Mr Stewart (HKGD)
cc Mr Duff (WIAD)
STAFF IN CONFIDENCE
HRA 431/1
Yus. 51
27 JAN 1973
THE GOVERNORSHIP OF THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS
PATRY
Tzen
10
1. I agree with you that we need to consider carefully the question of the timing and duration of Mr Strong's appointment as Governor of the Turks and Caicos. However, as I mentioned to you on the telephone yesterday, I do not think it would be right to ask Mr Strong to complete his career in Grand Turk. He has not had a particularly easy time in Dar and is, in my view, entitled to expect something more attractive for at least part of his remaining time in the Service. It is, I suppose, conceivable that he will volunteer to do 3 years in Grand Turk but I do not think that we should put this to him as the Administration's proposal.
2. That said, Mr Strong is the best candidate in view for what is by all accounts a difficult post and one which Ministers would expect us to staff properly. It is not immediately obvious who could take his place if he is withdrawn from consideration. do not imagine Mr Willson would regard Grand Turk as greatly preferable to Anguilla!
3. I should be grateful therefore if you could discuss with Mr Duff a solution on the following lines:-
Wou
b.
Mr Strong serves in Grand Turk from August 1978 to August 1980; and
I
serves as Governor in the Cayman Islands from September/ October 1980 to, say, June 1982.
I realise that the latter date would take Mr Strong some 5 months beyond his 60th birthday. Preliminary soundings in this building suggest that there would be no great difficulty in arranging this. It would give Mr Strong a decent run in the Caymans and would presumably make good administrative sense. If in your view it is unnecessary or even undesirable for Mr Strong to do more than 18 months in the Cayman Islands we could, of course, drop the idea of an extension.
4. If you and Mr Duff agree that a package on the above lines is a starter, I would be grateful for early consideration by the DTSAB. It is time that we sought Mr Strong's own views on the proposal.
C.C.HKA431/287/
HKPF/STRONG/IC
20 January 1978
Am Alexander
M O'D B Alexander
Personnel Operations Department
STAFF IN CONFIDENCE