UPDATE: It's official! Ritter-Freeman to act as CIO
Our story was confirmed today, August 22, 2016 by a Government Information Service (GIS) press release, which stated that Ritter-Freeman is to act in the post for a period of one year.
The appointment was made by His Excellency the Governor, Mr. John S. Duncan, OBE, acting in accordance with the advice of the Public Service Commission and takes effect today.
According to the press release, Mrs Ritter-Freeman has 20 years of combined experience as a senior manager within the Virgin Islands’ public and private sectors, with training in public sector management, communications and public relations.
‘Uniquely qualified’
Permanent Secretary in the Premier’s Office, Mr Brodrick Penn stated that Mrs Ritter-Freeman is uniquely qualified to serve as the Chief Immigration Officer and said, “As Deputy Secretary in the Premier’s Office, Mrs Ritter-Freeman serves as the desk office for immigration matters and has worked closely with the Immigration Department to provide ministerial support for the department’s administration and operations, as well as to help shape and formulate policy.”
She has served on the Immigration and Labour Sub-committee – a select committee responsible for making recommendations for the reform of Immigration and Labour laws and policies. She also directly supervises the Status Unit that facilitates the processing of Belonger and Residence applications.
In addition, Mrs Ritter-Freeman has represented the department at regional meetings on topical immigration issues such as asylum protocols, border management and the free movement of people within the region.
Mrs Ritter-Freeman has a Master of Business Administration (Public Sector Management concentration) from the University of the West Indies, along with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mass Communications from the Norfolk State University. In addition, she holds a certificate in public relations from the Royal Institute of Public Administration (RIPA) in crisis management and imaging.
During her tenure in the public service, she also served as the Chief Information Officer and Deputy Chief Information Officer in the Department of Information and Public Relations where she had oversight of a multi-unit organisation.
Her other work experience includes work as the Director of Communications, Public Relations and Marketing for the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College and as a Management Officer with the British Virgin Islands London Office.
Mrs Ritter-Freeman succeeds Mr Ian Penn who has proceeded on a leave of absence to pursue further studies.
The snubbing of Guy M. Hill for the second time by Government, however, has not gone down well with some members of the public who have turned to social media and blogs to express their dissatisfaction.
See previous article published August 19, 2016
Hill snubbed again! Ritter-Freeman tipped for Acting CIO post
- Ian B. Penn to proceed on study leave
It was in May this year this news site first and accurately reported that Acting Chief Immigration Officer Ian B. Penn was slated to proceed on study leave in September 2016.
The names floated at the time included Malvern Barthwaite, who is an Assistant Secretary in the Premier’s Office and has acted in the post of Chief Immigration Officer before; Geraldine Ritter-Freeman; Keith Dawson from the BVI Tourist Board and Carolyn Stoutt-Igwe, who has since been named Acting Permanent Secretary in the Deputy Governor’s Office.
This news site can now disclose that Ritter-Freeman has been tipped for the post and is expected to take up her new post as early as next week.
Mr Penn will be proceeding on study leave in a couple of weeks.
This means that it is the second time Mr Guy M. Hill has been snubbed for the post of Acting Chief Immigration Officer.
Mr Hill acted as Chief Immigration Officer during late 2013 to October 2014 but he was never confirmed to the post after it was reported of a fall-out between him and the Office of the Premier, the Ministry under which the Immigration Department falls.
He was then replaced by his Deputy Ian B. Penn as Mr Hill was reverted to the Deputy Chief Immigration Officer’s post.
According to an NDP source, “some see Guy as too strict and not flexible enough, but he is a man who sticks to the law.”
Mr Hill has law enforcement background after working for many years in the United States of America in law enforcement.
Meanwhile, it is unclear whether Ms Ritter-Freeman’s appointment will be a temporary one or whether she would be confirmed to the post, since it is vacant.
Her title is Acting Deputy Secretary within the Premier’s Office, which also oversees the Immigration Department. She has been the desk officer also for the Immigration Department.
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85 Responses to “UPDATE: It's official! Ritter-Freeman to act as CIO”
There have been too many complaints that he does not offer solutions which is why he has not gotten the job.
It is nothing about whether the NDP government or anybody else likes him or not.
Miss Ritter is not ready for that job so she needs to leave it alone.
I am talking about Mr. Hill being helpful to businesses and individuals with immigration issues, by providing guidance under the law.
Numerous businesses and individuals have immigration issues and when Mr. Hill is asked, he quotes the law.
He does not offer solutions (under the law) to the issues, he just states the law.
This is what I mean about the difference between a manager and a technocrat.
@SMH before you accuse anyone of ignorance, please ensure that you are not ignorant yourself. Read before you respond.
Once the government continually receives complaints (and yes, Brad Boynes, there are complaints) about a senior civil servant, that civil servant will not be in that position for long whether the gov is NDP or VIP or any other P.
Mr. Hill knows the law, we all agree on that. But if he does not move from being a technocrat to a manager, he will not get the position. It is nothing about bending his principles for anyone. All that is suggested, is that he is a principled manager vs a principled technocrat.
You offer your thoughts on a particular story or event and people take the opportunity to insult you and your intelligence.
For the record, I have nothing against Mr. Hill. I think he is a great guy and an asset to the Virgin Islands. Because I have offered my opinion which may not be what someone else wants to hear, this does not mean that I am a "hater", or asking that Mr Hill lower his standards or break the law.
