UPDATE: Guy Hill Out! Ian B. Penn In! as new Immigration Boss
While the Ag. Permanent Secretary in the Premier's Office Brodrick Penn had denied at the time this fact and scoffed at the name of Deputy Secretary in the Premier’s Office Geraldine Ritter-Freeman that had been floated around to be his replacement Mr. Hill’s removal has come to pass.
In a press release issued on November 4, 2014 by the Government Information Services, it confirmed yet again another of Virgin Islands News Online's stories.
The press release stated: “Mr. Ian B. Penn has been confirmed to act in the post of Chief Immigration Officer for a period of one year, effective November 1. The appointment was confirmed by His Excellency the Governor Mr. John S. Duncan OBE, after considering the advice of the Public Service Commission.
The Chief Immigration Officer has the overarching responsibility for administering and implementing the immigration laws and policies of the Virgin Islands.
Additionally, the Chief Immigration Officer serves as the Government’s key advisor on matters pertaining to immigration and is responsible for the overall planning, management and coordination of the department.
Mr. Penn attained a LLB (Honors) from the School of Law of the University of East London and an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration from the H.L Stoutt Community College.
Prior to his acting appointment, Mr. Penn served as the Acting Deputy Chief Immigration Officer. He has also served in other capacities with the Immigration Department for over 20 years. His other work experience includes having worked with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Attorney General’s Chambers.”
In addition, our National Democratic Party (NDP) source called our news room this morning to say, “I told you so!” When asked of the same senior NDP official what they will do with Mr. Hill he said that the Premier and Minister of Immigration Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith has agreed for him to revert back to his post as Deputy Chief Immigration Officer.
Mr. Hill is currently on vacation leave and efforts by this news site to reach him were futile.
It is reported by the same NDP sources that there were tensions between Mr. Hill and the Acting Permanent Secretary Mr. Brodrick Penn along with the Minister for Immigration Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith.
It is reported that the tensions are over that of the interpretation of the Immigration Act as well as issues of discretion not being exercised by the then Ag. Chief Immigration Officer Hill.
Others have alleged that Mr. Hill has often requested to have some of his instructions be placed in writing, but at times that has not been forthcoming.
The details of the discretion are unknown at this time.
See previous story published on October 17, 2014:
Is Ag. CIO Guy Hill being forced out?
-Officials denied that Mr. Hill is going to be replaced by Deputy Secretary in the Premier’s Office Geraldine Ritter-Freeman
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - There continues to be whispers inside the National Democratic Party (NDP) Administration about the future of the Acting Chief Immigration Officer Guy Hill.
Mr. Hill an indigenous Virgin Islander has been acting in the post for one year and his acting appointment expired on September 30, 2014.
To date according to this news site’s sources within the NDP it is alleged that no recommendation has been sent forward to appoint him to the post.
It is reported by the same sources that there is tension between Mr. Hill and the Acting Permanent Secretary Mr. Brodrick Penn along with the Minister for Immigration Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith.
It is reported that the tension is over that of the interpretation of the Immigration Act as well as issues of discretion not being exercised by the Ag. Chief Immigration Officer.
The details of the discretion are unknown at this time.
Ritter-Freeman will not replace Hill - Ag. PS
This week the unsubstantiated rumours increased with the allegation that there is now a move to replace Mr. Hill with the Ag. Deputy Secretary in the Premier’s Office Geraldine Ritter-Freeman.
However, knowing this news site’s high and cemented journalistic standards for accurate reporting and information and never reporting rumours, we made contact with official sources.
Speaking exclusively to this news site Ag. Permanent Secretary in the Premier’s Office Mr. Brodrick Penn flatly denied that there is a move afoot to replace Hill with Ritter-Freeman. “Let me put it beyond doubt for you, I mean I don’t like entertaining these conversations but I am telling you [she is] the Deputy Secretary in the Premier’s Office…that is her substantive post and no she is not replacing Mr Hill,” said Penn.
There has been no response from Premier Smith to our inquiry, who the final decision rests with on who is appointed to the post. Immigration is a subject under the Premier’s portfolio.
Another officer close to the situation advised our news room to stay tuned, as there will be some changes at the Immigration Department. However the source did not elaborate.
Mr. Hill’s Qualifications
Hill served as Immigration Officer from 1987 until 2003, after which he was appointed to act as Deputy Chief Immigration Officer.
In 2007, he worked in the Department of Inland Revenue as Assistant Commissioner until 2009. In March 2009 he returned to the Immigration Department as Deputy Chief Immigration Officer until his present acting appointment.
Mr. Hill who has a Bachelor’s of Science in Criminal Justice with a minor in sociology has received extensive training locally, regionally and internationally in numerous law enforcement disciplines including human rights protection, border patrol administration and management, financial investigation, surveillance operations, criminal and conspiracy investigations, passenger analysis Immigration and Naturalisation Service Criminal Investigation, Organisation of the Eastern Caribbean States regional investigation, interview and interrogation, supervisory management and courtroom testimony. He is also fluent in several languages including Spanish.
