The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

Reading the Constitution as to the Office of Governor General, Article 32, it is interesting it provides for the appointment, but seemingly does not stipulate once appointed how long is the tenure of being Governor General.

Choosing a Governor General? Purely political as it is the Prime Minister who basically appoints which process many will argue totally correctly is too political for a person who is required to represent the majority and especially the minority.

Clearly 96% of the population, those being citizens, are excluded for even being considered for the post as successively the choice has been a political and one of the boys’ who got the nod for the ceremonial post.

Appointees’ terms cross the change of Government and by practice seemingly the term, length of office is four years so our current Governor General’s term commenced as of June 19, 2019, so plus four years means his term expires around June 2023… in a year’s time.

Certain media sources are suggesting that the Davis Administration intends to cut short the current Governor General’s term and nominate a past Prime Minister who fell from public favour in an enormous loss in the 2017 election which raises the obvious - are we politicizing this ceremonial position too much?

Let’s look back to Governor Generals since Independence straight up probably the best was Sir Gerald Cash probably equal to Sir Gerald, Dame Margarita Pindling … very much people’s people and totally neutralized the Office from politics, but certain tongue-in- cheek we cannot forget the Independence Day cake incident when the then Prime Minister, Christie was late and the cutting of the official cake continued with the then Leader of Opposition who became the Prime Minister in the immediate election after that.

I would hope if there is any consideration for a new Governor General it would be the best decision not to have a political hack, but someone who has excelled in the public-private sector untarnished from the political scene. Cronyism I hope will be eliminated. I would not be in favour of a further past politician being appointed … are normal simple citizens excluded from this post? Forward upward…

T ALBURY

Nassau,

February 11, 2022.