Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

Governor distances self from inefficiencies of Public Service under his watch

- Says ‘change is inevitable’ while laying blame on locally elected Govt's
Governor of the Virgin Islands H.E. John J. Rankin, CMG says change in the VI public service is inevitable coming out of the CoI report, as he distanced himself from the inefficiencies of the sector. Photo: Internet Source
'I certainly want an efficient public service, and I want public officers working in a most effective way possible, I also want the public officers working on the right things,' the Governor said during an interview with 284 Media on June 1, 2022.
'I certainly want an efficient public service, and I want public officers working in a most effective way possible, I also want the public officers working on the right things,' the Governor said during an interview with 284 Media on June 1, 2022.
 Silk Legal Attorney Mr Richard G. Rowe, whose law firm is represented members in the House of Assembly (HoA), said RVIPF, crime, and the illicit drugs trade were under the purview of the Governor's post, and the CoI should have investigated his failures. Photo: VINO/File
Silk Legal Attorney Mr Richard G. Rowe, whose law firm is represented members in the House of Assembly (HoA), said RVIPF, crime, and the illicit drugs trade were under the purview of the Governor's post, and the CoI should have investigated his failures. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - Governor of the Virgin Islands (VI) H.E. John J. Rankin, CMG has said change in the VI public service is inevitable coming out of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) report, as he distanced himself from the inefficiencies of the sector.

"I certainly want an efficient public service, and I want public officers working in the most effective way possible. I also want the public officers working on the right things,” the Governor said during an interview with 284 Media on June 1, 2022.

He was at the time responding to questions on whether the VI public service was too large and added, “it has not been the right things where public monies have been expended not to the public benefit.”

Who heads public service?

While the Governor who is the head of the public service took no responsibility for the inefficiency of the people under his watch, he laid all the blame on elected Governments of the VI. 

By tradition, the Governor is also head of the Public Service and is also the Chairman of Cabinet and the National Security Council.  

“I believe, frankly, the primary responsibility for that has not been public servants but has been poor decisions made by previous governments, not just the immediate past government but successive governments in the BVI,” he added.

According to Government Information Service (GIS), the Governor is the representative of Her Majesty the Queen where the Constitution gives the Governor certain responsibilities, which include oversight for external affairs, defence and internal security, administration of the Courts, and the terms and conditions of public officers.

Change inevitable – Governor Rankin

“Change is inevitable, and I’m not going to predict for you precisely what size the public service will be 5 years now. From where it is, I do know we have a lot of decent, hard-working public servants and I want them to be focused on the most effective areas for the people of the BVI,” he said.

The VI laws also give the Governor certain responsibilities in relation to elections, disaster preparedness, and the prison amongst other matters. 

Meanwhile, when questioned on staff shortages and troubles in some government offices, the Governor said staff will have to be adaptable and will have to be more flexible to meet the needs and demands of the sector under an established criterion.

Governor's subjects not investigated under CoI

While the recently concluded CoI into good governance focused on the elected governments, political pundits have called out the inquiry for ignoring subjects directly under the Governor.

Silk Legal Attorney Mr Richard G. Rowe, whose law firm represented Members in the House of Assembly (HoA) who were not Ministers, said RVIPF, crime, and the illicit drugs trade were under the purview of the Governor and the CoI should have investigated his failures. 

“This Commission of Inquiry, if it were properly exercised in an open way, should itself inquire into the failings of the Governor in controlling crime and the police force which falls directly under his control, but we’re not hearing that,” he said during a press conference on August 18, 2021.

