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Deputy Governor recruitment delayed for 'other pressing matters'- John S. Duncan

- Would V. Inez Archibald ever retire or is another extension being planned?
71 year old Vivian Inez Archibald CBE had announced earlier this year that she would finally retire as Deputy Governor come August 31, 2016. Photo: VINO/File
There have been a few names floated around to fill the position of Deputy Governor, including that of former Permanent Secretary in the Premier’s Office Clyde Lettsome (left) and current Permanent Secretary in the Deputy Governor’s Office David D. Archer (right). Photo: ONB/VINO
There have been a few names floated around to fill the position of Deputy Governor, including that of former Permanent Secretary in the Premier’s Office Clyde Lettsome (left) and current Permanent Secretary in the Deputy Governor’s Office David D. Archer (right). Photo: ONB/VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Many civil servants, some of whom have reported to be victims of her reign in office, were in a celebratory mood when it was announced that the 71 year old Vivian Inez Archibald CBE would finally retire come August 31, 2016.

The Government retirement age is 60, as many letters have gone out from the Human Resources Department, which falls under the Deputy Governor’s Office, alerting civil servants when they reach 60 and the retirement requirements.

However, controversial Governor John S. Duncan OBE has told our newsroom in a question on the matter that “the recruitment process for the Deputy Governor has been delayed by other pressing policy matters.” It remains unclear what the pressing matters are and if we would have a new Deputy Governor in place to start duties come September 1, 2016.

Since she took over from Elton Georges CMG, OBE in 2008 as Deputy Governor of the British Overseas Territory, Mrs Archibald has had mixed reviews on how she has handled the post and the state of the civil service.

Mrs Archibald, whose professional qualifications are in Christian Theology with two Master’s Degrees- one in Religion and the other in Divinity- would have served as the Virgin Islands’ 5th Deputy Governor after the post was created in 1977.

Too many extensions?

It appears that Mrs Archibald might be heading for yet another extension.

Mrs V. Inez Archibald was appointed as Deputy Governor (DG) by former Governor David D. Pearey on September 15, 2008 for a period of three years. Her appointment was extended for six months from September 15, 2011 to March 15, 2012, then again, for two years effective March 16, 2012. Another extension was granted from March 16, 2014 to August 31, 2015, and then again on September 1, 2015 until August 31, 2016.

In the same emailed response to our newsroom Governor Duncan, after claiming that hiring a new DG was on the back burner, said the recruitment process “is now under active consideration."

There have been a few names floated around to fill the position, including that of former Permanent Secretary in the Premier’s Office Clyde Lettsome and current Permanent Secretary in the Deputy Governor’s Office David D. Archer. The list of applicants has not been provided as yet to our newsroom, as our senior National Democratic Party (NDP) sources told us this morning that Governor Duncan is handling that personally.

The Civil Service under Archibald

Many of Archibald’s critics have claimed that the service from around 2009 under her tenure had begun to deteriorate in terms of morale, standards of services, quality and qualifications of senior management and that the service is now a political body.

They claimed that in the early days of the service persons, even senior officers, were appointed because of ability, talent and not politics.

However, since the 2011 General Elections that saw the NDP take power “anything goes in the service. For example you don't have to have a first degree even to be a Permanent Secretary, something that is not best practice any place else in the Caribbean civil service or internationally,” a senior public officer told our newsroom.

Many have also said that Mrs Archibald could go down in history as one of the worst Deputy Governors to hold the post. She presided over a civil service that saw a series of political appointments at all levels of government simply based on party loyalty and support, as well as many civil servants being allegedly abuse, fired, transferred, forced to retire and others made to act in posts for long periods of time.

Between 2012 to current many civil servants were illegally fired, forced on leave and denied promotion based on politics. Many of them, including police officers, sought justice and remedies in the courts and, for most part, have won their cases.

There has also been the issue of sexual harassment levelled against very senior Government officials.

