TNAG-0995-FCO40-1216-Inspection-of-Dependent-Territories-draft-Self-Inspection-Qu-1981 — Page 49

- 4

-

(v) Governor keeps the FCO advised of that which he

considers necessary. His view is that the Governor should get on with the job and not flood FCO with minutae or seek advice needlessly (Montserrat).

(vii) Without a deputy there is danger of becoming office bound, but Governor avoids this by working at night and early in the morning (Montserrat).

(viii) Yes. Montserrat is a small integrated society that

demands and expects the Governor's attention and interest (Montserrat).

In response to the Self Inspection Questionnaire, HM Commissioner Anguilla raised the following questions:

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?

The Commissioner answered as follows:

a)

b)

c)

It is not clear where this 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 Governor's 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 that the case for a questionnaire should be put to the Conference and the purpose of the SIQ should be explained again.

The rough check list has been worked out from the various areas in which a Governor is primarily concerned. But this sort of pre- occupation with detail does not help overall performance.

If the SIQ was followed it could lead a 'Governor into all sorts of dangerous waters'. What is needed is experience, commonsense, judgement, hard work and luck.

11.