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Political advisors for ministers approved by Cabinet!

- Advisors would be required to adhere to Code of Conduct; Integrity Committee to be set up
According to Cabinet, the Terms of Reference for the Ministerial Political Adviser to include research and analysis, assisting in speech writing for the Minister, and other areas as outlined in the job description. Photo: VINO/File
Cabinet considered and granted approval for ministers and junior ministers to be assigned Ministerial Political Advisors at a virtual Cabinet Meeting chaired by His Excellency, the Governor John J. Rankin, CMG, on July 8, 2021. Photo: VINO/File
Cabinet considered and granted approval for ministers and junior ministers to be assigned Ministerial Political Advisors at a virtual Cabinet Meeting chaired by His Excellency, the Governor John J. Rankin, CMG, on July 8, 2021. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - In an online meeting chaired by His Excellency, the Governor John J. Rankin, CMG, on July 8, 2021, Cabinet considered and granted approval for ministers and junior ministers to be assigned Ministerial Political Advisors.

The position will attract no more than $120,000 per year and will be similar to the United Kingdom model where the Premier would be assigned no more than three advisors and each other Cabinet Minister, and Junior Minister would be assigned no more than one advisor.

"The Terms of Reference for the Ministerial Political Advisor to include research and analysis, assisting in speech writing for the Minister, and other areas as outlined in the job description," the Cabinet statement said.

It was also decided that the tenure of each Ministerial Political Advisor, who will be hired as an independent contractor, to be the same as the tenure of the Minister to whom they are assigned, will be "subject to all public service laws, regulations and policies during their tenure, save and except where research, advice and other support to the Minister may incorporate political considerations into their analysis, advice, speech writing etc. in a manner that would not be permissible for a permanent public officer."

$120K per year

In the meantime, the advisors would receive a contract that would not exceed $120,000, equivalent to $10,000 a month, "in accordance with the established pay bands."

"Each contract for each Ministerial Political Advisor does not cover gratuity payments, annual leave and sick leave; each Ministry will allocate payment of remuneration for Ministerial Political Advisor under their Consultancy vote, and payments for the Ministerial Political Advisor to Junior Ministers will be borne from the Consultancy vote of the Premier's Office."

Cabinet also approved to waive the tender process for the advisors' post to be "contracted for any tenure that allows the cumulative compensation to be no more than $120,000.00 per annum."

Adhere to code of conduct

The Ministerial Political Advisors would be required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Ministerial Political Advisors, and there will be an Integrity Committee for that new position.

"The Integrity Committee for Ministerial Political Advisors would have the authority to call and question Ministerial Political Advisors on their adherence to the Code of Conduct for Ministerial Political Advisors or matters of conflicts of interests, and that the Committee may submit a report to the Premier for his or her consideration," the statement said.

The committee will comprise of the Permanent Secretary, Premier's Office as Chair; Permanent Secretary, Deputy Governor's Office; and one of the four other Permanent Secretaries in rotation each years and the advisors would be required to declare any private interests that they may hold in any matter that may be deemed relevant to their work, upon assumption of duties and periodically as circumstances may require.

The private interest disclosure shall be made by letter to the appointing Minister and copied to the Permanent Secretary in the Premier's Office as Chair of the Integrity Committee for Ministerial Political Advisors; and to the Premier.

24 Responses to “Political advisors for ministers approved by Cabinet!”

  • NICK (23/07/2021, 16:44) Like (47) Dislike (0) Reply
    if the country had a decent sewage system, nice roads, proper schools then they could do that.once again,the riches will get richer with our taxes money.
  • dua (23/07/2021, 17:36) Like (18) Dislike (3) Reply
    What part did Governor John J. Rankin, played in this decision? I can't believe that he went along with something like this.
    • What? (24/07/2021, 07:50) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
      We voted for these men to lead us and now we have to pay people to show them how to lead us. I am very disa
    • Real Simple (24/07/2021, 10:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      The Governor and Attorney General do not have a vote at Cabinet.
  • UK Model (23/07/2021, 17:40) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    You cannot compare the BVI to the UK. The population of the BVI is less than 0.05% of that of the UK. BVI ministers are dealing with local issues similar to that of a Town Council in the UK. BVI Ministers should be voted in because they understand the local issues and have the skills to deal with them. This perceived need for political advisors is more about inflated egos
    • Lily Ann (24/07/2021, 09:21) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
      How can the words "they understand the local issues and have the skills to deal with them" come out your mouth !?!?!?!? We are SINKING DEEEEEP !!!!! These people DO Not know what they are doing !!!! Thats why they forking out big money for consultants !!!
  • Huey P Newton (23/07/2021, 18:20) Like (31) Dislike (1) Reply
    At what point will the people of the Virgin Islands fight back against this greedy government
  • the rock (23/07/2021, 19:03) Like (26) Dislike (2) Reply
    I will assume they permanent secretaries will no longer be needed, I do hope!
  • Even the hardest of times, more politics gimmicks is being played. (23/07/2021, 20:45) Like (20) Dislike (2) Reply
    NO! We didn't need to waste more money on political advisor, especally not now. Did you so quickly forgotten, that you asked christians to help for God's guidance?
    You have regected the guidance from God that you have asked for, and have chosen political advisors instead. You have chosen political science over Devine guidance.
    There is a true saying: "You can fool all of the people some of the time, and you fool some of the people all of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of thd time." None can fool God, not even for the shortest moment of even a single time.
    Anti-covid vaccines subpressed the covid-19 virus, God alone heals the human mind. God is love. Short of love is the lust of the mind that fades away, like a passing puff of wind.
    • luke (24/07/2021, 04:45) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Thank you, Yoda.
    • sorry (24/07/2021, 09:13) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      I accidentally dislike your comment !!! So you have 1 less dislike !!!! I'm totally in agreement with you!!!!
    • next (24/07/2021, 09:48) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
      Thar is why I didnt play unto the "Fasting and praying" manipulation.

