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by pltm
(PLTM) - Governor John Duncan has rejected claims that he does not speak up in Cabinet, rather, he said it's the Ministers of Government who are uncomfortable with his views.
"That is a fundamental misunderstanding. The Governor chairs the Cabinet, but cannot make the decisions. But I give advice, sometimes very forthright advice, which Ministers find uncomfortable. But in the end analysis, they can decide to do what they want," he told BVI Platinum News today, July 20.
The National Democratic Party (NDP) administration has been accused of mishandling the Territory's finances, and lack of transparency and accountability. To this end, Governor Duncan said that one of his disappointments is that the BVI has not been able to make progress with transparency.
"I would say those are one of the areas where all I have been able to do is highlight the problem. I don’t feel we have made the progress that should have been made. I have been highlighting the problem of institutions that we should have as a modern democracy," he said.
Governor Duncan has mentioned having legislation such as the Freedom Information Act (FOI) and Human Rights Commission, among other pertinent legislation, to allow for the people to hold its elected officials accountable.
"The Human Rights Council, an obligation under the 2007 Constitution, we still don’t have it. These are the institutions of modern democracy. If this society is to move forward in the 21st century, then it cannot rely on a group of people and the Governor and their good faith; it needs institutions of accountability," he lamented.
He added, "The Public Accounts Committee, how many times have they met? The Registrar of Interests Committee, how many times that have met? And these are the ones we have."
Hold Elected Reps Accountable/Not For Governor
Governor Duncan said that the people have to start holding their elected representatives accountable, and that responsibility should not be placed on the Governor.
"I absolutely believe that it is for the people to hold their elected representatives to account, and election every 4 or 5 years is not how you do it today, you need those institutions that I spoke about; and without those institutions the ability of the population to hold their elective representative accountable is greatly reduced," he said.
The Governor added, "And by the same token more is placed on the Governor and the Governor is one person and we are running a modern economy and one person cannot possibly keep track of everything that is going on in that modern economy, its an impossible task...They should be empowered to ask for that accountability themselves (the people)."
The outgoing Governor said that he has faith in the BVI community.
"I have great faith in this society, I think this is a society of remarkable talented people, beautiful island but it must move forward with the institutional architecture."
When asked if he would describe the NDP as transparent, Governor Duncan said, "I am not going to comment on the virtues of the VIP, NDP or any other party; it’s a democratic process."
He said, "I have at an individual level been tremendously impressed by some of the things individuals have done both in the opposition and government."
He mentioned that persons have been placed in key top roles which is a good start. Recently, a UK native, Mr. Phil Sharman, was appointed the new Auditor General of the BVI.
