Update: Local O’Neal-Morton Out! Jamaican Potter in! as PS
Taking her place is Jamaican national Dr. Marcia Potter who has been appointed and confirmed in the post replacing Mrs. O’Neal-Morton.
In a May 22, 2013 press release from the Government Information Service (GIS) they confirmed Virgin Islands News Online's story of 4 months ago. The press release stated that “Governor, Boyd McCleary, after consultation with the Public Service Commission, has confirmed Dr. Marcia Potter’s appointment as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Culture”.
The confirmation is effective April 18, 2013, according to Government.
This appointed also came years after former Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry Mrs. O’Neal-Morton was sent on leave in 2011 under former Education and Culture Minister Hon. Andrew A. Fahie, however when the new Minister Hon. Myron V. Walwyn took office in late 2011 it was reported that he backed the Jamaican national who has belonger status via the marriage to Dr. Irad Potter, Chief Medical Officer, over the return of Mrs. O’Neal-Morton.
Under the Virgin Islands Constitutional Order, Ministers have a say in whom their PS is and none can be appointed, if opposed by the subject Minister.
A senior civil servant when called about this appointment told this news site, “I have nothing against Marcia as we work well together and she is competent, but nowhere in the region can a BVIslander go and hold such a post even if they have equal status in that country…they would not even look at you for such senior post unless you are a natural born…the BVI is the home for all…”
When told that under the laws of the Virgin Islands there is no difference between a Belonger and a Virgin Islander by birth the senior officer said, “I agree but what about the spirit of the law, was there any natural born persons qualified for the job? and the answer is yes…”
It is unclear who else was interviewed for the post as it may have not made much of a difference if Dr. Potter enjoyed the support of the subject Minister. It is also reported that Dr. Potter's confirmation to the post of Permanent Secretary had the strong backing of the Deputy Governor V. Inez Archibald who has passed the civil service retirement age.
According to the GIS press release, Dr. Potter holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree (General) (Upper Second Class Honours) from the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica, Master of Arts Degree (Distinction) from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados where she majored in Curriculum Theory, Planning and Practice and minored in Educational Administration and a Doctor of Philosophy in education from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados.
The Permanent Secretary serves as the chief advisor to the Minister of Education and Culture and is responsible for the overall planning, management and coordination of the ministry.
See previous story posted February 27, 2013:
Another local! PS Carolyn O’Neal-Morton forced out by Govt!
- Two years after being appointed as Permanent Secretary, Officer forced to retire from service
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- While claiming for who will believe them that they have nothing to do with the civil service, the history of victimization, double standards and displacement of indigenous Virgin Islanders continues unabated in the Public Sector under the National Democratic Party (NDP) Government.
Word just reaching this news site is that Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Culture Mrs Carolyn O’Neal-Morton, who was reassigned to special projects with the Governor’s Office in 2011, is now asked to retire from the service effective April 2013.
It is this news site’s understanding that she is being forced to retire based on years of service. Many in the civil service have blasted this as yet another case of political victimization, double standards and discrimination against the local minority as there are others in the service with more years of service than Mrs. O’Neal-Morton who are not being asked to retire.
One example many civil servants point to is the controversial and unpopular Deputy Governor V. Inez Archibald, who is way over the retirement age of 60, but was last year given an extension on her tenure as Deputy Governor.
Mrs Archibald has also come under fire for her alleged interference in the work of the Public Service Commission and has been criticized for allegedly making the civil service political.
Mrs O’Neal-Morton, the sister of the former Cabinet Secretary Otto O’Neal, has already received her letter retiring her as the matter went to the Public Service Commission (PSC) and was signed off and agreed to by the United Kingdom appointed Governor, William B. McCleary.
Permanent Secretary (PS) O’Neal-Morton was removed from the Ministry of Education and Culture in 2011 after a fall out with then Education and Culture Minister, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie.
After the 2011 elections, current Minister for Education and Culture Myron V. Walwyn had no interest in her return to the Ministry, according to an NDP source.
