TNAG-1115-FCO40-1387-Future-staffing-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1982 — Page 61

יי

HKA 431/25

- 7 Arx

པ་་་་

Mr Giffard

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

pl. Enter

STAFF IN CONFIDENCE

сп

My Living

bd.

a

2

you per draft mumuse to Mr. Dary

rept (6). Wesad

need to clear with WIAD·

L

The pt. has been

I have

limed

لم

дом

пори

I attach a copy of a minute from the PUS's Office about the former Governor of the British Virgin Islands, Mr Davidson.

2. I have had a word with the PUS about this. Two aspects of this case worry him:

А

(a) He was particularly concerned that the Department should have felt so dissatisfied with Mr Davidson's performance and yet this had not, as far as he knew, been brought to the attention either of the Chief Clerk or himself. He was further concerned that the department's fairly trenchant criticism had been addressed direct to a Minister, without any consultation with any Under- Secretary, either on the political or administrative side of the Office.

(b)

He had some understanding of the problems facing a Governor in a small territory who had no UK based colleagues with whom he could discuss issues that arose, or problems that had to be con- fronted. The PUS wondered whether it would be possible, in such small posts, to provide Governors with one other UK based colleague at an appropriate level. This would provide professional and moral support for the Governor and could also be a useful training ground for people who might be required to take up posts in the Dependent Territories at a later stage in their career. The PUS recognised that we did not have much, if any, spare staff for this kind of appointment, but hoped that the question could nevertheless be examined.

3. I explained to the PUS that in my former capacity I had been aware of the fact that Mr Davidson's performance was not viewed with very great enthusiasm in London. The PUS himself would recall the difficulties that we had with Mr Davidson over the issue of capital punishment. I was not, therefore, completely surprised at the department's reaction to the Governor's valedictory despatch, though I did not myself recall seeing it at the time.

4. On the second point, I can see that it would be helpful to Governors in isolated outposts to have some colleagues around with whom they could share their anxieties. But I would find some difficulty in agreeing to the provision of additional staff wholly for this purpose. If it could be combined with a genuine training requirement, then it might be possible to make a

5.

The PUS is not expecting any further response from me or the department on these issues. All of us should however note

Also at HKA 431115

6/4

STAFF IN CONFIDENCE

.....