Ritter-Freeman ousted immediately; No waiting until March 2018
They advised us that after the article the Acting Permanent Secretary in the Premier’s Office, Ms Dawn J. Smith, was allegedly instructed by Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) to have Mrs Ritter-Freeman removed from the post immediately.
According to the same source, her last day in office was yesterday Monday February 19, 2018 where she reverted to her post as Deputy Secretary in the Premier’s Office.
As was first and accurately reported by our newsroom on February 16, 2018, Mr Ian B. Penn is now in charge of the Department.
The good, the bad & the ugly
Many supporters and local nationalists defended Mrs Ritter-Freeman’s tenure at the Immigration Department.
They said she had to stand up against some Ministers of Government, senior civil servants and some in the private sector, who wanted her to break the immigration laws, so they could get what they wanted. In addition, the Department remains under staffed, physically out of space and overwhelmed with new conflicting policies that sometimes violate the immigration laws. The immigration staff, both in the Road Town office and at ports of entries, work under poor working and inhumane conditions, including in mold infected buildings.
It is also alleged that Dr Smith and some of his Ministers made requests of the Department, but were not always willing to place the request in writing or amend the immigration laws to achieve their goals.
Some have said also that the Dr Smith led Administration is giving away the country with liberal immigration policies, which has become a threat to national security.
Ritter-Freeman had her critics
However, Mrs Ritter-Freeman had her critics. They claimed she was "mean" and never used her discretion to help, but stuck to the letter of the laws.
The former Acting CIO made headlines following the Hurricanes of September 2017 when she announced that the Department was checking homes to verify the living conditions of applicants before clearances for visas to remain in the islands were issued.
Her critics claimed, as a former Chief Information Officer who should have been media savvy, she took too long to address and explain the negative publicity of long lines, poor service, reported discriminatory treatment of expatriates and confusion over the new immigration policies that helped cripple her tenure at the Department.
To date, the Government has been tight-lipped about the change of leadership at the Department.
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41 Responses to “Ritter-Freeman ousted immediately; No waiting until March 2018”
As for competence, what has been happening at Immigration lately, I think that shows a lack of competence. I can also tell you this. Many are glad she is gone. Go smoke that. Who vex bun!
She needs more assistance and supported..
As a long term resident in the BVI,,, she should be supported and given what help is necessary.
She personally was assistingpeople , handing tickets for seniors and with minimal support, she was doing the best that she could under these trying circumstances... Give her a raise !!!
THANK YOU AND GOOD LUCK MR. IAN PENN.