25 Responses to “Governor distances self from inefficiencies of Public Service under his watch ”

  • Stop it. (07/06/2022, 16:18) Like (67) Dislike (12) Reply
    Why are you all trying to blame the governor. I watch and listen whenever the Governor try to say anything the kind of disrespect he get from both NDP and this VIP along with both pastor Clynes. They all wanted to have their way, now they messed up its the Governor fault. Stop it.. Good character is the ability to police one self..Do what's right...Don't do the wrong things and when I get caught it's someone else's fault. Stop it. .Britain really need to take control..
    • @stop it (07/06/2022, 23:29) Like (3) Dislike (10) Reply
      The Governor was not elected to speak for my homeland! Is this 2022 or 1722? How many other nations in the world are still under the masters rule? A bunch of cowards hiding behind the slave masters children’s breast!!!! And they won’t give you a cup of water to drink with out paying for it! Bunch of house slaves putting up for your overseers. Master Good, don’t say nothing bout master! Master going take good care of us!! Bunch of idiots!!!
  • josiah'sbay (07/06/2022, 16:21) Like (24) Dislike (37) Reply
    The Governor is being giving a free ride because so many of us are out for the blood of our own government and is totally disregarding the Governors' failings.
  • pat (07/06/2022, 16:22) Like (2) Dislike (11) Reply
    What else is new here
  • So true! (07/06/2022, 16:28) Like (12) Dislike (35) Reply
    This is because he is one of them and had it been a black Governor he might have been locked away just like our former Premier.
  • one eye (07/06/2022, 16:29) Like (13) Dislike (41) Reply
    This man is turning out to be worse thsn Gus
  • BLAME GAME (07/06/2022, 16:36) Like (18) Dislike (8) Reply
    JASPERT AIN'T HERE ,SO NOW ITS RANKIN TURN TO GET IT ????
  • Ulisses (07/06/2022, 16:53) Like (9) Dislike (39) Reply
    1 2 3 Rankin must go

    1 2 3 Rankin must go

    1 2 3 Rankin must go
  • Vino Reader (07/06/2022, 17:07) Like (15) Dislike (3) Reply
    Thank God for Tola Radio you get something new every day not the same recycled news.
    • @Vino Reader (07/06/2022, 17:49) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Absolutely agree. Tola Radio is the only radio station in the BVI that I tune into. You get something new everyday. Heritage, Cindy and Damian got that good chemistry on air.
  • Yo (07/06/2022, 18:13) Like (18) Dislike (16) Reply
    Rankin with his lies again fooling the weaker of the community. Listen to what he say: he know there are good, hard working and decent people in the civil service. Shut up please. You just arrive and you know all to well. People wake up. Stop allowing these people to come in our country and tell us these blatant lies and you fall for it. Bottom line they don’t have nothing good for us.
  • Native Senior Citizen of the British Virgin Islands (07/06/2022, 18:25) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
    Accusations of each new Governor that the UK appointed to oversee the BVI politicians conduct, especially in regards to mismanagement of our finances, and other misdeeds is the norm, not the exception.
    Failing to accept, confess, and forsake evil deeds done is counter productive to achieve good governance in the BVI.
    • @Native Senior…. (07/06/2022, 23:36) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
      Here comes mentally enslaved Grand again to give an overview of the situation as Grand sees it! Grand seems to still believe that slavery is around…. Grand is really old fashion!!!
  • Ho,ho (07/06/2022, 19:18) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Looking forward for the end of the story,NETFLIX BVI
  • Stealth (07/06/2022, 19:22) Like (17) Dislike (7) Reply
    Why are people surprise that the CoI didn’t touch the functions, ie, RVIPF, Civil Service, etc under the purview of Governor’s Office. And it should also be no surprise that Governor John Rankins is not taking responsibility for the failure of the public service which falls directly under his purview. If the public service were performing in a stellar manner, he would be thumping his chest and boosting about the skill and ability of his office. Instead, he is conveniently s....g on the local government, though the local government performance is not going to be on how to case study. Here is a news flash birds of a feather flock together. Former controversial governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert, Sir Gary Hickinbottom, Amanda Milling, Governor John Rankin, among others are all on the same team—The UK Team. If the intent of the CoI were to conduct a fair and balance inquiry, it would have looked the failures and triumphs of all functions. Instead, targeted all the functions falling directly under the purview of local government which is all of descent. They thought that and knew that BVI people are dumb, duncy, gullible, etc and they trust colonialists so heartily for they would not insult and disrespect them and would not give a 6 for 9 and would tell them it is raining when it is UN wanted body fluid. We are like sheep being led off. Just thinking out lout. If Governor Rena Lalgie current Governor of Bermuda were Governor of the BVI, would she have received the same treatment for the RVIPF, civil service, etc failures? This is a fanciful thought, for even after hundreds of years of UK government representation in the BVI, none of the representatives have yet to be a woman or a black or other minority. Let’s face the reality, the music, the UK does not give a rat’s a$$ above the BVI local people. They never did and probably never will. The OTs are just a place to provide farewell tours for good ole boys and gals. They for the most part are tropical vacations. Is the UK vying to integrate any OT into the UK? No. They are not into you and hope they, especially the Caribbean ones, would just varnish. Prove that I’m wrong. You won’t. You will just hit the dislike button. The UK know that they got many BVI residents residents eating out their hands. Are we living in a time warp.




