House Speaker regrets snub at Rankin’s exit ceremony
House of Assembly Speaker Corine George-Massicote has expressed regret at the exclusion of some lawmakers from the departure ceremony for Governor John Rankin yesterday, January 18.
The elected leaders’ noted absence comes amid unresolved tension between Rankin and themselves because of his statement that he (Rankin) may have to seek additional powers for his office from the United Kingdom (UK) to help implement the Commission of Inquiry (COI) good governance recommendations.
While pointing out their conspicuous absence at the ceremony, the House Speaker wrote, “Regrettably, apart from the Premier, Leader of the Opposition and Attorney General, no other member received an invitation to the governor’s departure ceremony. Consequently, the Speaker and other members were not in attendance at the event.”
George-Massicote explained that after she enquired into the matter, it was disclosed that the ceremony was meant to be intimate and, therefore, invitations were not extended to the Speaker and other members of the House.
Suspicion arose after lawmakers were absent from the ceremony, as is customary.
However, George-Massicote acknowledged the importance of fostering inclusivity on such occasions. She wished Rankin well in his future endeavours.
Meanwhile, Deputy Governor David Archer will act in the Office of Governor from January 18 to January 29 pending the arrival of Rankin’s successor, Daniel Pruce
“I am honoured and humbled to have been sworn in by His Lordship the Honourable Justice Paul Webster, in the presence of former Governor Rankin CMG, for the final time, to act in the capacity of governor. I thank Rankin for his service to the territory during his tenure and I wish him well as he retires from the Public Service,” Archer commented.
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Express yourself master Wheatley , everyday you are proving your critics right AND we have to excuse the other fellow who has hollered out RETARDATION as a side effect from the ( COI ), looks like he was right on that . ( with all the knowledge that thse
aristocracts is supposed to possess , we can still see there’s no INTEGRITY OR SIMPLE COMMON SENSE IN SIGHT – AND ITS SO APPALLING TO SAY THE LEAST . ( WHERE ARE THE REAL LEADERS
Are all members usually invited? Have you been invited in the past and repeated declined or did not show up? There is a lot missing here. Not too long ago the Speaker refused to swear in the Governor in the HOA saying he is not a member so I am not sure what you want the Governor to do now? If the Premier was otherwise engaged, where was the Deputy Premier or someone else to represent him? The same for the Leader of the Opposition. Did all 13 of them need to go to JVD to open the school? Who paid their boat fee and meals while there? Why was the opening date of the school moved to the same day as the Governor’s departure? Diplomacy is sorely lacking in this place and it will cost us dearly if we do not get our act together.
Very childish behavior, juvenile if you asked me, ah set of boys in our house of assembly, ok so what did they achieved by doing that? NADA.
In the realm of power, a Premier’s grand design,
A Unity Party formed, ambitions entwined.
Seeking British COI recommendations, he aspired,
To wield control, set his vision afire.
Election’s call, a political stage set,
Endorsing VIP candidates, a move to offset.
A delicate charade, half-hearted support,
While the Unity Party, his preference sought.
Premiership secured, veiled preferences lay,
Unity’s allure, ambitions on display.
Hastily formed, pledges made in haste,
COI implementation, a promise embraced.
Yet time revealed Unity’s faltering stride,
Dates on the document, like shadows, hide.
Fulfillment elusive, aspirations fade,
The looming threat, an Order in Council’s shade.
The Premier should have declined the invitation if the ministers were not there as customary. I will be his advisor for less than 120,000 and do a better job.
Who would want to be in the same place with them setta of criminals from the HOA…Good move governor.
The curupt police commissioner was not there
Set a idiots then when they get put on the side for not making progress they going to bawl and say its slavery.
wake tf up yall sound like the house slaves defending master
The Premier behaves like he is still in pampers . This move was immature and a disgrace to the country . Blatant disrespect. Such hypocrisy… the date for the school was strategically placed to cover his absense . You and tour cronies who do it has a lot to learn
Hard to call any of them “honorable “ I lost all respect for them all.
Neither the House, nor the elected Government has done what it agreed to. And now they are moaning about a lack of invitations to an event which I expect they all would have boycotted. It seems a number did.
I remember when Head Coach bade His Excellency Governor Jaspert farewell. Head Coach was in his jogging bottoms. Classy! That was before he was arrested.
It’s not as though the BVI has the moral high ground on this. The CoI uncovered horrors, Fahie is about to go on trial with the Director of Ports having already pleaded guilty, and there is precious little to show for the billions of government budgets since the 1980s. The place looks like a dustbin despite its natural beauty.
What do people think will be in the Governor’s hand over notes to the FCDO and the new Governor? An “A” for integrity keeping promises and effort?
This is like a class of “special needs” kids who have been caught out. BVIslanders should be embarrassed.
We are asking our elected officials to have respect for someone who don’t respect us our culture and want to create a South Africa here in the Caribbean people wake up why do you think he wants MORE POWER to do you have to spell and pronounce for you all to know what the word is stop being stupid as they think we are and I know we are smart
Just STFU! We got us here! We!!!!!!!!!!!!
We’re going to pay for that eff up
Thesepoppshow pistarcle semi literate members of the VI Gov are simply demonstrating their lack of class and as always,foresight..
No matter how I try I cannot unsee” the former Premier in his jeans marauding on the wayside as the former Gov Jaspert departed at the end of his term. Former Premier niggardly glad happy and bragging how he disrespected Gov Jaspert.
Also cannot unsee the said former Premier slobbering and fluttering on his knees on God’s Earth hissing his supposedly Good Godly Righteousness.
God will never be mocked!!!
Jaspert smiled and graciously bowed out with dignity and so did Rankin.
All the while B vi smelly dutty looking like typical Black Caribbean waste, waiting while irrevocably smeared internationally by the VI elected, to be flushed away with the flick of someone and somewhere else’s pen.
So saith the feeble mind of the times.
To Jim. Weshould not. We are human being with minds of our own. We should not think like others wish us to, and thenif we don’t we are punished for it.
It is hoped that UK overseas officials are more intelligent than what some of these comments are demonstrating.