Last month a talk show host Donald E. de Castro wrote the Premier an open letter asking that Mr. Hill not be transferred and that he was the best man for the job of Chief Immigration Officer.
The last officer confirmed to the post was Dennis Jennings.
The Chief Immigration Officer post is a government job at grade 17 with a salary range of $62,900-$92,150.
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108 Responses to “UPDATE: Guy Hill Out! Ian B. Penn In! as new Immigration Boss”
B. P..n is a real bastard.
@ Truth. Immigration is a law enforcement agency. Personally there is more to it than administrative ops. All ports have supervisors. Hill inherited a broken department and a lot of BS that was going on administratively and in enforcement came to a quick end. A lot if people didnt get him to break the lae for their own selfish gains do now its victimization time. Br....ck just told a lie straight from hell. He is the master mind behind all this because hill wont do his illegal mess. R..ter is a stool pigeon so seize the time. She has issues with h..l too.
So because he dont take s..t from people and he stating how he feel and what is right thats a problem??? Mehson hush yuh fk see u aint makin sense
There are too many spoons dipping in the pot of Immigration why the place in such a mess.
P..n is also a stool pigeon who will do anything to get ahead eve undermine h..l. Talk dat.
-guy u kno who dis from.. miss u !
We often lament that Virgin Islanders always want jobs that they are not qualified for. Well, Guy is highly qualified yet he was slaughtered and sacrificed, due to politics. What gives? This should send shivers through an already morale-challenge and demoralized civil service. We cannot blame Guv Duncan for this; he may be only acquiescing to the government wants, staying away from and out local politics. Politics all around. If there is a silver lining in this dastardly performance, it is that they cannot say Guy either did not know his job or did not perform his job well. Here is proof. One of his family members has vented that he/she is not going back to Guy for any preferential favors to bend the rules. He has angered politicians, family members and friends because he stood on principle. Guy was fired because he stood on principle and refuse to be a political hack. More Guys, not less, are needed in the civil service.
Moreover, this is purely poor political leadership. The government leader came to power with some respect mainly because of profession but the respect and confidence is quickly waning. The leader is now seen not as a leader but as another politician. Good leaders stand on principle and will stand alone when needed to support principle. This is a Red Letter Day in BVI life. The BVI is like a ship adrift with neither rudder nor compass. Politics has infected the BVI at an epidemic level. We need to find a cure soon for what ails it, for if we do not pretty soon it will regain its outpost status. I was inclined for more internal self government but today I am not too sure. Look as if we (VI) may need some more adult supervision.
Guy, keep your head high. You stood on principle and was hang out to dry and martyred. Principled Virgin islanders got your back and the rest of the world is shaking its head in disbelief. Well, what is done is done. Mr. Penn got some big shoes to fill both professionally and literally. We need to wish him well. Karma is a bit….h and will take its due course. Let’s pray for out beloved BVI, for a rampaging political fever has a strangle hold on it. On Election Day voters will have to decide if the present course should continue or the compass needs to be recalibrated and reset.
This Christian community that is filled with Christian people in respective positions..how's it you are not speaking up for what is right ..is position and power really worth losing your integrity? Where are the churches and ministers? Believe it or not your power is greater than the NDP Government. Are you doing justice to the Community? ,oh but you the churches want favors to....sad...really sad
Time to replace the leadership of this Country and vote for people with integrity and people that will be truthful to the laws of the Territory and its people.
First they promote Hill make him Acting Chief and Penn the Deputy Chief. Now they demote Hill and place him in Penn's Deputy Chief position and promote Penn into Hills Chief position.
This will create animosity and break down of cohesiveness with in that department. Hill and Penn's working relationship will be affected in some way and it will trickle down to the subordinates beneath them.
This was a poor way of formulating hierarchy within the organizational structure in the Department of Immigration.
Leads me to wonder about the emotional intelligence of the person(s) who made this decision. One of the most important attribute of management and decision makes is high emotional intelligence; its obvious whoever made this decision is has an extremely low lever in this area.
Signed M3C
Thanks for your acknowledgement by the way.
signed M3C
I was there yesterday and it was a complete disorganised shambles
Without even any tickets in the ticket roll, everyone guessing who is next.
That place needs a shakeup and some Organisation.
It can not be a good environment to work in either as disorganisation leads to slow processing which leads to constant pressure in the work place
It's really sad the leadership of the Country has allowed this to happen especially in an area where laws really need to be enforced. If you go to any other Country immigration laws are enforced and you must follow. Why does Tortola take this thing so lightly..can they not see all that is happening around them? A person that is not willing to stand up for what's right even if it means upsetting the powers that be should not be in charge of this area.
If the government have problems with the laws change them..however do not punish someone for upholding the laws of the land.
I'm going to pray for my Country because it's in a sad
..very sad place right now.
For those that can vote ..exercise your right to make a change..Election is soon
Nothing good can come from this decision. The level of qualifications between both men are like night and day.