Time for action on good governance, accountability – Gov Jaspert to Gov't
Addressing members of the media on December 17, 2019, he said this is one of his expectations for the New Year.
“I am pleased that the Government that was elected in February talked a lot about governance and accountability and reforms and raising the levels of the standards of good governance in the Territory.
"And, I hope that 2020 will be the year that will prove that the BVI is going to operate in the highest levels of good governance and integrity; bringing forward integrity in public life policies, bringing forward the ministerial code and I hope this will be part of all the systems across the Territory,” he remarked.
'We made some progress'
His Excellency also mentioned the public service transformation initiative, which has been a part of the discourse for some time now.
“We got good plans, we have made some progress, but I want 2020 also to be a year that we will see the public service take the lead in transforming the Territory and helping to show that they can operate at the highest level and a part of that is the infrastructure in the public service,” Governor Jaspert stated.
The public service transformation initiative will cover eight areas: they are the redesign of the public service, good governance, e-government, greening the public service, rebuilding security, public/private sector partnership, the alignment of the statutory agencies and improved customer service.
Governor controversially went against recommendations of PSC
It was in August 2019 that Governor Jaspert made an unpopular and unprecedented move by rejecting the recommendations of the Public Service Commission (PSC) regarding the appointment of Permanent Secretaries.
Apart from the public’s criticism, the move was also condemned by Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) who, while acknowledging that the Governor was entitled to make his own decision regarding the Public Service under the Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007, in accordance with Section 92, said the Governor usurped this function entirely upon himself when he rejected the recommendation of the PSC with regard to the appointment of the Permanent Secretaries.
“While I have no problem with the Governor leaning on his own discretion, that is his prerogative; however, I see his action as an insult to self-reliance, self-determination, modern partnership, mutual respect and the democratic future of the BVI,” Hon Fahie said in a statement delivered at the continuation of the 6th Sitting of the First Session of the Fourth House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands on September 2, 2019.
The Governor’s decision, Hon Fahie had lamented, was an insult to all Virgin Islanders and “where we have come as a territory, as we reflect on our 65th anniversary of our emancipation celebrations. Again this is another instance of the empire tugging on our invisible shackles and dictating to us, and subjugates that we are not competent and capable to know what is good for us.”
The Premier had also said the Governor’s unilateral move was concerning for him, because the VI had enjoyed an admirable relationship with the United Kingdom over the years “without persons in the middle trying to deteriorate our relationship with an agenda not in the best interest of the BVI.”
17 Responses to “Time for action on good governance, accountability – Gov Jaspert to Gov't”
You are so obvious with your intentions. Look like you finally wake up from your convenient slumber. Wow!
In others places people with this type of behavior in my opinion are labeled crooks
Pay attention to your newly elected ,his past and his need for personal armed
security. That is where the radar is focused.
The policy makers make policies and the administrators, the civil service, carry them out. For the system to work, there must be strong policies that are consistently enforced. People must be held responsible and accountable. There must effective planning, organizing, directing, .......etc.
When we have persons in senior positions as well as those heading offices who pass the buck or try to impede persons from being held accountable; how can the public or anyone for that matter depend on a system where most everyone protects wrongdoing or does not speak up.