Governors trying to ‘claw back’ power since 2007 constitution
Former legislator Ronnie Skelton has argued that some tensions remain between the elected government and United Kingdom-appointed governors in the territory after revisions made to the 2007 constitution resulted in the removal of previously held powers by the Governor’s Office.
These tensions were particularly evident during the tenure of former Governor Augustus Jaspert and former Premier Andrew Fahie, who repeatedly clashed in the public arena. At the time, Fahie accused the former governor of trying to bully his government in some instances.
“The problem that we have encountered is that the 2007 constitution took away authority from the governor and put it in the hands of the Premier and the Cabinet,” said Skelton while explaining some of the dynamics of power-sharing in the territory.
Since those changes, Skelton said the governor, despite being the Chairperson of Cabinet, is only a non-voting member of that governing body and remains essentially powerless in the decision-making process.
“He used to have a vote. So the 2007 constitution took that away from him and put it in the hands of the Cabinet. But he chairs the meeting and he sees the [Cabinet] paper. Just like how in the British system the Prime Minister will go to the king now and have a discussion before Cabinet and all kind of stuff,” Skelton further explained.
In the absence of that previously held power, Skelton argued that successive governors have been trying to re-balance the power dynamic.
The former legislator stated: “But this constitution is not fully used by us, so to speak, because every step of the way, the governor was trying to claw back power, so to speak. But it’s just a natural phenomenon. It’s just a natural phenomena for a human being. You took some stuff from him and he’s going to try to get it back.”
Skelton pointed to the National Security Council as an example where the governor previously held sole responsibility before the 2007 constitution but said this responsibility is now shared between the governor, the Premier, and another minister.
“The problem that we have encountered is that the 2007 constitution took away authority from the governor and put it in the hands of the Premier and the Cabinet,” said Skelton while explaining some of the dynamics of power-sharing in the territory.
Since those changes, Skelton said the governor, despite being the Chairperson of Cabinet, is only a non-voting member of that governing body and remains essentially powerless in the decision-making process.
“He used to have a vote. So the 2007 constitution took that away from him and put it in the hands of the Cabinet. But he chairs the meeting and he sees the [Cabinet] paper. Just like how in the British system the Prime Minister will go to the king now and have a discussion before Cabinet and all kind of stuff,” Skelton further explained.
In the absence of that previously held power, Skelton argued that successive governors have been trying to re-balance the power dynamic.
The former legislator stated: “But this constitution is not fully used by us, so to speak, because every step of the way, the governor was trying to claw back power, so to speak. But it’s just a natural phenomenon. It’s just a natural phenomena for a human being. You took some stuff from him and he’s going to try to get it back.”
Skelton pointed to the National Security Council as an example where the governor previously held sole responsibility before the 2007 constitution but said this responsibility is now shared between the governor, the Premier, and another minister.
