UPDATE: Ag. PS Arlene Smith-Thompson out! Last day was Nov. 9, 2012
The public officer spent her last day on the job on Friday November 9, 2012 and has proceeded on leave. Mrs. Thompson-Smith, who was named Acting Permanent Secretary in the MC&W in 2010 after the then Permanent Secretary Julian Willock was sent on leave, is expected to pursue a PhD.
It is this news site’s understanding that Deputy Secretary Gary Penn is in charge of the Ministry, however, he does not have an acting appointment through the Public Service Commission.
A couple of weeks ago a new Deputy Secretary- Anthony S. McMaster was also named to the Ministry, another story firstly reported by this news site.
Mrs. Thompson-Smith's abrupt departure caught many by surprise especially after the alleged illegal and unconstitutional termination by the United Kingdom appointed Governor Boyd McCleary of the esteemed Mr. Willock. The post then became vacant and Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark Vanterpool had called in the House of Assembly for her confirmation to the post.
Previous Story posted:
Mr. Willock was sent on leave following an article by the local tabloid BVI Beacon, which accused him of having a person work for one of his group of companies without a work permit. The Labour Department had already, even before the article was published, rejected those libelous, malicious, political motivated and some say racist claims, by confirming that Mr. Willock had all his work permits in order.
The PSC had ruled unanimously that Mr. Willock should be reinstated to his post of Permanent Secretary.
No announcement has been made about a replacement, however, earlier this year Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark Vanterpool had said in the House of Assembly that he wanted Mrs. Smith-Thompson confirmed to the post.
A senior government official who spoke to this news site had said, “this is an awkward time to loose a PS a month or so before the Standing Finance Committee hearing...It means the Minister or other elements really wanted her out or she herself could not wait to leave”.
It remains unclear whether she is being forced out.
Mrs. Smith-Thompson served in the Ministry of Education and Culture as Assistant Secretary, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Deputy Governor’s office and she acted as PS both in the Deputy Governor’s office and the Ministry of Communications and Works.
She has a reputation for hard work and integrity and standing up and speaking out against unfair practices and illegal activities in the civil service.
History of shake ups since NDP took office in 2011
Thus far, the Labour Commissioner Oleanvine Maynard has been removed from office, and replaced by Janice Rymer, who was recently given a one year acting appointment extension.
Her removal came days after the sacking of Ray George from the Ministry of Communications and Works, the extended leave of Accountant General Kharid Fraser, and the denial of a contract renewal to Otto O’Neal, the former Cabinet Secretary. Mr. O’Neal’s last day on the job was December 15, 2011. He was replaced by Sandra Ward.
Mr. O’Neal was forced to retire when others in the service are still on the job with more years than him and much older. His brother Vincent O’Neal has also been denied a contract renewal as Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority and reports suggested that he was treated in an unprofessional and undignified way two days before he demitted office.
The deputy governor V. Inez Archibald has been granted an extension to her tenure as Deputy Governor under the NDP. Mrs. Archibald is over 60 years of age. The Government retirement age is 60.
Two weeks ago the esteemed Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Works Julian Willock was terminated by the UK appointed Governor with the blessings of the NDP Government.
Also, there was the reassignment of Dr. Drexel Glasgow from his post at the Public Works Department and replaced by Jeffrey Skelton, the brother of the Health and Social Development Minister Ronnie W. Skelton and the non-renewal of the contract of Ms. Sherri L. Ortiz for the post of Executive Director of International Finance Centre.
She was replaced by Elise Donovan, who was the head of International Affairs at the Premier’s Office.
A few months ago, Sylvia Moses was removed as Commissioner of the Inland Revenue Department and transferred to the Premier’s Office, as was Hadassah Ward from the post of Director of the BVI Tourist Board to the same office.
Mrs. Rosalie Adams, who retired over a leaked FCO letter on Biwater, was returned as Permanent Secretary in the Premier’s Office following the November 2011 elections. Janice Braithwaite a former Director of Tourism was brought back and named City Manager, a story firstly and accurately broken by this news site.
Mrs. Prudence Mathavious, a former Acting Chief Education Officer, has now taken up the post as Acting Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Culture. She is the wife of Robert Mathavious the CEO of the Financial Services Commission. It has resulted in Ms. Tasha Bertie, who was acting in the post, to be reverted to her post as Assistant Secretary.
In addition, the NDP has seemingly given its supporters lucrative consultancy contracts while telling the public the country was left “broke” by the now opposition Virgin Islands Party of Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE.
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60 Responses to “UPDATE: Ag. PS Arlene Smith-Thompson out! Last day was Nov. 9, 2012”
But good move Ms. Smith get out before the pending train wreck...save your integrity
Kudos to you Mrs. Thompson, I truly wish you the utmost best in your future endeavors. Don't let the callous behaviors of others cause you to become bitter. Stay true and continue to be YOU! I pray that when you return home that you will continue to guide, manage and direct those under your employ in a fair and unbiased manner. Godspeed.
I have to agree Mr. Grant should have been given the position I guess because he is not a BVIslander why they didn't consider him but I f I was in his shoe I will let her do the work I was not working for her and she gets the credit. let her work her backside for it. Grant all I will say to you is not to worry God don’t sleep and he don’t like ugly she is not an engineered and she should have recommend that you be given first choice. People so money and position hungry that anything is possible.
The basic role of government is to deliver services to citizens, residents, and visitors; these services usually include services that it can provide more effectively and at a lower cost, ie, roads, public safety....etc. than the private sector. Moreover, the public sector is hamstrunged and cannot deliver the high quality and cost effective service that the people should expect. The problems facing the public service are not insurmountable. And all that is required is bold, courageous, strong and effective leadership and management to pull it back from plunging off the cliff. It needs a sober collaboration among government, opposition, governor's office, civil servants, community--a meeting of the mind--to address the problem. Doc, it is time to lead.
Moreover, it is true that elections have consequences and to the victor go the spoils. And further after an election most of us expect that there will be a few personnel changes(the operative word is few). But it has been almost a year now and there is still too much uncertainty, disruption, instability in the service. The service deserve better. Stability is a key factor in developing the financial services and tourism industries; it will also be a factor in new economies.