We need Premier Smith to live up to ‘Gov’t in sunshine’ pledge- Gov John S. Duncan
Speaking on the JTV Channel 55 show Spotlight with host Cromwell Smith aka Edju En ka on Tuesday January 12, 2016, Governor Duncan said he has been continuously calling for more transparency from Government and said the public must also make demands of their representatives to achieve this.
‘We need Register of Members Interest’
“We need to have more transparency and I have been saying this now for some time and I hope that we are going to get some results in the next month or so, both from the House of Assembly, we need that Register of Members Interest properly set down. We need to properly select a committee, it was procedural that actually caused the problem and we do need the Premier to live up to his Government in the sunshine pledge. And I am looking forward to congratulating him on doing that,” Governor Duncan said.
The UK appointed Governor, who said his role was more than just a ceremonial one and that he takes his job as Governor very seriously, said he expects the register of Members Interest to be done in the next month or so.
Cabinet transparency
The NDP government has been labeled as one of the most corrupt and secretive governments in the history of the Virgin Islands by First District Representative and Senior Virgin Islands Party (VIP) member Hon Andrew A. Fahie.
One of the basis for his allegations, was that Government continues to keep the Opposition and by extension the public in the dark on many of its policies and projects, often only revealing when they are considered ‘done deals’.
According to Governor Duncan, there is need for Cabinet transparency.
“We have discussed it, some models, and we hope that a final decision will be made during the first quarter. The Premier has assured me that he will be doing that.”
Mr Duncan added that the VI needs to get ahead of the curve where Cabinet transparency is concerned as it is behind Anguilla and Turks and Caicos Islands where that is concerned. “Other overseas territories manage this and we should be able to manage this as well. I hope we will get there within the next six months.”
‘I still have the power to call CoI’
Already rejecting the call for a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the Cruise Pier Expansion Project, there have been fresh calls from the public for a CoI into the landside development of the Ports Development Project, especially following the allegations of corruption from Developer Hugh E. Darley who had provided drawings for the landside development.
The Governor, however, again seems to have no interest in launching a CoI.
“The Commission of Inquiry, I still have the power to do that if I chose to do so, but it is my view that the Governor should not be some kind of class act policeman. Let the elected representatives and the other organs of democracy, such as the Public Accounts Committee, such as the [House of] Assembly, such as the media, take their responsibilities for calling the Government into account and asking questions.”
Referring to the Cruise Pier Expansion Project, Governor Duncan said he brought in an independent consultant while Premier Smith brought in the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the findings were reported.
“That there was no evidence of the allegations of corruption and we had thoroughly investigated them. We brought our independent people to look at it. There was evidence that our structures and process needed tightening and needed improvement. They were out of date, and sometimes politicians had gotten a little bit carried away with their enthusiasm and a bit frustrated with the way some of the procedures were rather bureaucratic and heavy and that had led to some issues that led to the whole issue of the Auditor General asking to do an audit.”
It is now the hope of the Governor that the NDP Government would be soon publishing the CDB report on the Cruise Pier Expansion Project as he has done his part in trying to bring about transparency.
He said both the experts brought in to see whether there was evidence of corruption on the Cruise Prier Project had said that a Procurement Law is needed to protect the interest of the territory and to see that contracts are fairly awarded.
“I can’t order the Government to do this but I will be continuing to ask for that to be done,” Governor Duncan stated.
37 Responses to “We need Premier Smith to live up to ‘Gov’t in sunshine’ pledge- Gov John S. Duncan”
How is Government going to investigate itself? The cover-up is part of the alleged corruption OF the government. The Governor has the power. The governor is not the "policeman" but the "impartial" facilitator to make SURE nothing is amiss. Lawyers and paper trail will take care of allegations.
The Governor is not making those decisions. He is leveling the playing field legally and it would go a long way to his credibility as a UK rep. He is doing NOTHING to hold the perpetrators accountable because they are GOVERNMENT. He is going along to get along.
Shame on his (lack of) commitment to transparency. If nothing wrong then sobeit. They will find that out. But give the Attorney General the chance to investigate. Let the laws work!
Premier Smith I got to admit you are starting to look like a puppet!
Mark and Claudia will be the DEATH of NDP just like Fahie and Fraser was for VIP!
Can't you see the cozy relationship The premier and Sir Duncan has? You think any kickbacks going on with out something for the Edomite masters? You all best wake da $%^ up before your birth right is sold for less than 30 pieces of silver.
I second the motion why .bull sh*t the governor needs to go he cover up for NDP too much
Government Duncan declined to commission a COI on the port project on the eve of local election held on June 08, 2015, so as not to influence the election I suppose. Though the time should not have mattered, one can understand why. Now, though the cries are getting louder for a COI; Gov Duncan needs to do the right thing and commission a COI. A COI will get at the truth and be the basis for any needed action. Guv has to exercise due diligence; if he does not want to, perhaps, he should be relieved of his duties. He was appointed to serve and needs to serve. Professionalism needs to prevail. The Guv may not want to disrupt his tropical vacation but he has a job to do.
Well aren't you all some pathetic wanna be freed but not real free.
Go way with your self hatred and hope against hope that your lives will one day matter.