First Cabinet decisions to be publicised this week, not discussions

The first set of Cabinet decisions will be published this week and every week thereafter, Governor Augustus Jaspert has said.

The governor, however, noted that actual deliberations that occur during Cabinet meetings will not be part of the weekly report.

“They (publicised Cabinet decisions) won’t capture all of the discussions because its an important principle of Cabinet that ministers … would be able to disagree, challenge, agree as they wish and those are private discussions.”

“It’s the end decision – which is a government decision – and that is what will go out,” he explained.

Governor Jaspert also noted that a number other Cabinet happenings – such as matters considered to be sensitive – will be exempt from these weekly Cabinet reports.

Such matters include those that pertain to national security, personal data, and/or personal privacy.

“The Cabinet Secretary has guidelines on those [exempted matters],” the governor said.

He said Cabinet members chose to make their decisions public in an effort to promote “openness” in government.

The Cabinet of the Virgin Islands has authority above all ministries, departments, statutory boards, and agencies of government, except where it is otherwise clearly stated.

Cabinet comprises the territory’s governor, the premier and his four other government ministers, the attorney general, and the Cabinet secretary, who heads the group.