      They probably not even doing it..struuppes
  • Make sure (23/07/2021, 21:20) Like (22) Dislike (2) Reply
    Let’s get some road works from 7pm onwards, get some lights out at night and fix the bad roads plaguing the country.
    • Lily Ann (24/07/2021, 09:05) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      North Sound road is TERRIBLEEE for YEARSSSS and they not doing ANYTHING about it !!!!!!!
  • Gravy Train (23/07/2021, 23:46) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    We need money to feed the hungry jobless and take care of the sick instead
  • Story teller: Part 1. and Part 2. (24/07/2021, 00:45) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    A scorpion that had desires to cross over to the other side of a river, waited at its water edge patiently. Soon a turtle surfaced close by. The scorpion quickly informed the turtle of his desire, and asked the turtle to climb on his back, and take him to the other side of the river. The turtle then said to the scorpion, I can except that I afraid that when we get to the middle of the river, you may sting me. The scorpion convinced the turtle that he would not be stung by him.
    So the turtle allowed the scorpion on his back, and begsm the joruney to the other side. When the got about the middle of the river, the scorpion stung the turtle.
    Immediately the turtle asked the scorpion why he stung me, you promised me you wouldn't have sting me. The scorpion relay to the turtle complained, and said it's my nature. The two continued the painfulled journey to the end. THE SCORPION QUICKLY GOT OFF THE TURTLE'S BACK, AND TOLD THE TURTLE THAT IN FOUR YEARS TIME HE AND SOME OF HIS CLOSE ASSOCIATES DESIRE TO CROSS BIGGER RIVER, THAT IS TWICE THE SIZE OF THE ONE WE HAD CROSSED TOGETHER. HE TOLD THE TURTLE THAT HIS PLANED ASSOCIATES GROUP IS EXPECT TO NUMBER 13 MEMBERS, BUT IC BE IS NOT ABLE TO GROUP TOGETHER WE TURTLES, HE WILL NEED NO LESS THAN 8 TURTLES TO COMPLETE THE CROSSING, AND THAT HE IS WILL GUARANTEE THAT NO TURTLE WILL BE STUNG ON THE NEXT JOURNEY, BUT PLEASE, TURTLE, ALLOWED ME TO GIVE YOU A GOODBYE STING, EVEN IF IT IS ON YOUR FRONT FLIPPER. IT IS MY NATURE.

    (DO YOU KNOW OF ANY PERSONS OR GROUP OF PERSONS IN THE B.V.I WITH A SCORPION MINDSET?
    EVEN IF YOU DON'T







  • Thanks COI (24/07/2021, 00:48) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Due to guilt, they now need to find a way to legally give away money to their friends. Have mercy Lord. This nonsense will never end. Pure greed.
  • janet (24/07/2021, 00:59) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    They here worrying about that But yet we had 25 deaths and still 8 ventilators. Y'all keep that same energy come election.
  • BuzzBvi (24/07/2021, 03:51) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Add this $1.5 Million dollars on defending their reputations to the $5Million already being spent on Silk Law. Protecting these people is getting difficult
  • Has that really happemed? (24/07/2021, 07:30) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Even in the hardest o times cronnism is in full swing in the B.V.I.
    Is this disrespectful behavior, until after passaged, should also be blames on the CoI leaders, but rather lavish praise on ours are boosted as governance?
  • Increment (24/07/2021, 07:47) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    Give us our increment before u contract ur speech writers

    Jah knows we really need it
  • confused (24/07/2021, 15:15) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    So have they hired advisors yet or have they just been approved to use them if deemed necessary?
  • We need better money management (26/07/2021, 19:11) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mr Premier, take the minister advisor salaries, which will be a massive hunk of change and buy more ventilators and resources to use them. And while you at it, service the ones we currently own because we ALL know that government is not good with maintaining ANYTHING. Advisors my behind!! You all always know what the government needs to be doing when you not in power. You on every talk show and media. When you get in power, you need an advisor? Really?? What happen to taking it to the LORD in prayer?? There is the public health department, DDM, hospital board, police, immigration & customs, private medical institutions and I could go on. ALL of you put your heads together . This is a crisis, it’s not a time to be partial. Advisor my behind!!!!


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