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'New Complaints Commissioner is an NDP rubber stamp' - Donald E. de Castro

-Sheila N. Brathwaite is seeking to have a lawyer on staff while de Castro feels a lawyer should head the Commission
New Complaints Commissioner Sheila N. Brathwaite is of the view that the Commission needs a lawyer on it staff. Photo: VINO
Donald E de Castro made his views clear on his Straight Talk radio show on July 8, 2015 that he favours an attorney for the position of Complaints Commissioner and that Ms Brathwaite was nothing but an NDP rubber stamp. Photo: VINO/File
Donald E de Castro made his views clear on his Straight Talk radio show on July 8, 2015 that he favours an attorney for the position of Complaints Commissioner and that Ms Brathwaite was nothing but an NDP rubber stamp. Photo: VINO/File
Former Complaints Commissioner Elton Georges. Photo: VINO/File
Former Complaints Commissioner Elton Georges. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – The quest to secure a lawyer to be part of the team that heads the Complaints Commission of the Virgin Islands (VI) has been one with a long history and a fight that former Commissioner of Complaints Mr Elton Georges, CMG, OBE has passed on to new Complaints Commissioner Ms Sheila N. Brathwaite.

“I have also hinted to her (Ms Brathwaite) that she needs to continue to fight to get a lawyer in the office,” Mr Georges told reporters at his exit press conference held on June 30, 2015.

“I am convinced that indeed we need a lawyer in the office. In fact when I was interviewed I indicated, not knowing that Mr Georges had been pushing for that,” said Ms Brathwaite.

However on the other hand social commentator Mr Donald E. de Castro took a hard swing at Ms Brathwaite’s appointment as the Complaints Commissioner as he felt such office should be held by an attorney at law.

During his radio show ‘Straight talk’ on July 8, 2015 Mr de Castro went as far as to suggesting that the National Democratic Party (NDP) led government may be using Ms Brathwaite as a ‘rubber stamp’. “I am concerned if this is the best qualified person for this job,” Mr de Castro said of Ms Brathwaite.

He noted further, “many people are saying and I might want to believe also, this new Commissioner might be just a rubber-stamp for the NDP.”

de Castro said that there were other persons employed in the Office of the Complaints Commission that were capable of doing the job. “And personally I would want to believe that the [former] Commissioner (Mr Georges) had developed that Office to a point where there should have been an attorney taking over that position, because I believe that that Office needs a good legal mind in there. But again we have to wait and see.”

Yesterday July 9, 2015 this news site sought to secure a comment from Ms Brathwaite as it regards Mr de Castro suggesting that she may be a NDP ‘rubber stamp’ as Complaints Commissioner. However this was futile as she was out of office at the time.

8 Responses to “'New Complaints Commissioner is an NDP rubber stamp' - Donald E. de Castro”

  • ABC (10/07/2015, 09:58) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
    One can honestly say that Georges had the balls to tell it as he saw it. With this lady I think not. From here on in there will be very little difference between the way the Immigration Board is run and the way this Commission will be run. "Don't rock the boat."
  • aaa (10/07/2015, 10:03) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply
    Donald you on ti something!
  • Mr T (10/07/2015, 10:04) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
    Congratulations on your new appointment.
  • wize up (10/07/2015, 10:06) Like (2) Dislike (15) Reply
    Decastro; why don't you offer the complaints commission all of those bright ideas that are running around in your head: thank God for freedom of speech because most you bring to the issues is talk( just sit back and criticize things)...
  • shaw (10/07/2015, 10:08) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    A lawyer is vital to the efficiency and transparency of the commission. Problem-solving includes ethics, the basic reading of the law, negotiation, and hard decisions in fairness. This commission has been ignored in the past because it required legislature to act on complaints which may impact individual members etc. PLEASE! this may be the only venue the public has as recourse in complaints and holding people accountable in a potentially just society.
  • .... (10/07/2015, 11:25) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
    This might be a good job for ballhead
  • observant (10/07/2015, 17:11) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    I quite agree with Mr. DeCastro that there was more than likely at least one person from the same office who was no doubt prepared to succeed Mr. Elton Georges. In that case, why employ someone who is retired? It's not a matter of whether his replacement is/is not a rubberstamp for the NDP or not, it's a matter of internal succession planning and mostly about FAIRNESS. I am actually a supporter of the Government, so it's not a question of party.


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