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Sacked Private Sec. Karen Vanterpool back with govt

- Ms Vanterpool, a qualified Virgin Islander, was out of worked for close to 10 months after being fired on the request of Hon. Myron V. Walwyn
Ms Karen Vanterpool (left), who was out of work for almost 10 months after being terminated on the request of Minister for Education and Culture Hon. Myron V. Walwyn who she worked for as his Private Secretary, has been rehired by government. She is now at the Department of Agriculture where she is a Senior Executive Officer providing clerical/administrative support to the Veterinary Division of the Department. Photo: VINO/File
The Former Private Secretary to the Minister for Education and Culture Hon. Myron V. Walwyn is the newest employee of the Department of Agriculture. Ms Karen Vanterpool is assigned to the Veterinary Division where she provides the Unit with clerical/administrative support. Photo: bvigo.gy
The Former Private Secretary to the Minister for Education and Culture Hon. Myron V. Walwyn is the newest employee of the Department of Agriculture. Ms Karen Vanterpool is assigned to the Veterinary Division where she provides the Unit with clerical/administrative support. Photo: bvigo.gy
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Virgin Islander and former Private Secretary to Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn, Ms Karen Vanterpool, has been rehired by Government.

Many would have remembered a story first and accurately reported by this news site on the firing of Ms Vanterpool, who is originally from Virgin Gorda.

No reason was given publicly for the sacking of Ms Vanterpool.

Director of Communications for the Government of the Virgin Islands, Mrs.  Arliene T. Penn confirmed to this news site that Ms Vanterpool has been rehired and is “working at the Department Agriculture as a Senior Executive Officer and her current role is to provide clerical/administrative support to the Veterinary Division of the Department.”

Ms Vanterpool, who had worked with Government before her sacking, came to the public’s attention when she was hired weeks after the 2011 General Elections as the Private Secretary to Minister Walwyn.

Private Secretaries, who are civil servants, could only be hired on the direct request of a Minister of Government and they can only be removed also on the request of the Minister.

Following the 2011 General Elections, which saw the National Democratic Party (NDP) of Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith take power and a new Cabinet appointed, all five Private Secretaries were replaced as was expected and is customary.

However, controversy erupted when after just six months Ms Vanterpool was sent on leave on June 26, 2012 and her vacation leave was expected to end around the end of July, 2012.

Then this news site was the first to accurately report that sometime at the end of July, early August 2012, Ms Vanterpool was fired reportedly on the advice of the Minister for Education and Culture Hon. Walwyn.

In the article posted in August of last year by this news site, one senior civil servant who had wished to remain anonymous, had told this news site that, “it is highly unusual that a Minister will want his Private Secretary to take vacation leave just six to seven months in a new administration…it has never happened before…something must have gone wrong, like a fall out.”

A source in the Human Resources Department told this news site that Ms Vanterpool’s recent employment that commenced on May 6, 2013 “had not gone through the Public Service Commission as it appears that she is a daily paid worker and her appointment would have been handled by the Ministry of Finance.”

Both the Deputy Financial Secretary Wendell M. Gaskin CFE and the Ministry’s Human Resources Manager Jeremy W. Hodge did not return calls on the matter.

Following the 2011 elections that saw the now ruling NDP come to power, many public officers were fired, forced to retire, transferred, contracts not renewed and others sent on long vacation leave. In all cases, the officers were Virgin Islanders.

The elected officials continue to claim that “it's not us…we have nothing to do with the service” as the United Kingdom appointed Governor is responsible for the civil service. However, while that may be the case on paper, all of the sacking, hiring of supporters, family and friends, transferred and forced out of officers have been directly linked to Ministers of Government of the NDP.

A few months ago both the Accountant General Kharid Fraser and her Deputy Anna Rabsatt were both forced out in exchange for an Anguillan national Kalleesha C. Mendie.