Instead Minister Walwyn, himself controversial, went to the House of Assembly and called for all who were acting in a post under his Ministry to be confirmed and has showered praises on his acting PS Dr. Marcia Potter, a Jamaican national who is married to a local. She is the only non-indigenous Virgin Islander serving in a PS post.
The post of Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Education and Culture has been advertised and a Ministry source told this news site that Dr. Potter has already applied for the job and allegedly has the backing of both the Minister and the Deputy Governor.
This news site was unable to obtain a copy of her application for verification as the Human Resources Department insisted that these matters are confidential and not open to the public.
A Permanent Secretary or Deputy Secretary, as well as Heads of Departments, cannot be appointed within a Ministry without the expressed approval of a Minister. The Premier is always consulted for senior posts in the civil service and the heads of many statutory bodies must go to Cabinet for their appointments.
Mrs O’Neal-Morton could not be reached at press time for comments, however, a source close to the situation told this news site that the officer had no intentions of leaving the service at this time and felt that it was yet another attempt to displace a local qualified Virgin Islander.
History of shake ups since NDP took office in 2011
Thus far, the Labour Commissioner Oleanvine Maynard has been removed from office, and replaced by Janice Rymer, who was recently given a one year acting appointment extension.
Her removal came days after the sacking of Ray George from the Ministry of Communications and Works, the reassignment of Accountant General Kharid Fraser, and the denial of a contract renewal to Otto O’Neal, the former Cabinet Secretary. Mr O’Neal’s last day on the job was December 15, 2011. He was replaced by Sandra Ward.
Mr. O’Neal was forced to retire when others in the service are still on the job with more years than him and much older. His brother Vincent O’Neal has also been denied a contract renewal as Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority and reports suggested that he was treated in an unprofessional and undignified way two days before he demitted office.
Last year, the esteemed Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Works Julian Willock was illegally terminated by the UK appointed Governor McCleary with the blessings of the NDP Government.
The PSC had ruled unanimously that Mr Willock must return to work after being cleared by the Labour Department when a local tabloid claimed that he had a person working for one of his group of companies without a work permit.
Also, acting PS in the Ministry of Communications and Works Arlene Smith-Thompson, who replaced Willock, was reportedly forced out after a rocky relationship with her Minister and the Deputy Governor. She is now on study leave.
Further, there was the reassignment of Dr. Drexel Glasgow from his post at the Public Works Department and his replacement by Jeffrey Skelton, the brother of the Health and Social Development Minister, Ronnie W. Skelton and the non-renewal of the contract of Ms Sherri L. Ortiz for the post of Executive Director of International Finance Centre.
She was replaced by Elise Donovan, who was the head of International Affairs at the Premier’s Office.
Last year, Sylvia Moses was removed as Commissioner of the Inland Revenue Department and transferred to the Premier’s Office, as was Hadassah Ward from the post of Director of the BVI Tourist Board to the same office.
Mrs Rosalie Adams, who retired over a leaked Foreign and Commonwealth Office letter on Biwater, was returned as Permanent Secretary in the Premier’s Office following the November 2011 elections. Janis Braithwaite, a former Director of Tourism, was brought back and named City Manager, a story first and accurately broken by this news site.
Mrs Prudence Mathavious, a former Acting Chief Education Officer, has now taken up the post of Acting Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Culture. She is the wife of Robert Mathavious the CEO of the Financial Services Commission. It has resulted in Ms Tasha Bertie, who was acting in the post, to be reverted to her post as Assistant Secretary.
Last year the Private Secretary to Hon. Myron V. Walwyn, Karen Vanterpool, a local, was sacked with the blessing and directive of Minister Walwyn.
In addition, the NDP has seemingly given its supporters, friends and family lucrative consultancy contracts and jobs while telling the public the country was left “broke” by the now opposition Virgin Islands Party of Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE.
