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by pltm
(PLTM) - It appears that the United Kingdom-appointed Governor, John Duncan's push for accountability is being fueled by intense pressure from the local media and Opposition to intervene and ensure accountability and transparency under the National Democratic Party (NDP) administration.
BVI Platinum News understands that the Governor wrote to Premier and Finance Minister, Hon. Dr. Orlando Smith earlier this year, noting that he has for the most part resisted such pressure, but made it clear to the Premier what needs to be done.
"As you will be aware, the Governor's Office has come under intense pressure since the beginning of the year from both the Opposition and the media to intervene more proactively with the government. I have resisted such pressure as both I and my colleagues in London have been satisfied that your government is committed to taking the required steps under the MTFP [Medium Term Fiscal Plan] process," Governor Duncan wrote.
According to information, the Governor told the Premier that he was particularly pleased with the announcement that the audit of the landslide development of the cruise pier project will be made publicly available.
Governor Duncan noted that more widely, the incisive messages backed by detailed figures and carefully reasoned narrative will hopefully provide the answers to many and often ill-informed criticisms they have seen in the media.
"I have noticed that in general, even those media outlets that are not particularly favorable to the government have reopened positively," Governor Duncan wrote about the pier audit announcement.
Despite expressing confidence in the MTFP process, the Governor noted that following discussions with London, there are four areas which will continue to require attention and if not tackled with some urgency, will lead to further calls for his intervention.
The four areas pointed out were a formal audit of the BVI government accounts; prioritisation of government spending; management of the annual fiscal budget; and public sector profligacy.
Governor Took Aim At Media
Connecting the dots, the Governor back in August of this year expressed concerns about the media, but at the time, those concerns seemed to be plucked out of thin air. However, the recent revelations about the letter written to the Premier may hold some answers, given the intense pressure he received from the media.
Government has shown few signs of implementing a Freedom of Information Act, but Governor Duncan is lobbying his UK counterparts and Premier Smith for the establishment of an Information Commissioner.
Members of the media were made aware of the development on August 19th, while discussions are already taking place behind closed doors without consultation with media operatives.
"More widely there is concern in the Territory about the press...There is a vibrant debate going on now that is all helpful in a democracy, but you do need some mechanisms for checks and balance. That’s being discussed and the concern is trying to get the balance right between freedom of expression and the role and the right of a person not to be defamed in public," he said in August at a press conference.
It appears that this commission will be separate from the court system, which currently provides redress for persons aggrieved by any publication.
"I think we need more measures. I don’t think we need a press council; I think we need something like an Information Commissioner, which is what I mentioned, which is somebody like a Complaints Commissioner who is independent of government and can respond. If someone is defamed, who feels that they have been defamed in the press, to go take legal action is a very, very expensive thing to do," he asserted.
Since the NDP took office back in November 2011, there have been numerous direct attacks at the local media, including a threat by a government Minister that government may intervene to have the establishment of a code of ethics to govern the media. This call was met with great opposition from the media.
It is the view of many journalists that a media code of ethics must not be developed by a government unless that government believes in circumventing the democratic tenants on which the media was founded. In all of the discussions, the media has not been consulted.
It is believed that a media association, when developed in the Territory, must be at the forefront of establishing basic operational guidelines.
Governor Duncan has stated that he has an issue with the way the media carries out its function and said that the Information Commissioner, who will most likely be appointed by himself or the government, will be the one to pass judgment on any grievances against the media.
However, as reported earlier, it appears to be a deep issue for the Governor, who has been criticized for his soft stance on allegations of corruption, particularly as it relates to the cruise pier project.
"I need the press to be asking the right questions, not to fixate on things that are not germane or material, and when I explain things to the press, I am not going to try to dissemble. I am trying to explain to you what is the situation. When the press totally ignores that and then goes off on a tantrum, then that’s not particularly helpful," he expressed.
The Governor said, "But you have an Information Commissioner who can hear that appeal and who can give a judgment, would be in my view a good thing; other countries have it. It's like what Complaints Commissioner do for public maladministration…I think that would be good moving down that path."
