Shakeup in 9 top public service posts expected- Governor Duncan
Speaking to reporters at Governor’s Residence on August 19, 2016, Governor Duncan said that over the past two years there have been major changes in the top posts of the public service. This, he said, has been a deliberate policy.
“I have mentioned the Commissioner of Police, but altogether a total of nine senior positions across the public service have already, or will shortly change. Sometimes this has been because after many years of dedicated service it was the natural time for people to move on; in other instances senior officers decided to take time out to pursue further professional development and to return in due course even better able to serve our community, and I very much applaud that.”
But in other cases, Governor Duncan continued, he was not satisfied that the best interests of the territory were being served by those officers remaining in their post.
“In this context it is perhaps important to underline that the rules governing senior appointments are clearly set out in the Constitution. The Governor acts on the advice of the Public Service Commissions, the PSC, JLSC and POSC, whose members are in almost all cases BV Islanders. While only one post, that of Deputy Governor, is specifically assigned to a BV Islander, it follows from the vision that I have set out about the local community taking responsibility for its future, that I favour the appointment of local people to exercise that responsibility at the most senior levels.”
Expatriates in senior position not unusual
While, saying he favours locals in the most senior levels in the public service, Governor Duncan was of the opinion that this needs to be balanced with a consideration of the needs of the territory as a modern developed economy and society.
“Bringing in expatriates to senior positions is not at all unusual. The United Kingdom has a Canadian as the current Governor of the Bank of England. But where local talent exists it should be developed and encouraged to serve the community. In the words of JFK, "Seek not to ask what my country can do for me, but what I can do for my country."’
To achieve the situation where locals would effectively occupy the senior positions in the public service, Governor Duncan said a focused and structured approach is required.
He recalled that when he first worked on the South Atlantic Territories some 20 years ago all senior positions were held by expatriates, however, when he returned as Governor of the Falkland Islands two years ago, the majority of posts were held by Islanders.
“This was the result of a focused effort, to identify the future needs of the economy, to ensure that local young people were encouraged to gain the appropriate qualifications, and long-term mentoring and succession planning. My experience of the past two years in the BVI, shows me that our approach has been insufficiently rigourous and structured.”
Locals not showing interest for posts?
However, Governor Duncan said far too often it is found that no “BV Islander has applied for these senior posts, when we know that local people with talent and the right qualifications exist.”
Ironically, however, only recently the post of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) was given to a UK national even after a local had applied. There has also been uproar on social media and blogs about Deputy Chief Immigration Officer and VIslander Guy M. Hill being snubbed for the second time for the post of Acting Immigration Officer, even though he is by far one of the most qualified persons in the territory for that position.
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42 Responses to “Shakeup in 9 top public service posts expected- Governor Duncan”
The DPP position I will not fuss about.
If a step child or worst an adopted child is in charge he will never choose a full breed native as his deputy.
Also too much nepotism and fear that chosen persons will outshine the head in performance.
Virgin Islands is for Virgin Islanders. Where were they when they told us to eat thrushies and ground-doves? Well, this ground-dove country is not for no Expats to rule us. Ah say, England not going to give no Virgin Islander no key position in UK over a UK national. Therefore, it should not happen here. Go to *ell in a peanut shell with your nonsense about trying to put Expats in positions. IT IS A SIGN OF A CLANDESTINE TAKEOVER. WAKE UP, PEOPLE!!