Government of Pitcairn Islands (GPI)

Government of Pitcairn Islands (GPI) Structure 2008

Introduction • Timeline • Reflection on the Ten Year Plan • Partnership with HMG • Recommended adoption of ECHR • Devolving operational responsibility to GPI • Community taking responsibility • A commitment to the future

Timeline • February to August - Restructure of Internal Committee • July - Draft discussion paper • 8th August - Community workshop • 13th August – Document back to Council • September - Present approved document to HMG for discussion • December - Election of new council members • January – Job applications/interviews for new Heads of Government positions • 1st April 2008 – Commencement of the new government structure Note: • September to March – Help required in writing department policies and job descriptions for the new government structure

Achieved within 3.5 years Road – Hill of Difficulty Slipway jetty repaired Rebuilt school and school house Communication system Telephone in every home/TV Museum built PIPCO Fire safety equipment Additional heavy equipment – $1.5 million Currently in the pipeline Wind power Breakwater Mobile crane – 10 ton capacity Rebuilding of the General Store Housing development Export development Reflection on the Ten Year Plan

Partnership with HMG • Mutual respect and trust • Self determination • Mutual obligations and responsibilities • Freedom to run Pitcairn’s affairs to the greatest degree possible • A firm commitment from the UK to help Pitcairn develop economically and to assist in emergencies

Quote:(Extract from OTWP March 1999) • “We both need a new partnership to take our relationship forward – building on the best of what has gone before, but charting a new course for progress and prosperity for the future.”

Devolving Operational Responsibility to GPI Stage one: • Restructure and reform of the Island’s Internal Committee • Stage two: • Clarifying the roles of Governor’s Office, PIO and empowering Council • Stage three: • The set up of three overarching Government Departments to administer Pitcairn • Stage four: • A full review and revision of Pitcairn Island’s laws as necessary and the introduction of ECHR.

Devolving Operational Responsibility to GPI (cont.) • Empower Pitcairn via its elected body to take more responsibility for its own affairs • The roles of the Governors Office and PIO are to be redefined. • In some instances overall responsibility might stay with the Governor’s Office, or PIO, but with a councillor appointed to represent the portfolios.

Structure

Structure (cont). • This slide shows Council taking more operational responsibility. • The following slide shows the roles and responsibilities as they currently stand. • PIO & HMG take responsibility for roles marked in yellow. • Council for those in red. • The new roles are those marked in blue.

Structure (cont).

New Council • New Council – 12 voting members out of 12 attending: • Mayor • Commissioner • Six elected councillors • Governor’s appointed • Governor’s representative • Island secretary • Internal Committee Chair

Council Structure • This new structure will have ten Pitcairn Island residents on Council: • Eight elected and two by virtue of their roles • The Commissioner and Governor’s representative will continue to sit on Council and reflect the partnership between Council, PIO and HMG • The Internal Committee chair be elected this year on a two year appointment - this will be reviewed by Council prior to the next election • All members will have equal speaking and voting rights. • The Mayor shall have the casting vote if necessary

Council Structure (cont.) • All councillors will hold office for a period of two years, initially on a trial basis, rather than one year • The Mayor will continue to hold office for three years to ensure continuity • The doctor, school teacher and policeman will report to council through their department head • The Governor’s appointee to Council will continue in addition to the Governor’s representative

Council Structure (cont.) • Appropriate salaries commensurate to status be paid to councillors • All roles be allocated to the person with the most appropriate skill and abilities, regardless of gender or place of birth • An interview process will be conducted as appropriate for each appointment • Heads of Departments will carry full time operational responsibility and be reimbursed with salaries commensurate to the importance of the roles • Heads of Department will report to Council and the term of their appointment will be two years, after which the position will be re-advertised

Council Structure (cont.) The Commissioner will be responsible for the operational administrative and Human Resource side of Government • The Mayor will be head of Council and Government and is an elected representative of the people • Both the Commissioner and Mayor will report to Council, and serve the community equally and without favour • Job descriptions for each Council and Council appointed role, together with Department Policies, will be written by those willing to help with the process. • Where appropriate external advice will be sought.

Community taking responsibility • A performance review and disciplinary process will be introduced to monitor progress and to deal with non-performance issues • Greater responsibility for budgets and expenditure will rest with Council • who will work closely with PIO, DFID and the Governor’s Office in this regard • The current Secretary’s Office and current Library be converted into an office suite to accommodate the Mayor, Commissioner, Secretary and new Government Department Heads • The Library will be relocated to the room at the back of the hall

Commitment to the future The Commissioner returns to Pitcairn on February 3rd and will commence work immediately with the new Council. • It is intended that the new structure will go live at the beginning of the financial year 1 April 2008 and will be fine tuned over the two year term of the incoming Council. • We are only just beginning this process. We should see it as an exciting journey from which we can all learn.

Government of Pitcairn Islands (GPI)