants with a political axe to grind.
Now, before you get all indignant and call me an Uncle Tom (or worse), consider the precedent that it sets. While this administration may not be your Government of choice, its still OUR duly elected Government and for better or worse they represent us. If and when the other party gets in, will we then get upset and blast the other side's "whistle-blowers"? Will we then cry for prosecution for the offenders? Will it strengthen or weaken our overall impression or confidence in the fair, balanced and professional workings of the Civil Service? I think not.
So, let's stop this "death by a thousand cuts" approach of inflicting damage on our reputation, integrity and national sense of unity and pride with these short-sighted moves. Politicians come and go. The people (whether "born here" or otherwise) and the country remain. While their bread remains buttered on all sides because of the deals and deeds they get involve in, we the people remain to deal with the fallout (and bear the true costs of the lawsuits, over-charged projects, and ill-conceived ventures).
Don't be pawns... you will go to jail and they won't lift a finger to help you. Open your eyes... the election is over. Stop complaining... make a positive diference instead. Act better, and expect better from those we have (voluntaraily or not) representing us on the world stage.