TNAG-0712-FCO40-899-Policy-on-salary-and-allowances-for-Governors-1979 — Page 49

thos Gregory: where do we

stand on this?

$724/7.

Mr Mc

·Molyfren,

HKGD

HRA 434

1

ADMINISTRATION IN CONFIDENCE

CRATI

GOVERNORS' TERMS OF SERVICE

SERV

RELIVED

PIGISTRY NO. 51 27 JUL 1978

DESK MICER

/ex

PA

cc:

REGISTRY

Action Taken

PX

18

Mr D L Pearson, QDM.

Chief Clerk

Mr Cortazzi

Mr Posnett

Mr Duff

Mr Snodgrass

Mr Unwin, PPD

1. I mentioned at the Wigwam on 3 July that I had discussed with all the Governors of Caribbean dependencies the desirability of transferring from the local government to HMG financial responsibility for their salaries, allowances, leave passages, cars and at least the maintenance of their Residences: in other words of treating them on the same basis as any other Head of Mission. None of them questioned this idea but none pointed out, as Mr Posnett did at the meeting on 3 July, that it was as old as the hills. I think none- theless that it is worth having another go, especially as I under- stand that it fits in with an exercise on which you are already engaged. (I am concerned only with Governors and not with other expatriate officials, most of whom are now employed on OSAS or TC terms).

2. I quite understand the historical reasons for the present arrangements when British colonies, if not exploited to the extent alleged by our detractors, were at least expected to be financially self-sufficient. But what may have made sense in 1890 seems to me to make little sense nearly a hundred years later. The present system is embarrassing for local Ministers and humiliating for Governors and, in local eyes by extension, for Her Majesty The Queen. Mr Watson for instance in the Turks and Caicos Islands, a particularly trying post, has had regular difficulties over leave passages because local funds were rarely available. Mr Wyn Jones was trundling round Montserrat flying his flag on a clapped-out old Ford that, if funds had been available, should by rights have been replaced two years ago. Most of the Governors were having constant, irritating problems in maintaining to an adequate standard their attractive, but in many cases, crumbling Residences.

3. There are cases, such as Bermuda and the Cayman Islands (whose Government has recently had no qualms about buying the Governor a new Daimler), where such a switch of financial responsibility could not be based on local need. But, if the change is to be made, I think it must be made across the board. Although this will make it even more difficult to get it accepted in Whitehall, I do not think we can possibly discriminate between one colony and another: apart from considerations of equity, where in practice would one draw the line?

4.

I am under no illusion about the resistance that this idea will continue to meet; but I thinkwe must nonetheless pursue it once more. For the reduction in the number of dependencies has made the problem manageable; and in this twilight of Empire there seems no reason why we should allow the Treasury and the Civil Service Department to maintain a source of friction, embarrassment and sheer humiliation which it lies within our power and resources to remove.

116

24 July 1978

R.V. Shatte

RJ Stratton

ADMINISTRATION IN CONFIDENCE