By Bennette Roach
Colin Owen, the current Financial Secretary of the British Overseas Territory of St. Helena has been selected, emerging as the top candidate to be the new Financial Secretary (FS) of Montserrat. He is reportedly a qualified chartered accountant with accreditation from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) & Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). He is also said to have over 25 years of experience of working in finance.
Her Excellency the Governor Elizabeth Carriere confirmed this morning, Friday, April 8, 2016 in a purpose-called press conference, stating Owen has not yet been appointed to the post, later adding however, that he has accepted the selection.
As with the other two local candidates who were in the running, Owen was notified this week of the selection which according to the Governor, still has to go through an “appointment process of, a formal offer and acceptance and negotiation with the selected candidate.”
The governor held the press conference in hope of forestalling further speculation around the appointment of a non-national to the post. She said “there was a lot, a lot of discussion – and there was quite an extensive one sided discussion in the Legislative Assembly.” She was puzzling, and wondered about what people are saying “when they are hinting things about where people come from or the colour of their skin…also mentioned in some of the comments,” she had heard.
This would be the first time that a non-Montserratian named to be Financial Secretary. But, this not before the Hon. Opposition Leader Reuben Meade who has in the House of Legislative Assembly been vocal about giving the high powered position to someone other than the current acting FS Lindorna Brade, even while he was critical of the figures presented during the recent budget debates. This evoked the Hon. Premier/Minister of Finance in rebuttal subsequently pointing out the former Premier’s contradiction.
Governor Carriere said she has the highest regard for Mrs. Brade, but it can be taken as a hint when she added, that she has offered to Mrs. Brade how she can help her to position herself for any position in the public service as the situation arises. The governor added that a decision as to how or if she reverts as Deputy Financial Secretary had not yet been taken.
The process to select a new FS began under the previous governor Adrian Davis. Governor Carriere said 21 people originally applied for the post. Of the six shortlisted, three were nationals and three non-nationals. Three decided to remove themselves from the process, leaving Owen, Mrs. Brade and one other who was not identified.
Using a competency assessment system, where the candidates were processed. Three Montserratian nationals made up the selection committee.
“The constitution requires that I review and consult with the premier,” Carriere told the press. She added that she informed the Foreign Office Secretary of State, not that he is required to be in the approval process.
The governor added this was a departure from the practice of selecting someone without due process and hopes a more systematic approach to choosing top civil servants can be implemented. Governor Carriere said she liked the competency based approach which can help to remove the politicization, nepotism and favouritism that often plagues the government system.
She said the way Montserrat conducts public business does send a message internationally and she would like it to be one that speaks of good governance and best practices.
Meantime she said the same process will be used in the selection of the deputy governor position which is now ongoing.
Pic press conference: Owen and governor and media