#leadersneedtoleadnotsteal#
Why cant some young people be honest with themselves.They know they not up to the task but because of money and recognition they want to be in things. The Feds and other border control agencies will be able to wrap their fingers around her. Meanwhile the country suffering.
bad people waltz right in, get their work papers for whatever - and are trouble. a certain caribbean country that
starts with a 'J' has all kinds of jerks that are allowed here and really have behaviour and attitude issues.
@Yardy, a pretty face don't mean S()t. Lets see if she have what it takes to do the job.
This vindictiveness against Guy because he did his job with professionalism per the law ( is this not what we want from civil servants?) is uncalled for and an unforced error. Doc look in the mirror and also examine your conscience if you got any left. Does it say that the right action was taken? Except for politicians misusing their power and status and getting their rocks off, what positive good can come from this sleezy action? None. It is not going to improve our quality of life one iota. In fact, it will further divide the territory. There is no contest as to who is best qualified to lead the Immigration Department. Guy Hill is. The territory needs unity, not division, to grow. We will remember at the polls who acts in self interest and those that act in the national interest. The BVI is at a crossroad and needs all of us pulling together, not some pulling and some just along for the boat ride. The Opposition and the Governor must share blame in this SNAFU with Guy. If the Opposition were stronger and if the Governor were not also leading like a wet noodle, things would be different. Guy, hang in there and do not let them win. Leave on your own time table but the time is not yet. Time longer than twine. Power and status evaporate quickly. Cuz be strong. We will talk strategy and tactics soon.
If you want the job how about you apply for it?
The Governor and buy extension the UK is equally guilty on this public flogging of a civil servant whose only crime was doing his job according to the law. The Governor's office should be the office that provides oversight and provide protection from wrong doing. But the Governor has failed miserably. Can Guy appeal to the Governor and get a fair and unbiased hearing? It does not appear so? Where does Guy go next? Does he go to the Foreign and Commonwewlth Office? Arthur Hodge(1763-1811, member of Legisaltive Council and Legisaltive Assembly, slave owner and planter farmer, was convicted of killing one of his slaves, tried and hang. The only planter class in the West Indies hang for killing a slave. Imagine that, a Planter Class being hung for killing a slave.
It must have been above the pale. Well, the abuse of Guy is in the same league and needs to be recorded in the annals of VI history as such. The UK is taking a hands off approach and probably saying let them n......s kill ( not literally) one another other. The Governor needs to do his damn job or else he needs to be relieved for cause. This is a clear cut case of injustice that even the blind can see clearly is wrong. Many may take a see nothing, hear nothing attitude now but tommorow may be you or a relative. This issue wreaks of wrong and needs some sunshine to cleanse it. The local government cannot solve it and it requires shaming the UK government into doing the right thing.This is a clear case of political interference and discrimination that is preventing good governance. Has the UK government fail? Or it is too consume with the Brexit debacle to give a shit about some n.....s out in the colonies? Has it no sense no shame or sense of decency?
Does this ting has a tinge of Upstreet vs Downstreet? This may sound like a stretch but hmmmmmm I know what I know. Mouth open tory jump out. What they say, where there is smoke there is fire and those that pretend that they cannot mash ants are the worse. Guy needs our collective help to right this wrong for all Virgin Islanders, for if this goes like a puff of wind so too will the VI society and someone else will be calling more of the shots-may be.
1. The immigration laws of the Virgin Islands Cap.130
2. The Virgin Islands Penal Code
3. The Virgin Islands Constitution and immigdation requirements
4. Determinants of Immigration status
5. Psychology and the legal system
6. Detecting immigration document fraud and benefits
7. Language test in Portuguese,Mandarin, Italian and Spanish.
8. Immigratikn and the environment
9. Immigration and financial service
10. The Virgin Islands Labour Code
11. VI Customs laws
12. Conservation and Customs laws.
ok. There is more but Enough. After that make an unbiased and fair determination.
Mr. Hill and others like him God dont sleep ..you have done nothing wrong..hold your head up high.INTEGRITY means everything. Their dsy is soon coming..ALL of them have something to hide and soon much if it will be revealed.
As for the one that's leaving so nuch could be said about him as well..but time will speak for itself..he too will reap a lot of what he has sown while in that position...theres a lot they think people dont know..but school children talk
Churches set aside your differences join together and start speaking out.
Congrats Geraldine!!! You were always a beauty and was always gracious in everything you do !!!
YAAAAAYYYYY!!!
Ritter job at the London house......why was it cut short.
That goon squad and their puppets need to get lost in the wind.
Nothing but a bunch of crocked rotten apples in a bucket. They draw a line down the middle of this Island. One side you have the HAVES and on one side you have the HAVE NOTS.
first thing first remember the goverment have goten the approval to extend the airport beef island .they need to bring in all the chinies to work on the airport so they making sure they wont get block. and leave ourlocal out in the cold. so they get rid of penn who learn about them and bring in ritafreeman is will be the yes thlady and will not fight back for she is now right whe they want her. ........ and some of them crooked senior officers. lady dont stoop low to please no politician and dirty low. go in and do your job look out for your officer and have their interst at heart and your job will become easy and all ports. stop the senior officer from taking advantage of the people beneath them. there are some real nice officers. but the old ones who know better maker feel like crap. that one mis p........ think she ownes the department she too need to go on study leave to deal with people. to the new cio do your work fair and honnest take care of your staff also remember your christian achild of the most high god. do good and it will back to you and your children and your children children may bless you . watch for wrong doing of the goverment you will soon see their trueness