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by pltm
(PLTM) - Governor John Duncan believes that a large number of residents are in support of his historic decision to invoke his constitutional powers for government to make available additional monies for the police and legal services.
Further, on Friday, March 24, the United Kingdom’s representative, who is winding down his tenure, told reporters that as Governor, he is not here to make popular decisions.
He said that it is clear in the constitution to allow for the Governor to do checks and balances.
"I will point you to my inauguration statement three years ago, where I said I will make decisions based on properly evaluated evidence and that I would not hesitate, even if those decisions are unpopular...And that is exactly what I am doing," Governor Duncan said in response to questions from reporters.
He went on to add, "I am here to make judgments and decisions, which in my view are on the basis from a wide variety of people. They are not intended to be popular. They may be popular, but that’s not what I am here for. I am not here to make popular decisions; I am here to make the right decision as far as I can judge it to be."
Asked about the claims that this recent move has taken the Territory back some ten years, the Governor said he does not subscribe to that view. He said that elected representatives need to take their responsibilities seriously.
"As I said in my last press conference, I regret having to take this decision; it is not the way I wanted matters to go. I wish the government would take more responsibility. We are a modern society and elected representatives need to take their responsibilities seriously, even if sometimes these are hard decisions."
He added, "I don’t think it has put the Territory back. Section 103 is in there for a particular reason. If the situation arises, and the situation has arisen, the Governor has to take the decision. That is what the constitution is there for, checks and balances, and the Governor is part of those checks and balances."
In response to questions on whether this is a warning across the board for the National Democratic Party (NDP) government, Governor Duncan said that it’s strong advice.
"It is implicitly part of the checks and balances. If the government does not do what the Governor feels is required in financing internal security, the Governor has to act; it’s inevitable."
He continued, "It is not a warning to them across the board; it’s a strong advice to them that the government which is elected has to provide the funding for internal security and there is no option on that."
Gov't Was Warned
Meanwhile, Governor Duncan said that before he came to the decision to invoke section 103, he had given Premier Hon. Dr. D. Orlando Smith warning, that if the financing was not made available, he would exercise his constitutional powers.
He said that he also wrote to the Premier on February 21.
Governor Duncan indicated that he did not need to seek permission from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to act since the section in the constitution clearly states that it’s a Governor's decision. However, he said that he informed the FCO before he informed the BVI public.
"It's a Governor’s decision, not one that comes from London, but of course I have informed London of my decision and my intentions to take that decision."
Governor Duncan noted that section 103 does not speak to emergency in order for the Governor to act.
"There is no reference to emergency in section 103…It is very clear as to what section 103 is for. It was clearly intended that if the Governor was not satisfied that internal security was not properly funded, then the Governor had the obligation to take appropriate action,” Governor Duncan said.
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