John S. Duncan Out! Augustus J. U. Jaspert In! As new governor in August
Because the VI is a colony, governors are not elected but appointed to be the Head of State. Governor designee Gus Jaspert will replace Governor Duncan, who many described as one of the worst governors ever appointed to the VI.
John S. Duncan the worst governor?
Mr Duncan, according to many talk show hosts, the political class, legal fraternity and civil society, has no regards for the VI constitution or law and order. In other words, he does as he pleases without regard for individuals rights or local laws.
He fell out of favour with the public when he refused to call for a Commission of Inquiry over the expansion of the Ports Project after three reports demonstrated conflict of interest, violation of financial laws and alleged corruption.
Last year, talk show host Edmund G. Maduro called for months for Mr Duncan to be recalled as governor because of his failure in the position.
A few months ago, at a ceremony where Mr Duncan was invited to by the National Democratic Party (NDP) Government, he insulted the Dr Smith Administration by saying that they were “reckless in spending and has no priority.” He took off the gloves, saying he is no longer in the VI “to kiss babies.”
A few weeks later he imposed direct rule via sec 103(b) of the VI Constitution by stripping the Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) and the House of Assembly of their power to determine how monies are spent.
Governor Duncan ordered the Financial Secretary and Accountant General to take over $1.8M out of the Consolidated Fund and provide monies for the police, courts and hiring a few British QCs.
The move enjoyed widespread support from the public as crime has skyrocketed and the NDP Administration refused to listen on the issues of funding for the police.
According to a senior NDP Minister, the Administration is “quietly waiting on the count down for him to leave…everyone is just being cordial.”
Who is the new Governor?
According to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in the UK, the incoming Governor Jaspert currently serves in the United Kingdom Cabinet Office as Director of Security and Intelligence – a post he has been holding since 2015.
The Governor designee Jaspert is a former member of the Royal College of Defense Studies, as well as former head of Drugs and Alcohol, and Head of Policing.
The newly appointed governor was Private Secretary to the UK Prime Minister from 2012 to 2014, and Delivery Manager in the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit from 2007 to 2009.
He was also Lead Manager of Children’s Services (Surrey County Council).
Jaspert, whose wife is Millie Jaspert, has two children, and will live at Government House in Road Town on the main island of Tortola, a home funded and maintained by local tax payers.
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16 Responses to “John S. Duncan Out! Augustus J. U. Jaspert In! As new governor in August”
Start with the Ports Project, then the Ministry of Education...its all there!!!