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152 Responses to “Update: Local O’Neal-Morton Out! Jamaican Potter in! as PS”
She is a lady that do not stand for nonsense when it comes to getting the job done. All the best Mrs. Potter, let them talk about who born here or not...............because i born here and parents aint even from here in the end they aint doing nothing wrong to say they need to go back home. So let them take that up them pipe.
Lets be real. Do you see who they have been replaced with? BVIslanders who they can wrap around their fingers, those who they can manipulate and control and do the threat and intimidation tactic on. Let me tell you young man; there are some of us who will not stand for that and by the way a LOCAL and a BELONGER in MY book is NOT the same.We all know that some of the belongers only marry so that they can get status. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
Ralph also did as lot of wic**dness- the world is a cycle boss- not that I agree with revenge
We needed to have some of the blood flowing in our veins from those slaves at Josiah's Bay but instead they shipped them out before they had time to be fruitful and multiply. Ah bet their a$$es would have been grass.
Yes, Miss Dr. You may take the position, but it was never really yours and it will never be really yours. You wanted what was not yours so badly but trust me - you will never enjoy it;you will never be effective. God is high but he looks low!
May I remind you that it was one of our own. The minister ground bummer under the VIP who first put her out say she was underminining he. So if she did that to him what will she do to my boy. Come on man you all are sickening.
Betcha not!
You say hire locals now you firing them. What is wrong wid you ppls?
It is Otto(Emerson), David,Vincent, Carie, Karen, and Samantha so far who will be next? Ms. Verna and Ms. Melba God rest their souls must be turning over in their graves. If you all left with your integrity intact you have nothing to fear.
Carie, Andrew got rid of you and Samantha because he wanted you all to engage in unethical behaviours and get his deals work out prior to the elections and you stood your ground. I am proud of you all. Continue to stand for something or you will fall for anything.
Sis. Karen you have been taught the Word and you have preached it. I know that practicing the Word right now might become hard for you but FORGIVE, PRAY for them, BLESS them, Gosh, "Who then can be Saved?"
Take a look at the man in the mirror. You are the moron.
Go check your sparkplugs because a few of them seems to be malfunctioning. Aren't the above names mentioned not considered NDP supporters and /or cronies?
I beg you hard go PRAY. There will be wailing and nashing of teeth from the storm soon to come. Hope you can still LMAO.
You sound like you need to go back to school. If she can get a higher job with a PHD how come she wasn't selected for the vice president position at the college when she applied? It is SIMPLE: they didn't want her!!!!!! Some thing more in the mortar besides the pestle why the Minister is hanging on to her for dear life. Remember every thing in the dark will come to light no matter how long it takes. She's in but with a cloud hanging over her. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
This is your year girl!
For God's sake, you need to ask why she and the former minister could not work together, or maybe you know already. And the "college president don't want her? Is that what you are proudto claim and promote that jobs are personal and one individual. can decide what goes on. I think that you need to re-think your thoughts before you write. Sad!!!!
Looking at the time you made the above comment it is obvious that you cant even sleep.
And now some of you on here have the gumption to act in bitter dissatisfaction because someone got an opportunity? Someone, that made the Virgin Islands their home for the past 20 something years.
There are locals in Key position that weren't necessarily born in the United States and other countries. I know for a fact there are: Pilots, Lawyers, Engineers, Teachers, et cetera . All living abroad and they are not worker bees. So say one, say two; It's the nature of the world.
This is shameful how could he support and none born here over other born here who could do the work. Big Mac wife could do the work she from right here…NDP seems into elimination of all who born here….
