Foot at the head! On the job at HM Prison
It is so far unclear what is the reaction by inmates at Her Majesty’s Prison to this controversial appointment as many in the progressive and indigenous class have labeled it as a step backwards since they noted that two key important institutions, the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) and the Prison are now headed by United Kingdom nationals under the National Democratic Party (NDP).
In any case, Mr Foot has his hands full with the long laundry list of real challenges at the Prison. However, to date, no local has been identified to understudy Mr Foot.
The NDP’s public position and rhetoric have been to suggest their disapproval of having a UK national head the prisons since this is not in the best interest of the community given the Territory's colonial ties and history of slavery.
Many inmates continue to complain about the unfair legal system and the inconsistencies in sentencing by the courts, the overcrowded situation at the Balsam Ghut facility, the short staff of prison officers and even the smell of sewage that both prisoners and staff must endure.
Many have also lashed out at the blatant injustice and human rights violations of having some local men locked up for almost two years with no local charges pending against them while awaiting a United States of America extradition case. The men have been consistently denied bail.
Some prisoners were recently upset when they learnt that they were not going to be released for the day to see their family for Christmas as the courtesy was denied.
Background to Foot’s appointment-Minster Walwyn’s role
After days of investigation and speaking with Virgin Islands News Online’s many sources within the NDP Government, this news site confirmed in October 2013 that Acting Superintendent of Prisons, Mr. Charles L. Forbes, an indigenous Virgin Islander, had lost his job with Government.
Mr Forbes’ contract was not renewed by Government when it expired in September of this year after a recommendation from the Ministry of Education and Culture and the National Security Council with the full knowledge of the controversial Minister for Education and Culture, Hon. Myron V. Walwyn, according to an NDP source.
It remains unclear why Mr Forbes was chased out of office and did not secure a contract renewal.
According to the same source close to the situation, the Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn who has responsibility for Her Majesty’s Prison and share some duties with the Governor, was trying to dance around the issue but he was allegedly “well aware of all the happenings over the rejection of a contract renewal for Mr Forbes resulting in another local being put out of work.”
When the story first broke a couple months ago in the local media, Minister Walwyn claimed to selective local media houses that he did not support the appointment of a UK national to head the Prison Services. However, days after the UK-appointed Governor William B. McCleary told selective media sites that Mr Walwyn was well aware of Mr Foot’s appointment and supported it.
To save face over his flip-flop, it was reported by a local online news site that Minister Walwyn changed his story to claim his “support” for Mr Foot came only after the selection by the Governor.
While the Governor is the Head of the Civil Service, under the constitutional arrangement of 2007, no Heads of Departments or Permanent Secretaries can be appointed without the expressed approval of the subject Minister or Premier of the Virgin Islands whom the constitution gives the power of being in charge of the ministries of Government.
Who to believe? Walwyn or McCleary?
The source did confirm that Minister Walwyn wrote a letter to the Public Service Commission over his position on the post of Superintendent of Prisons. Once the controversy broke and the Governor called out the Minister on his knowledge and support of the UK national Mr. Foot over the local, the Minister released his letter dated June 6, 2013 to a pro-government online news site. The letter was addressed to ‘The Chairwomen of the Public Service Commission’ [interestingly not copied to Governor McCleary] detailing his concerns over an expat appointment.
However, the United Kingdom appointed Governor, again speaking to another media house, reportedly said he was not aware of the concerns raised by the Minister over Mr Foot's appointment and added “that the Minister was supportive of the appointment.”
According to this news site’s sources within the Ministry of Education and Culture, there were two other local applicants for the post of Superintendent of Prisons, including a Virgin Islander who is a former Police Officer and who was willing to relocate from overseas, However, Walwyn told a local online media that he “wanted a local in the post”, but his credibility on this matter continues to be questioned by the public.
Mr Foot’s experience and résumé, according the a Government Information press release, seems to be deep and wide, however, its left to be seen if he has the influence necessary to get the local government to address the many issues that plague the prison and contributes to the poor environment of the inmates.
Also many have a keen eye on his relationship with the Governor as they are both white UK nationals who were appointed as opposed to the democratically elected Minister of Government.
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38 Responses to “Foot at the head! On the job at HM Prison”
Why in this day and age we could settle for a white superintendent of prisons. We are not thinking. The aim of UK is to put whites in key positions because they are looking for havens for their own. We must look beyond this and know if we do not rid ourselves of the British their aim will always be to colonize us. People wake up.
Why is the courts allegedly suppressing the rights of BVIslanders
M.... leaking dey letter to platinum waz blatant opportunism
U lockdown the jail for one man.what happen to my people who did nothing.remember u still on the road
when will all you people learn, the bvi belongs to the uk, they could appoint who they want whether we like it or not, we are not an independent state, cant you people see that, customs and immigration will soon be headed by the uk, well for me it will be better, because more than half of those customs officers in the bvi belongs behind bars, but time longer than rope, hurry uk take it all over, it will be better for the bvi.
F**t will be carrying news to the white house
Smh tortola really!!???? Why yal like w**** man over ayo own people!!..don't never forget the jail is made for every1 in tortola u can end up in jail for a traffic ticket and all so ayo keep talkin !! Wish one of yal co end up up dey let foot put his foot up ya ass to!!!