Governor defends exclusion from BVI’s interest register
Governor Daniel Pruce has denied any double standards in the application of interest declaration rules for senior public servants in the Virgin Islands, amid questions about why he is not personally listed on the local Register of Interests.
The issue surfaced during a press conference on the Commission of Inquiry (COI) reforms, where Pruce confirmed that senior public officers are now required to register their interests in a private register, as mandated under recent legislative changes.
“The register does exist. Public officers have had an opportunity, in line with the new arrangements, to provide details to that register,” he stated.
He noted that access levels to the register have been the subject of ongoing discussion, but added, “We now have in place a good and effective basis within which interests that are a matter of public interest, which are relevant to the exercise of the responsibilities of public officers and others, can now be properly recorded,” Pruce explained.
When asked whether he, as the highest-ranking public officer in the territory, was also required to register under the same system, the Governor said he was subject to more stringent rules under UK protocols.
“In terms of conflicts of interest, in terms of registering anything that could conflict with my role or responsibility, I’m subject to all of the very robust provisions that are exercised by the British government over a British public servant,” he stated.
Pressed on whether this amounted to a double standard, he replied, “No, it just reflects the different status of this role and the nature of my appointment.”
Governor Pruce clarified that his reporting duties lie within the British Civil Service and Diplomatic Service structures, saying, “Arrangements which are still more demanding and still more stretching apply to me as a British public officer.”
The issue of the register’s privacy has been contentious since former Governor John Rankin called on the House of Assembly to make the public officer interest register more accessible to the public. That proposal was not adopted.
The requirement for public officers to declare their interests was one of the recommendations from the 2022 Commission of Inquiry. The COI highlighted the importance of transparency and accountability in public office.
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Whenever the gov get chance he quick to fly out of here. He don’t care to be here so I don’t care About is interest here locally
I care about the crooks here who live here and doing shady stuff trying to hide it but in my face telling me UK bad but is them who cheating the book while making our lives harder and doing ntn to ease the pressure while the enrich themselves who was alrdy well off without it
Yeaa I’m more concerned about
My politicians who have undeclared interest and then they rent their business out to government to make money while aldy working in government……..you can’t make this sh*t up mehson…
Pure nonsense. You are no better than us. If we have to do it then you should as well.
WE KNOW WHY THOSE WITH DIRTY HANDS ARE IN SO MUCH PAIN , SOME OF UOH ARE INVOLVED WITH THAT WANNABE GANSTER WHO GOT A TASTE OF HIS OWN MEDICINE / AND SOME OF YOU ARE WONDERING WHO NEXT ( COMMON SENSE INDICATES HE WAS NOT ALONE THIS “POPULAR BUSINESS MAN ” AS WAS WRITTEN ON HIS YELLO SITE / THAT WAS SO DUMB ( DINCE EVERYBODY KNEW WHO THIS SNGEL WAS / BUT THE IDIOT , AS ALWAYS , TRYING TO EMBELLISH HIS STORY ON THE DUDE , WHO EVEN WAS POSTING PHOTOS ON FACEBOOK OF HIMSELF WITH SOME OF HIS GOLD THROPHYS ( WE HOPE THEY ALL KILL OFF EACHOTHER / ALL OF THEM GOT BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS SO KARMA IS CLOSING IN ON THEM ONE BY ONE / WHETHER WHO GOT CASTLES ON THE HILLS OR IN THE VALLEYS / THE DEVIL GOT YOUR SOULS ( SADLY YOUR FAMILIES WILL SUFFER FOR YOUR GREEDY ASZES ( RIP ) ATLEAST THE UNDERTAKERS WILL GIVE YA’AL A GOOD SEND OF TO MEET THE DEVIL WHOM YA’AL WORSHIP •
Hmmm. Seems like the so called “double standard” is something that’s been manufactured. In other words: click bait.
Hi nonesense. He does do it. He works for the UK. He has to follow their stricter protocols. Our poiticians want self determination and the have a large element of it. What they don’t want is self monitoring like the Governor has in the UK.
They have resisted it for years to hide all their dirty deals and you still encourage that.
You may be misguided.
You shold be pushing to get proper controls in place for your politicians like exist for the Governor in the UK.
He is not controlled from here. How many people there are here that do not understand we are a Territory of the UK amazes me.