Stop using my screen name to type rubbish. The same locals on here acting like they're passionate and patriotic are the first to be on the street complaining about the service they get from their fellow locals especially in Government so I don't want to hear you. Some of you guys are just disgruntled and would find any excuse to make noise. Nobody's asking what was Oneal-Morton's performance. Nobody's asking if she wanted to work for the Minister. Nobody's asking who all applied and whether they were as qualified as Mrs. Potter. All we care about is that she's not from here. So we should just give BVIslanders all the jobs whether they can do it or not all because it looks good. A set of jAck@$$e$ we got in this place!!!! Give BVIslanders the jobs and the same BVIslanders complain about how their locals are so backwards and have no service. OWOWWW haha
In fact, you know that she was retired because of her years of service and the urgent need by those in authority to confirm Dr. Potter in the post who has more years in the public service than her and who is also older than her. Is that justifiable then to remove one person for one reason and put in a next who would have the served the same time and more?
While you may support the current holder of the post, does that give you the right to speculate on the performance of the previous holder? Do you think that that is right? Is it fair to cast doubt about one's person's character and reputation in order to promote another? And you are doing this on the internet. Aren't you in fact putting out doubt about this person on the worldwide web? Totally wrong.
You ask if she wanted to work with the Minister, maybe you should ask if he wanted her to? I am sure that you will realize that she had no choice in the matter as the Minister himself stated on more than one occasion that he wanted to confirm Dr. Potter when Mrs. O'Neal Morton was still the holder of the post. Do you think that Mrs. O'Neal Morton had a choice in this matter? Really? Let us be honest now!!!
Do you want more
(repeat)
You think it's the end
But it's just the beginning
(repeat)
Go down back-biter, down back-bite, down back-biter (repeat)
They stab you in the back
And they claim you're not looking
But JAH have them in the region
In the valley of decision
In the valley of decision
Go down back-biter, down back-bite, down back-biter (repeat)
Now you get, want you more
Do you want more
(repeat)
You think it's the end
Do you want more
Want More By Bob Marley
Permanent Secretary (PS) O’Neal-Morton was REMOVED from the Ministry of Education and Culture in 2011 after a fall out with then Education and Culture Minister
Dr Potter is a Belonger so she IS A LOCAL.
Emancipate yourselves from this mental slavery!
I also see that vino edited my comment! For those who did not read the article, the " fall out" was with Andrew Fahie.
This is sickening. She is a #$%^ belonger. Set of #$%^ haters.
You really brewing up a sick culture here, you blogger hate people.
It's just prejudice, pure and simple.
Some idea that a small set of BVIslanders are entitled to anything with no regard whatsoever to other people's human rights, feelings, or needs.
Foreign, white, non-Christian - you ready to be evil towards EVERYBODY and it is a real sick and sad thing to watch.
Grow, BVI, don't hold yourself back like whiny little children. What you're doing is making the world a more hateful place and the BVI look like full of a wicked set of people. That's what they say about us and this is why.
Don't let these media manipulators whip you into a righteous frenzy based on your BVIslander status. Be smarter than that. Be bigger than just a BVIslander. First and foremost you are human beings. Your responsibility is towards other human beings. Heart and soul, not hate.
Dont try to sidetrack what really happened here. A local was allegedly FORCED TO RETIRE from her post in APRIL 2013 not a day/month/year earlier as others are led to believe so that Dr. Potter could be confirmed, why? no answer to this day so don't blog any guesses because they are FALSE. This is the truth and was communicated in so many ways. Stop trying to make it as if Dr. Potter worked oh so hard for this post. It jut pays to have friends in high places.
Let us remove all of the emotional and unsubstantiated claims put on the internet to damage Mrs. O'Neal Morton and those intended to bolster Dr. Potter.
Basic facts: one is from one country and has status in another, the VI, therefore can get a job in both places. One is born in the VI, has status nowhere else, has no job because the one with dual possibilities was put in the position. Yet the one that was put out is being further undermined with insinuations about performance etc.when they very well know that was never the issue, and the one with a job is being portrayed as the victim. Wow!! You say that Dr. Potter is one of us, is Mrs. O'Neal-Morton not one of us? Should she be out of a job?If you want to praise and acknowledge Dr. Potter, I do not think that it should be at the expense of another. But I am sure that the engineers must be very pleased about their accomplishments. Hurrah!