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by pltm
(PLTM) - Governor, the Honourable Augustus Jaspert is failing to fulfill his responsibilities by not addressing those public servants who are reportedly running for public office in the upcoming General Elections. Third District Representative, the Honourable Julian Fraser issued these sentiments during a public meeting at the Valerie O. Thomas Community Center, Sea Cow’s Bay on Wednesday night, September 19.
According to Hon. Fraser, “You have public servants who are supposedly running for public office and they make no secrets of it…The Governor is not living up to his responsibilities.”
He went on to say that while the Constitution only addresses eligibility, that matter of conflict of interest falls under the purview of the General Orders and the Governor.
“The civil service is under him, as I said, and anything that is done by the public service is his responsibility. It is important because it’s institutions we’re talking about…they’re destroying institutions. It is not about individuals, it has nothing to do with the individuals; it’s the institution we’re talking about,” the Opposition Member stressed.
The General Orders for Civil Service of the BVI of 1971, which was revised in 1982, clearly states that all civil servants are prohibited from engaging in political activities.
In July, the Opposition Virgin Islands Party’s (VIP) Congress chose and ratified six District Candidates, among which were the Director of Culture, Luce Hodge-Smith, Commissioner for the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Kye Rymer, Vincent Wheatley, the Sister Islands Programme Coordinator attached to the Deputy Governor’s Office, and recently appointed member of the Public Service Commission (PSC), John Samuel.
Some of these VIP candidates resigned from their posts shortly after the public announcement regarding their candidacy.
There has also been reports that the National Democratic Party (NDP) executive voted in three new At-Large candidates, including Principal of the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS), Sandy Underhill; Chairman of the Virgin Islands and Festivals and Fairs Committee and Board Member of the BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA), Mr. Trefor Grant; and Speaker of the House of Assembly, Ingrid Moses-Scatliffe.
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