29 Responses to “Deputy Governor recruitment delayed for 'other pressing matters'- John S. Duncan”

  • is 100 years the required age for retirement? (06/06/2016, 09:54) Like (18) Dislike (1) Reply
    He ain't find the right news carrier yet?
  • give robert the nod (06/06/2016, 09:55) Like (16) Dislike (2) Reply
    and put fresh young blood in the financial services.
  • ndp bad for business (06/06/2016, 09:58) Like (24) Dislike (4) Reply
    both she and legless got this country one way
  • civil servant (06/06/2016, 10:29) Like (23) Dislike (11) Reply
    Her sins will fall on her children both her and bow tie
    • Jackopot (06/06/2016, 15:35) Like (26) Dislike (15) Reply
      Let the one without sin cast the first stone. Civil Servant, what is your sin? Be careful your sins are greater than the two you are wishing evil on. What you supposed to study, you don't study. All you busy cutting down your own people, crab-n-bucket mentality. I could give you subjects to study. Have you seen how many islands are owned by white slave owners and they surround Tortola? Start studying that because the backlash from that will be your children's albatross. Be careful when you throwing stones because you may not be able to rid your generation from the stones some will throw to ensure that you, Civil Servant, and your children's children are never leaders in the country their ancestors fought to liberate. What will be the effect of those who gain citizenship 25 years from now and their voting power. You want melee to chat? Go study and chat that. Keep off our people. Wake up! Stop Sleep! Open your Eyes! As Kedrick says, "keey your eyes on the ball."
      • talk that! (06/06/2016, 16:40) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
        The person who said "keep your eyes on the ball" helped put us in the same mess.
    • Cashew (06/06/2016, 16:46) Like (8) Dislike (5) Reply
      @Civil Servant, don't wish bad things on anyone especially their children. If you have a problem with her, then deal with her face to face. I noticed, here on Tortola when people have a problem with each other, they always wish bad things on the people children. That is not cool at all.
      • Holler! (24/06/2016, 14:35) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Read your Psalms and even read the Old Testament and see if the WHOLE FAMILY did not suffer for the sins of one or two.
  • ndp (06/06/2016, 11:23) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    Bowtie will never get that post
    • Aboveyou (06/06/2016, 15:40) Like (7) Dislike (4) Reply
      NDP, he ever told you he wanted the post? Answer truthfully. Bunch of malicious people busy talking pure thud without facts. Help this jealous-monger, VIP. Come fast to clean out this blogger name ndp.
  • Xxx (06/06/2016, 12:00) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
    Free the service from politics
  • The Judge (06/06/2016, 12:46) Like (12) Dislike (3) Reply
    Please leave bow tie where he is. That would be a disaster.
  • HMMM (06/06/2016, 13:34) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
    None of them!!!!!
  • wize up (06/06/2016, 13:58) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    H.E; busy countaing his share from the pier park project
    • YOUSEE (06/06/2016, 17:04) Like (13) Dislike (3) Reply
      They were advertising for investors at the Pier Park. You, Wize up, did you invest in the Pier Park? Somebody invested and you have a problem with H.E. reaping H.E. share from the Pier Park Project? When I used to go to concerts, they sang a song that said: 'What's wrong with my children'? What's wrong with these wicked jealous people who are on here blogging so callously? Did you complain about how many Arabs have investment in the BVI? Start counting the shops. Did you complain about how many Virgin Islanders are unemployed and ex pat firms fooling labour department just to bring in their own people? Have you complained about how many Philipinoes are holding down jobs that Virgin Islanders can have, and one day they will make up the number of Virgin Islanders? Have you complained and recommend that the Virgin Islands people get together and start to chart their destiny because the UK does not have our best interest at heart, that they are hell-bent to see us begging? You need to wake up and stop this nonsense about cutting down our own people. Are you evesdropping when they hurdle in clubs and circles and talk bad about the Virgin Islander and question how is it possible for them to own the houses they do? People, start to mind the business of the future of the Virgin Islands because it is only our people will save it from the hands of those who are wishing us evil. We need all Virgin Islanders on board. So, please, mind the business of this country. A Virgin Islander's share of his investment is not the business for you to be minding. We embrace all Virgin Islander investors. Wiz-up, welcome, and please go join the Investors Club.
  • facts man (06/06/2016, 14:23) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Dem will never retire once NDP IN POWER
  • Two good names. Read. (06/06/2016, 18:19) Like (10) Dislike (7) Reply
    Just talk. She is an empty Barrel. As a so call Christian her action isn't Godly. Time over due for a change.. I have two Names. Ingrid Mosses Scatliffe and Doctor Karl Dawson. Anyone is a great replacement..
  • voice (06/06/2016, 18:51) Like (18) Dislike (1) Reply
