TNAG-0919-FCO40-1130-Inspection-of-Dependent-Territories-1980 — Page 6

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PERSONAL

S

ADMIN-IN-CONFIDENCE

Reustry

13

Rease Enter

ENLY 511

Her Majesty's Commissioner ANGUILLA

30 December 1980

P Morrice Esq HK&GD

FCO

Dean Philip,

HKAH14/i

INSPECTION OF DEPENDENT TERRITOR.

1.

RECEIVED IN RECISTRY MO. 51

2 1 JAN 1981

DESK OFFICER INDEX

ΡΑ

Thank you for your letter e 28 Novemb invited comment by the beginning of January.Ka

REGISTRY Action Taken

grumbich you

2. As I see it, your letter raises three questions to be considered at the January Conference of Caribbean Governors:

a) Is there really a need for a Self-Inspection Questionnaire?

b) What is the relevance of Tom Russell's draft to territories such as Anguilla with comparatively advanced Constitutions?

c) Does, in fact, the proposed SIQ provide a useful tool to

good management and administration of a Dependent Territory?

3.

As regards (a) it is not clear where the idea originated. At the 1979 Governors' Conference the collectively expressed view was that while inspections were "helpful in examining local security and allowances, standard Curtis Green inspections of Governors' establishments were largely irrelevant. The Inspectorate was in no position to check a Governor's performance on the lines of an orthodox post..." It seems to me therefore, that the case for the Questionnaire should be put to the Conference. It would also be helpful to persons like myself, who have no access to the volume of DSP dealing with inspections, to have explained once again the purpose of SIQS generally.

4. On (b) it seems that, in essence, a rough check list has been worked out from the various areas in which a Governor is primarily concerned. But this sort of preoccupation with detail does not, in my view, help overall performance. To a Governor a Constitution is akin to a bible and his relationship with Ministers, Public Service Commission and Civil Service is always a minefield in a small territory. As for finance and economics, those of us grant-aided territories need no reminding of any of these points. Furthermore in territories with advanced Constitutions many of the detailed political and organisational points touched upon in the SIQ are, as you have indicated, not necessarily appropriate,

theroarvitarvés.

PERSONAL ADMIN-IN-CONFIDENCE

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