UPDATE: 'I left job for personal reasons' - Accountant General
The story was firstly and accurately broken by Virgin Islands News Online on December 10, 2014 through its many creditable sources inside the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) Government.
In a hurriedly written statement dispatched to the media houses on December 11, 2014 the NDP regime though the Government Information Services (GIS) said that "on December 2, 2014, Accountant General, Dr Sandra M Besson, tendered her resignation to the Department of Human Resources, giving the public service the requisite three months' notice and citing her decision as one that is “personal."
To save face the statement claimed that "the Government of the Virgin Islands is grateful to Dr Besson for her dedicated service to effective public service delivery and the management of the Territory's fiscal resources".
The GIS press release which was regarded by many as an attempt to respond to the VINO article stated that "Dr. Besson is a dependable leader and is admired by the Government, her staff and those with whom she has collaborated on cross-governmental initiatives. She looks forward to assisting the Treasury Department in the smooth transitioning to her replacement".
It is unusual that when a public officer leaves the service for whatever reason that a statement is released by government. However the GIS script ended by claiming that "the Government of the Virgin Islands wishes Dr Besson success in her future endeavours".
Since the NDP took office in 2011 the public sector has been in turmoil with a series of firings, political promotions and appointments, transfers, forced retirement, and denial of contract/tenure renewals.
The public along with civil servants have bitterly complained about victimization, and politics ruining the service, with morale at an all-time low. Civil servants have also been peeved over the payment of their increments notwithstanding, that our news site has learnt that a few selective officers with connections have received theirs while the majority of civil servants have not.
There are also many cases pending in the court over unfair dismissals, violations of rights and other public administration issues. However, the new Governor John S. Duncan OBE told the media a few months ago that he has not seen any victimization.
See previous article published on December 10, 2014:
Accountant General Dr Sandra M. Besson forced out?
-After a mere one year on the job Dr. Besson has tendered her resignation given required notice!
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - The number of civil servants at all levels frustrated under the National Democratic Party (NDP) regime continues unabated. After some two years since the NDP forced the former Accountant General Mrs Kharid Fraser, the wife of Third District Representative Honourable Julian Fraser RA, to retire another Accountant General is on her way out.
Virgin Islands News Online’s sources within the NDP have confirmed that a few weeks ago Dr. Sandra M. Besson has tendered her registration to vacate the post giving government the required three months’ notice which will expire in February 2015.
It remains unclear why Dr. Besson who is highly qualified academically and has the relevant experience has chosen to quit by submitting her resignation after only being on the job for about one year and months.
She was appointed to the post on October 7, 2013 to serve for three years in the first instant. The NDP source was tight lipped on the possible cause as she said, “I do not want VINO to make my party look bad.”
However, another source within the Ministry of Finance declined to comment but said “paper qualifications and doing the job sometimes are different kettle of fish....I will leave that there....”
It is also unclear her relationship with her staff at the Treasury, or whether she was not flexible enough in her approach for the powers that be. Many public officers have long complained about this issue following the 2011 General Elections and have confirmed that the civil service is now a political body, whereby officers are hired, promoted and transferred based on politics and who they voted for but not merits.
When contacted the Financial Secretary Mr. Neil M. Smith advised this news site to, "check with the Human Resources Department" for confirmation on Dr Besson.
Minister of Finance Dr. the Hon D. Orlando Smith when contacted by this news site on the issue said that he would call us back but up to post time there was no return call from him.
Asked by this news site whether or not it was true that she had tendered her resignation, Dr Besson asked, "Where did you get that information from sir?" When we replied that we cannot reveal our sources she then said, "Can I just get back to you because I have someone here with me." However up to post time she did not return our call.
The job of Accountant General
The Accountant General serves as the Government’s Chief Accounting Officer operating under the direction of the Financial Secretary, in accordance with the Public Management Finance Act (2004 and amendments) and the Public Management Finance Regulations (2005).
The senior post is also responsible for the overall administration and activities of the Treasury Department and the Officer is expected to provide appropriate accounting arrangements for each of the Departments across Government.
The Account General is also responsible for Government’s accounting standards, systems, policies, procedures, controls and risk approaches to ensure the safeguarding of all public monies and securities.
The Accountant General is a government job with a salary in grade 17 with a range of $62,900-$92,150 per year.
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42 Responses to “UPDATE: 'I left job for personal reasons' - Accountant General”
Have you gotten used to second rate for the BVI? Well, NDP is about quality so get used to it.
Treasury need someone with vision capable of updating the processes, not someone who is going to look in a book to decide what she can pay.
Dem consults
This matter needs to be looked into seriously, before next Elections otherwise I don't know what kind of fake Democracy is being practised when it is said that we are voting by secret ballot. If it is secret it is supposed to be secret. Otherwise we just need to have open voting and everybody knows who everybody votes for. Our rights need to be respected - plain and simple.
A change of heart needs to be sought by those seeking to represent the people - try to be genuinely more caring.