Governor: More Rumors Than People
Governor Augustus Jaspert, while noting that his doors are always open to the people of the Territory, disclosed to the media during a press conference on November 1 that some of the times persons contact him just to gossip.
The Governor noted that efforts to bring integrity legislation and other related reforms related matters is something the government is keen to undertake. He noted that there are channels and avenues for actions that can solve some of the matters that ‘bug’ residents.
Nonetheless, the Queen’s representative said that there is a feeling that he is the one that can help. This, he added is not unique to the BVI as it is the norm in some other Overseas Territories as well:
“Each Overseas Territory (OT) is very different and some of that is historical in culture where people feel that if they go to the White House on the hill, they can get an answer than actually holding the public service to account, or the minister to account as they may need to,” the Governor stated.
In fact, the Governor said that some of the complaints are not within his ambit to fix.
“A lot of things is about the service that people have gotten in terms of permits and licenses and various things,” he explained.
“Some of them are rightly for us where I have constitutional powers and responsibilities, and we look into. For example, we get a lot of issues relating to prison matters, appeals from prisoners in various ways and those things come to me to consider and depending on what the issue is I draw advice from the parole board or various committees of support,” the Governor noted.
Then he said there are the gossipers who just want to share rumors:
“For a small population, I think there is probably more rumours than people; but for me, the important thing is the institutions working correctly and the ministries are able to respond quickly,” His Excellency announced.
Meanwhile, the Governor said that his door will remain open to the people of the BVI.
"I am always happy to talk. I want to be connected to the community and that’s a very important thing. But, actually, for the long-term success of the territory, it is more important that the institutions are there to be able to do the jobs for the people.”
In fact, he noted that the need to be an ear for the people should be a note that each Governor leaves in his handover comment: “The Governor should be about improving the institutions, making the territory more successful, more self-determining, stronger democratically, stronger in accountability, and transparency, so that the public is the ones who are really in the lead.”
Nonetheless, the Queen’s representative said that there is a feeling that he is the one that can help. This, he added is not unique to the BVI as it is the norm in some other Overseas Territories as well:
“Each Overseas Territory (OT) is very different and some of that is historical in culture where people feel that if they go to the White House on the hill, they can get an answer than actually holding the public service to account, or the minister to account as they may need to,” the Governor stated.
In fact, the Governor said that some of the complaints are not within his ambit to fix.
“A lot of things is about the service that people have gotten in terms of permits and licenses and various things,” he explained.
“Some of them are rightly for us where I have constitutional powers and responsibilities, and we look into. For example, we get a lot of issues relating to prison matters, appeals from prisoners in various ways and those things come to me to consider and depending on what the issue is I draw advice from the parole board or various committees of support,” the Governor noted.
Then he said there are the gossipers who just want to share rumors:
“For a small population, I think there is probably more rumours than people; but for me, the important thing is the institutions working correctly and the ministries are able to respond quickly,” His Excellency announced.
Meanwhile, the Governor said that his door will remain open to the people of the BVI.
"I am always happy to talk. I want to be connected to the community and that’s a very important thing. But, actually, for the long-term success of the territory, it is more important that the institutions are there to be able to do the jobs for the people.”
In fact, he noted that the need to be an ear for the people should be a note that each Governor leaves in his handover comment: “The Governor should be about improving the institutions, making the territory more successful, more self-determining, stronger democratically, stronger in accountability, and transparency, so that the public is the ones who are really in the lead.”
