UPDATE: Sandra Ward named new Cabinet Secretary
Ward will replace out-going Cabinet Secretary Otto O’Neal who was asked to retire, as was reported by Virgin Islands News Online, when a one-year contract request was denied by the new NDP Administration.
The Cabinet Secretary is a constitutional post and the Premier, along with his government, usually decides who the officer will be.
Ward will become the Virgin Islands’ second Cabinet Secretary and first female to hold the senior government post. Ms. Ward received the blessings of the powerful Public Service Commission and the endorsement of the Premier and his Cabinet colleagues, according to this news site’s sources inside the Administration.
The Orlando Smith Cabinet usually meets on Wednesdays, and Cabinet meetings and papers are confidential, therefore, this news site is not aware of the agenda items before the Executive branch of Government.
Sandra Wards’ background
On March 4 of this year, Ms. Ward was appointed to the post of Acting Permanent Secretary, Premier’s Office following the retirement of Rosalie Adams, who has now returned to her post under the NDP Administration.
The officer holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts (Communication) from the former Trenton State College in New Jersey, a Master’s degree in Public Administration and a Master of Arts degree in Public Communication from The American University in Washington, District of Columbia, (DC).
Ms. Ward also completed an Executive Diploma in Strategic Management from the Chartered Management Institute in the United Kingdom. She joined the public service in July 1988 and was assigned to the post of Information Officer in the Government Information Service now known as the Department of Information and Public Relations.
She was subsequently promoted to the post of Chief Information Officer and Director of Communications in 1992 and 2004, respectively.
As Cabinet Secretary Ms. Ward will also be the Secretary for the National Security Council.
Section 49.1 of the 2007 Constitution established the Cabinet under the Chairman of the Governor; however, it functions under the joint management of the Governor and the Premier. Additionally, section 51.2 gives the Cabinet Secretary charge of the Cabinet Office and his/her duties in this regard are outlined under section 51.3.
The VI Cabinet is the centre of government and the Cabinet Office is the support centre for policy and decision making in the public sector.
The Cabinet Secretary’s post attracts a salary range of $90,000 to $100,000 a year.
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