    It is time for the deputy governor to be elected by the people. This should not be along party line. Individuals should show the interest and the populace should vote for the best person to work with the civil servants. This should not be by parties, but the people with no strings attached.
  • Who Say So (06/06/2016, 20:08) Like (13) Dislike (4) Reply
    Do you know who a Christian is? A Christian is a person who lives walk and talk the life of Christ, you do not have to say to someone you are a Christian they see Christianity in you and then what we sow we reap, sorry to say we live for our children and gran children and generation to follow what we do will follow our children weather we like it or not that is how it is and will be. Sad to say but it is soooo true look back and you will see. Thank you.
  • Idosayso (06/06/2016, 23:32) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    My backed up view. A Christian is a person who believes in Christianity as a religion. It is stated that a person who practices Christianity, his or her life must reflect examples of Christ. But this is only true if the name Christ was not made up by the Catholic Church because there was no letter "J" when the Bible was first written to give someone the name Jesus Christ. Doesn't this name reflect a borrowed Spanish name from Jesus Cristo? The New Testament records a story of his name being called Emmanuel (Iman). The Bible is a story book laden with borrowed plagiarism from the Ancient Egyptians used to keep certain class of people in darkness. God never made the Christian religion; man did and that is why the religion is going through a cleansing. People are seeking spirituality which is everlasting. How could people in the name of Christianity enslave others and treat them mercilessly? Come again. Seek the Ancient of Days, the Supreme Being and make your connection for yourself. And Jesus was not in no Garden of Eden when that scripture said "let us make man in our own image." Because there was no Garden of Eden, and no one knows how mankind was made. The Tree of Life refers to an ancient Egyptian Principle containing the Maat principles from which the 10 Commandments were borrowed from 42 Maat principles. Europeans wanted to be in 'ting' and didn't know what they were copying from the manuscripts they stole from Egypt. They wrote stories that doesn't coincide with logic -- "Noah had an ark and placed two of every living thing in there." It doesn't up. Story done. Stop letting people brainwash you that a man wrote Genesis who was dead 500 years before the first Bible was written. Put the dates in play, people -- "no snake can speak," just some of the written fallacies. How is an innocent person responsible for what his or her wicked parents did? Every tub sits on his or her own bottom if what you sow you reap is a universal principle. You planted, so you will reap, not your child because your child did not plant anything. You want to reason? Think about that. The notion of visit to children's children does not add up with the universal principle of Karma. Only man made up that principle to frighten all you tail. Each person gives an account for his actions, not one for two. The true story has started. People are not ignorant anymore concerning some of those fables...
  • Observing (07/06/2016, 00:20) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
    The situation with the Civil Service is that there are too many evil people in high positions. The Service has become a dictatorship. They have forgotten that slavery was abolished. Some of these names being recommended only interested in building kingdoms for themselves. They are not genuine. Too much fake people running around. Virgin Islanders don't know the true meaning of unity. That is one of the main reasons we are being disenfranchised in our own country. The privileges given to foreigners will not be given to Virgin Islanders in a foreigner's birth place. Who to blame ?
    • "Tis Truth!! (07/06/2016, 10:30) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      Observing, you are 100% correct in your analysis of our VirginIslanders/"Black people."

  • bvi (07/06/2016, 02:11) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    I lost respect for lyin duncan
  • go please go! (07/06/2016, 02:50) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    she just needs to go bottom line
  • just saying.. (07/06/2016, 04:10) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    give the DG post to POPE
  • "Tis Truth! (07/06/2016, 10:26) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Not related to the topic:


    However, can someone inform if there is a problem with BVI News, or have some contributors such as "Tis Truth!" to cyber debates been censored and banned?
  • wake up (08/06/2016, 01:09) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    WE WAITING TO HEAR THE OUTCOME ON THE POST OFFICE MATTER WITH THE GUNS INVOLVED!!!!! DON'T TURN A DEAF EAR TO THIS SERIOUS MATTER!!!!!!
  • @Idosayso (24/06/2016, 14:44) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Seems to me you are the one trying to brainwash others. I am also wondering if you have ever read the Bible for yourself or if you are only saying what you heard from someone else? Start a church, cult, religion or whatever you wish to start and preach to whoever wishes to listen to you but let whoever wants to live by the Bible do so.


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