4. i
CONFIDENTIAL
STAFF IN CONFIDENCE
McEntee (Belize) told me he had in mind to ask to retire at the end of this year but would be writing shortly. He expects Mr Price may be defeated in the general election later this year: if so the new government will be inexperienced and unlikely to go for early independence. Hence the next Governor will require experience as a colonial administrator at senior level.
2.
Lloyd (Deputy in Bermuda) is awaiting news of his future. He is very efficient, and more sensitive to local opinion than he's been given credit for. His preference would be to stay in...Bermuda in his present post, but if he cannot do that (he has not yet been told) he would like to be considered for Governor of Cayman Islands. I believe he would be well- suited to that post which becomes vacant next year: he is more able (with the exception of Russell) and experienced (having served in Kenya, Seychelles, Fiji, Bermuda) than any of the other West Indies Governors. Because of his bad leg he could not go to the other islands. His wife is a great
.asset.
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3. The only possible query about W Wallace (who is being considered as a possible replacement for Lloyd) is whether he would be trusted by the (black) opposition party, having previously served as Cabinet Secretary to the (predominantly white) Tucker government. It would obviously, be unwise to send anybody to Bermuda whom the opposition suspected of political partiality. I discussed this with Ramsbotham and the present Premier (Gibbons) and they agreed to take discreet soundings. Ramsbotham will report the outcome.
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4. In the (I hope unlikely) event of Wallace being unaccept- able the best replacement for Lloyd would be Russell (Cayman Islands) who is an outstandingly able colonial administrator and whose torm in Cayman could if necessary be adjusted. But I do not know whether he would accept the Deputy job in Bermuda. He would also fit the Belize slot admirably (see para 1 above); but his French wife would doubtless prefer Bermuda to the loneliness of Belmopan.
CONFIDENTIAL STAFF IN CONFIDENCE
8.1.79
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