The last thing we need is another Breach of Trust charge
The concern over public officers being arrested and charged in the execution of their duties has heightened with legislators now calling for something be done to abate those fears.
Health Minister Marlon Penn made those calls in the wake of a Breach of Trust charge against former Chairman of the National Democratic Party (NDP) Myron Walwyn and Najan Christopher, who has since been sent on leave from the Premier’s Office.
Lawmakers have now taken to pleading with the government to establish Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in order to ease public servants’ fears about being charged with the criminal offence of Breach of Trust.
Unprecedented scrutiny
Penn recently joined Works Minister Kye Rymer in noting that public servants are now more fearful in conducting their duties.
“In terms of the process which our public officers have to operate under, there’s a level of scrutiny like never before,” Penn said.
Penn said legislators have a responsibility to ensure that the process is clear; especially after previously establishing a process under which constituency offices should function.
“The same has to be true for the way that public officers should do their jobs. There needs to be clear, standard operating procedures under which public officers should function; particularly as it pertains to procurement and the new procurement rules that are going to be put in place,” Penn argued.
Integrity and diligence
According to the lawmaker, the government needs to have a better way of transaction for its workers and ensure that good, hardworking public servants who perform their duties with integrity and diligence are not worried about coming under scrutiny or being brought before the court based on a process.
“The last thing that we want to hear again is another public officer being charged for Breach of Trust for executing their duties in good faith, based on a policy directly from the government and saying that they’re not following a process,” Penn argued.
Penn said the government has not outlined this process and argued that there is no clear SOP for how the process should be followed.
“There needs to be a process for ensuring that new legislation, new processes and the standing operating procedures are extremely clear so public officers could perform their duties as they go about their daily activity,” he stated. “[This should be implemented] so that persons could work efficiently and effectively in performing their duties without fear of being scrutinised or fear of [it] being said that they’re not performing duties in an upright manner.”
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Marlon the issue is very simple. The problem that we face is that we elect a set of popular people with zero understanding of management. The same people that go into HOA and pass legislation are the ones complaining that legislation is hampering developments. What does this tell you? We need competent people who understand what is going on and who will take their time to pass legislation that makes sense rather than for optics. We have 1st 2nd and 3rd readings for important pieces of legislation in one sitting, then it’s passed, but we wonder where all the confusion arises? The BVI will forever be in a vicious sick cycle until we elect individuals who actually understand how to manage.
“Lawmakers have now taken to pleading with the government to establish Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in order to ease public servants’ fears about being charged with the criminal offence of Breach of Trust”. But they only care about independence they don’t care about these non important things like standard operation procedures.
If a public Servant or officer has commited no breach of trust or crime, they have nothing to fear from investigation.
Please tell us exactly who has been charged for executing their duties’in good faith’? There are legal parameters and guidelines for this ‘scrutiny’. No one said it would be easy, but most of us agree the investigations must be done.
The problem is there was a witch hunt in the first place and the DPP agreed to abuse the legal process (because there is such a thing) in order to justify the witch hunt. There should be no place in society for condoning such abuses. The buck have to stop right here, right now. The DPP need to go on disciplinary actions for breaching the public’s trust by being a part of the witch hunt. It is sickening to the society.
Meanwhile, for many years now, the lack of increments payments to retirees and those still on the job for service already rendered is not only causing severe financial hardships and suffering among many.
The vicious neglect is also causing very serious psychological and emotional challenges for many.
To not pay people what they have worked for after years is cruel and unjust, mean spirited, evil, ungodly, unchristian and inhumane.
We have a group of elected demons, not officials without a human heartm but one made of stone, who look out for themselves, their salary raises, increments, retirement packages, perks and more, and leave the citizenry wanting and scrunting. An awful bunch they are.
Sadly, VIP, then NDP and now VIP again have all done us the same thing.
We need our incremets Mr. Governer and Mr.Premier. Please give them to us!!
True, but those sorts of individuals not inclined to run given how current socio-political climate in the BVI has evolved.
Everybody fraid ah deh guvunor
The DPP needs to be fired and somebody with skill and judgment needs to be appointed. ‘Barn er’ is not a qualification!
Agreed.
Butt now we have a third breach of Trust case. When will we get to the bottom of these cases. Sorry Mr Penn Butt this must be a slap on the Cheeks for you. Lets hope no more get through the cracks until we have pulled our pants up. Until then these cases are going to keep sneaking up behind you and kicking you in your rear end. Butt glad to see that you are not sitting on your backside and doing nothing like some other lazy asses might do. The sooner our Police Force and other Public officers from Free Bottom to Butu Road have their backsides protected the sooner we can lift ourselves from the bottom. I hope no details are shared on the site run by the guy whose name rhymes with Buttock.
Ayo always jumping on the politicians but what about holding the governor accountable and in the same vein. Our mentality towards our elected leaders is foolishness.
The only abuse of power is the governor and his bosses. Wake up people.
Get rid of the governor and the commissioner of police. Go to the hub of the problem.
There is no way that a Governor from the UK can act in any Overseas Territory best interest. The only interest they have is that of their bosses in the UK and what they want for the people of the OTs is far from what is best for the OTs. Time to elect the Governors from among the OTs.
The bottom.
LOL! I was wondering how long it would be until some BAD FAITH operator, shivering in their boots while waiting their turn, called the investigations ‘a witch hunt’. sigh
The problem is the politicians. Politicians like giving directives via phone calls and public officers refuse to read and understand the laws and policies to their respective departments. The politicians need to stop abusing their powers and intimidating public officers.