30 Responses to “Sacked Private Sec. Karen Vanterpool back with govt”

  • Or else (09/05/2013, 08:47) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    well saw
    • Virgin Son (09/05/2013, 10:03) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      we must keep fighting and challenged the status quo………

    • Native Boy (09/05/2013, 10:12) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      Something serious must have happened bewteen mother and son

    • Bvi man (09/05/2013, 11:18) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
      Imagine dat... Myron of all people got rid of someone so close... god send help for me and you!...
  • OK Then (09/05/2013, 09:30) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    Plenty bachannal in the place
  • Paige Summers (09/05/2013, 09:54) Like (11) Dislike (51) Reply
    If they are undermining the administration fire them. This partisan crap have to stop. Weed them out.
  • Reality check (09/05/2013, 09:55) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    Karen keep praying; ”The evil that men do lives after them, the good is often interred with their bones”

  • ooooo (09/05/2013, 10:03) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply

    well sah...the man fired his st.... mom

  • teacher john (09/05/2013, 10:07) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    As a former history teacher you would no doubt recall the Poem in that Western Reader Book of yesteryear: The Spider and the Fly
  • ah huh (09/05/2013, 10:15) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    politics
  • Release (09/05/2013, 10:15) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    you all givin these spiteful politicians too much credit
    • she the cat mother (09/05/2013, 11:16) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Is like Myron ent learn nothing from Andew, never fire your priv Sec just promote her.
      • ex civil servant (09/05/2013, 19:21) Like (1) Dislike (11) Reply
        Well it looks like she was demoted, because the salary of a senior executive officer is way below the salary of a private secretary.
        • Sour Grapes (09/05/2013, 20:30) Like (4) Dislike (16) Reply
          From your "sour" comment it would seem that her salary WAS and still IS a problem for you. I suggest you go and find something productive to do like cleaning the skeletons out of your closet.
          • notafan (11/05/2013, 14:17) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
            wow take it easy grapes no need to get so personal ever heard of freedom of speech
  • small head (09/05/2013, 10:26) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    What ah ting!

    Peace!
  • asur (09/05/2013, 10:52) Like (11) Dislike (2) Reply
    She from here she qulified and she could work anywhere bam
    • shups (09/05/2013, 13:07) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
      The man has committed political suicide by firing Karen. The dustbin of history awaits him. Don't feel sorry, don't gloat, just let him ride off into the sunset or wherever he will eventually end up.
  • Prophesy (09/05/2013, 11:29) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is a clear confirmation to Isaiah 54:17 "No weapon that is formed against her shall prosper and every tongue that rise up against her shall be condemned........"
    Karen stay on your knees that is all I can encourage you with this morning. Modern day "Joseph" I call this, But you are a female so I guess you are "Josephine" LOL
    • tell the truth (09/05/2013, 12:59) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      .....Unless you open the Pandora's box with your secret files just leave Myron to god!!!
  • one eye (09/05/2013, 12:27) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    I am so DISAAPOINTED in that man, imagine I voted for him
  • reason (09/05/2013, 15:04) Like (9) Dislike (2) Reply
    Shouldn't we just stay neutral on the firing issue since it was never disclosed to the public the real truth about why she was let go. I will not judge and I will not wish bad on neither of them. Wish Vanterpool the best and wish Walwyn the best also. The 2 of them know exactly what went down between them.
    • Opportunity (09/05/2013, 16:54) Like (0) Dislike (52) Reply
      it was about domination and power
    • jazz (10/05/2013, 08:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      There's lots of blame to go around on the firing, but it's MUCH bigger than the conclusion you so conveniently settled upon.
      • Jazz2 (10/05/2013, 10:00) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Hmmmmmm. Do you care to enlighten us? Enquiring minds want to know.
  • Second That (09/05/2013, 15:47) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    @"Reason" - I concur with your comment- People it's time to leave well enough alone. Time heals all wounds.
  • yes we can (10/05/2013, 01:56) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Leave he Karen we the people will fire Myron next election mark my words
  • It's Time (10/05/2013, 11:16) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    People it's high time that you keep out of the WALWYNS' koolaid. They can stir it on their own. BAM BAM
  • d truth hurts (13/05/2013, 15:49) Like (1) Dislike (206) Reply
    ayu keep hating on myron!!!!!he has done more for this country in d little space of time he in there than some who have been there for years!! bunch of small minded idiots!!!!!!


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