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Political affiliation plays no role in job appointments- Deputy Premier

Dr. Kedrick Pickering says Government has not been appointing anyone based on political affiliation. Photo: VINO
Labour Commissioner Oleanvine Maynard was removed from her post by the new Administration while.Janice Rymer (right) replaced her.
Labour Commissioner Oleanvine Maynard was removed from her post by the new Administration while.Janice Rymer (right) replaced her.
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Deputy Premier and Minister of Natural Resources and Labour Dr. Kedrick Pickering says Government has not been appointing anyone based on political affiliations and vows to fight against any such attempts.

Dr. Pickering was responding to a caller to the radio programme “NDP Radio”, which was aired on Monday January 16, 2012. The caller asked, “Does political affiliation have any role to play in any job appointments or issuance of contracts?”

The Deputy Premier said, “I would go straight and say the answer is no... tell me if I am wrong but you know that is something that I do not support I would fight hard against it and I haven’t seen that in any of our deliberations that we are appointing people purely on political affiliations, so I would say straight up the answer to that is no”.

Host of the show Archibald Christian added, “That practice also did not exist when we were in power in 2003”.

Following the 2011 general elections that saw the NDP winning with a 9 to 4 margin, there continues to be many transfers, terminations and extended leaves of public servants. Many in the community are now asking the question, if there is a witch hunt for public officers who were allegedly supporters of the now opposition Virgin Islands Party Government of former Premier Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE.

Some civil servants are also blasting the United Kingdom appointed Governor William Boyd McCleary, who is the head of the civil service, for allegedly “sitting by while there is a perception of victimisation of some public officers”.

Thus far, the Labour Commissioner Oleanvine Maynard has been removed from office, as was first and accurately reported by this news site. Her removal came days after the sacking of Ray George from the Ministry of Communications and Works, the extended leave of Kharid Fraser the Accountant General, and the denial of a contract renewal for Otto O’Neal the Cabinet Secretary. Mr. O’Neal’s last day on the job was December 15, 2011.

Also it was Virgin Islands News Online who firstly reported of the pending transfer of Dr. Drexel Glasgow from his post at the Public Works Department. The officer is expected to demit that office by the end of this month.

12 Responses to “Political affiliation plays no role in job appointments- Deputy Premier ”

  • hmmm (19/01/2012, 07:31) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Tell that to Woody!
  • Real Talk (19/01/2012, 07:55) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why does the NDP believe that we are all stupid? No respect for we intelligence? Go sit down Kendrick we know better...much better the record is there to show since taking office the aim is to get rid of all VIP senior public officers or who you suspect to be VIPs!
    • egg face (19/01/2012, 15:11) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Mr. Pickering and Archie you all have the balls to try and fool civil servants. All the decsions made after the election in the service have been politcial except the one with dr. Glosgow...he is a big waste. But Archie will be a one termer. I called it last time for Keith and Vernon
  • Jack johnson (19/01/2012, 08:24) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    While I respect and admire Dr. Pickering for his love of country and the serivce he provides in his private capacity as a physician, I am not fully convinced by the answer he gave. The truth of the matter is that it is common place that Governments around the world prefer to have certain positions filled with individuals in whom they have confidence and trust to carry out their mandates. Perhaps he could have said that the changes were necessary in order to provide greater accountability as well as making the affected departments and ministries more efficient so that the level of service they provide to the public could be enhanced.
  • LOL (19/01/2012, 08:42) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    maybe so in his dwarfed head............
  • xray (19/01/2012, 09:07) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    doc pic tell dat to ray george, maynard, otto, jerrimer, cherri, and I could go on and on! we aint eat we school feels Mr. cuban
  • ooooo (19/01/2012, 10:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    pure bullony
  • dog meat (19/01/2012, 10:13) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    and what about rewarding one of them for leaking information to NDP that help them got elected..he need to talk that!
  • Peng (19/01/2012, 10:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I agree! you need to make the best decision on moving the country forward. If you feel is best that you have smeon replaced for someon who you feel has a better track record to get the job done you push forward. I totally agree with that option. Everyone is dispensible including the Minsiters of Government. as well everyone needs an opportunity to get the job done. I would say move along with your committment with bringing the country back on track! and put those in place who are willing to make that change to advance. at the end of the day if nothing gets done after 4 year then all Hell will break loose to say the NDP did nothing so at least you can say after 4 year we did this and we did that, not that we tried to do this and triend to do that. if thats the case the NDP has nobody to balme for their failures but themselves. With that I would say put the right people better suited to do the job in place so that we all can bring this country back to the good days.
  • Brap (19/01/2012, 15:51) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hogwash!!! Sugarcoating crap doesn't change the fact that it is what it is!!!
  • critic (19/01/2012, 21:02) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    if you tell a jacka$$ this, he will kick you
  • Quiet Storm (19/01/2012, 22:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Dr. This is an unforced error. I'm sure that you wish had this insulting statement back. This was truly a wopper thainsulted the intelligence of the electorate. The electorate are not as uninformed as you may think. Boxer tried the same lies in Animal Farm but they did work and they will not work now. Do us a favor and let action speak over slick words.


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