Submission from Mr S Rhys-Williams, Montserrat
PERSONAL DETAILS
I am a citizen of the United Kingdom, served
in the Royal Air Force for 12 years, joined the European Space
Agency in Holland in 1968 and travelled extensively on their behalf
for four years.
In 1971, I established an electronics group—Jasmin
plc—with two partners. The company grew to an annual turnover
of £16 million by the time I retired in 1997. I now live
full time on Montserrat.
My evidence is as follows:
I have observed the operation of the governmental
regime for the past five years and consider some of the decisions
taken to be rather at odds with natural law and justice.
The first case deals with the United Kingdom
Government directive, which I presume, affected all Dependent
Territories, that Montserrat MUST accept that homosexuality is
no longer a crime. This was forced on the people of the island
even though there was total opposition from the people and all
the churches.
The second case covers Anticorruption and Good
Governance. In the United Kingdom, legislation has been enacted,
which requires all members of Parliament, to declare their interests
in the Commons Register. I am not sure if the same rules now apply
to local councilors and all civil servants.
I spoke to the Head of the FCO delegation sent
to Montserrat to deal with changes to the Constitution. I was
told that matters concerning Anticorruption and Good Governance
were NOT the responsibility of HMG but rather for the Government
of Montserrat to enact.
My question to the Committee is this:
Why in the first case can HMG change the rules
over the avowed wishes of the people and Government of Montserrat,
when in the second case even though the law has been passed in
Parliament, it cannot enforce the same rule on Montserrat? In
my view this is hypocritical.
At this time, HMG is funding the island as Grant-in-Aid
via DFID. This represents 70-80% of the island's revenue. It must
be in the interest of the British Taxpayer to ensure that the
funds given are not used corruptly. Surely this must be as important
as the matter of homosexuality?
Turning to other matters, it is patently wrong
to have two funding departments supplying monies to the island.
It makes for bad governance. The FCO or DFID should be wholly
responsible, then there is no chance of the GOM playing one off
against the other. At present both parties blame each other and
nothing gets done.
SECURITY AND
OVERSEAS AFFAIRS
Recently a group of illegal "boat"
people were put ashore in the south of the island. The FCO through
the Governor's office has indicated that they are the responsibility
of GOM. How can this be, as the present system clearly defines
that Security and Foreign affairs are the SOLE responsibility
of the FCO. Montserrat has no overseas offices or embassies.
FREEDOM OF
INFORMATION
The Freedom of Information act has been passed
and implemented by Parliament and all public bodies are duty bound
to provide any information requested by any member of the public,
exceptions are matters related to Security of the Nation.
Why does this Act of Parliament then NOT apply
to all the Overseas Territories? It does not apply to Montserrat
where all matters dealt with by the GOM are shrouded in secrecy.
CONCLUSION
There are many other matters which need to be
examined closely. They do not, however, come within the scope
of the FCO. The main one having TWO masters controlling financial
affairs, which in itself leads to mismanagement. Why for example
does DFID provide GOM with Grant-in-Aid funds and then say "We
have provided 70% of the island's running expenses, but we DO
NOT ask how the money has been spent?" This is and would
be a recipe for disaster in any company or concern but especially
in countries where corruption is endemic.
Many decisions made by DFID have been proven
to be incorrect. In some cases there have been large cost over
runs, which should have been recoverable by the department concerned.
Through poor legal judgment, the private contractor, has been
able to walk away without repaying a penny!
I hope that the conditions, which are present
here in Montserrat do not prevail in the other Overseas Territories.
29 January 2008
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