We are confusing the children.  Our words do not match our actions and that makes it extremely difficult.

I was heartened to learn that, at the level of the Cabinet, the people’s business continues although there are those who still refuse to attend Cabinet meetings once the Deputy Governor, in his capacity as Acting Governor, is presiding.

It is an issue, we thought, was put to bed long ago.

Chapter 3 of the 2007 Constitution Order, Sections 35-40, deals with the powers and functions of the Governor and Deputy Governor including acting appointments.

I was in the room when the issue of chairing the Cabinet came up for discussion at the negotiations that resulted in the 2007 Constitution Order.  It followed the line that there will always be a governor in territory...

… because when the Deputy Governor or any suitable person in his absence is so appointed (s)he has the powers of the Governor and is expected to execute all functions including chairing the Cabinet.

There is an instance when the Premier would chair the Cabinet and it is when the Deputy Governor is appointed Governor’s Deputy because the Governor is in some part of the Virgin Islands but not at Government House.

In that instance, the Governor’s Deputy does not have all the powers of the Governor and cannot execute all the functions.

As we advance, it becomes clearer that words on a page are subject to interpretation hence the need for the sea of lawyers that tinker on the ship of state.

By the time we get around to negotiating the new Constitution, verbiage that was thought to be understood will have to be reworked, refined, clarified.  The law is less concerned with intention and more with expression.

The sad part of the ordeal is that those at the helm of the Ship of State may not have considered the value of allowing a ‘local’ to gain the necessary experience in this space.  

For that experience will be significant regardless of the side chosen in the independence debate, should it materialize.

So, it seems that all the noise made about ‘The British’ is a smokescreen because some Ministers demonstrate a preference to work with the British rather than with their own people.

That is sad and unfortunate.  For it lays the foundation for a wandering in the wilderness of ignorance and inexperience should the flag bearers of independence have their way.

Why aren’t our leaders taking every opportunity to develop the people and the institutions of state?

And that brings us to the crucial role of ‘keeper of the records.’

Perhaps Marcus Garvey can help us there:

“A people without knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.”

A major reason permanent civil services exist is because countries do not want to be constantly threading the needle instead of creating tapestry.

The Civil Servants have long been the keepers of the records and it is some of those very records that make it into the archives and become part of the history.”  

Certainly, they give government context and allow for efficient decision making especially when the ship of state moves into challenging waters.

We are told that the hybrid system of governance now in vogue where political appointees are assuming authority, although the responsibility does not lie with them, is due to Ministers wishing to get things done.

The issue is that the Minister serves at the pleasure of a fickle electorate while the political appointee is a creature of the Minister’s making.  Both are ‘birds of passage.’

And given that the permanent civil servants are increasingly excluded from Minister’s meetings and duty travel, the maintenance of the records cannot be guaranteed.

We have the Westminster Whitehall system because that underscores continuity.  Part of the reason the sun did not set on the British Empire for centuries was because copious records were kept which made it easy for the leaders of the day to learn from those of the past and avoid repeating the same mistakes.

There is no second guessing ‘The Preacher,’ (Ecclesiastes) “There is nothing new under the sun.”  So, if we honestly believe the verbiage touted in many speeches: “our people. The hard-working civil servants.”  Why don’t we treat them and their craft with respect?

In the interest of continuity, Fridays request, a closer look at our current practices.

Happy Friday!