TNAG-0922-FCO40-1140-Control-of-appointments-in-Dependent-Territories-under-Colon-1980 — Page 38

CODE 18-77

SS 8/78

Miss Brott-Rooks, HK&GD

Reference

DESK

10DET

8

CONTROL OF ACTING APPOINTMENTS UNDER COL REG 19

J

ег

en

1.

I regret the delay in dealing with this.

2.

We have already had to make it clear to TCI and BVI that acting appointments to the posts in question require our approval. Montserrat should be aware of the ruling, Mr Dale having been in WIAD.

There is I think a case for retaining the present practice at lease for WIAD territories, since:

3.

a) intense political pressure can be brought to bear on

even an acting appointment, as in TCI early this year. It can be of help to a Governor if he can say that the appointment requires the S/S approval;

b) a lengthy acting appointment (or even a series of short ones) can build up a belief that the acting holder has a prescriptive right to a substantive appointment. We ought therefore to know about acting appointments, otherwise we may be embarrassed when it comes to making a substantive appointment;

c) in WIAD our contacts with most of our territories (except the Caymans) is on an almost daily basis. is on occasion important to us to know whether the substantive holders of key posts are or are not in post.

It

d) I doubt if it is very much of a chore for a Governor to send us a telegram about an acting appointment. There are only a few posts involved; and, in the case of the substantive holder being absent for a few days, either an acting appointment will not be made or the Governor will probably not bother us.

I appreciate that most of the foregoing would not apply in almost any dependency outside WIAD; but as far as WIAD is concerned I think we should retain the present practice.

19 November 1980

h. h. Loomu

W W Wallace

West Indian and Atlantic Department G123/3 233 4196