  • wake up (07/06/2022, 20:26) Like (17) Dislike (4) Reply
    It is time that the people of the Virgin Islands wake up and stop looking at the petty differences and band together. A lot of us who think that our jobs are secure and that the Uk take over is only going to affect Virgin Islanders have this thing wrong. Uk has been trying to destroy our Financial services for more than a decade they will now have the opportunity to kill it. Can the people of the Virgin Islands Expats and locals with stand lay off in Financial Services and the Public Service ? Think seriiusly about it. One might think that they donot work in either industry but it is money circulating. Less money in the economy ever body suffer. Our ancestors in Africa sold each other out because of tribal wars. We have to stop this trend it got us into slavery.will we ever learn? I am a Senior I had more yesterdays than tomorrows but remember your children. Donot play with their future because of petty differences or tribalism.
    • RealPol (07/06/2022, 21:22) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
      @Wake Up, powerful, insightful real talk. You are on point and hit the talk on the head with reference to the financial services. If you doubt Wake Up, what you think was the intent of the UK Sanctions and Money Laundering. This bill key intent is to stick a dagger through the heart of financial services with its Register of Beneficial Ownership. The UK thinking the financial services industry in the BVI, Cayman Islands, Bermuda, etc, is costing it revenue. Thus, it wants to take direct control of the BVI, which is the lead financial services centre, so it can blow up the industry and pitch the territory back into bird sanctuary status. Governor is already talking about taking whole of civil service and structure it to meet the goal.
    • Siberia (08/06/2022, 07:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      @Wake up,

      The current political structure is nonsense and needs to be replaced.

      The people should continue to elect the HOA to pass all laws affecting them, this includes the financial services. Neither the UK nor the Governor should be abe to interfere with the HOA. If they do, they will be branded as dictators and be unable to apply this term to leaders like Vladimir Putin.

      I suspect the UK will continue to appoint a British Governor for now. The Governor will head the whole government and stop the confusion which lead to the corruption we have seen in the last decades. This corruption is the real problem. The Governor can appoint a Cabinet as he sees fit. I think he will turn over Premier functions to an ELECTED Deputy Dovernor who in turn will head the Cabinet.

      I also think the UK should appoint an Attorney General from anywhere besides the UK or the BVI. The AG will head the courts system.

      But the AG should also determine if the HOA laws violate the constitution, which must be written/updated by the UK and locals alike. Among other things, this constitution should review the Governor's reserve powers especially as it affects the elected Deputy. On this, there must be consensus or arbitration by an international tribunal if necessary.



    • Common Sense (08/06/2022, 08:22) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Unfortunately, with ex Premier sitting in a Miami jail, the BVI has no corner to run to, when the head of a government is corrupt it’s highly likely the problem runs all the way down. Whatever action the UK takes, it can’t be any worse than what’s taken place under the local government.
  • BOY OH BOY (07/06/2022, 21:06) Like (15) Dislike (2) Reply
    THESE HYPOCRITES (CANARIES) ARE ON THE LOOSE AGAIN , PUSHING THEIR EVIL MENTALITY ON US AS A DISTRACTION , WHEN WE ALL KNOW THAT THE COI HAS BROUGHT TO LIGHT ON WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING IN THE DARK
  • straight talk (07/06/2022, 23:10) Like (2) Dislike (10) Reply
    Hipocrites are those who go around the world using COI as a strategy to terrorize others. It is trend. However, this was planned and is not the first time. It is a strategy used on territories when they are vulnerable, Like after a hurricane check when the hypocrites moved in on Monsterrat and Turks. Still reeling from 2017 hurriicane we have COVID19, it weakened us so this is a good time to pounce and better still reel in the premier, another punch in the gut so now it is time to release the report and a take over. We will see soon who are the hyprocrites because your minds are made up long long time ago.
  • pay up (08/06/2022, 02:30) Like (1) Dislike (6) Reply
    He don't pay no tax here so I don't want to hear him
  • just sain (08/06/2022, 05:14) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    its quite intereating that we jump on the blame wagon and blame the govenor for not having his " sectors" under control yes we all condem him as a "racist" a "colonialist enslaver" when he tries to do his job......
    govenor tried to have the uk navy police our shores during the lock down..for FREE...over ruled...now look what is being investigated for corruption in the ships that were used........and on and on it goes.

    We need helo..we need it now. govenor is not related to anyone here, there will be no favouratizm, no corruption. we need help. let him help..unless you have a better idea and by that i mean a better sensible idea.
  • ok (08/06/2022, 07:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    the governor also distance himself from border security; run talk that !!!!

  • Obseer (08/06/2022, 23:19) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Do as I say and not as I do.


Create a comment


Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.