I didn’t stop gov’t workers from protesting — Archer

Deputy Governor David Archer has rejected reports that he made efforts to stop public officers from participating in the protest against the government that was held in Road Town on June 2.

The protest was organised by businessman Floyd ‘Heritage’ Burnett, who urged the public to voice their frustrations over issues including water shortages, the high cost of living, poor infrastructure, and the absence of a national energy plan.

Days later, there were reports that some public officers wanted to join the event but were prevented by Deputy Governor Archer’s orders.

However, in a June 4 statement, Archer categorically rejected those assertions as inaccurate.

“This statement addresses the inaccurate statements, impressions or expressions, indirectly or explicitly via a media platform which falsely reported the Deputy Governor’s refusal to allow public officers the opportunity to express their constitutional rights to expression and assembly, ” Archer said. He added that Governor Pruce had given his office instructions to inform public officers of their right to protest peacefully.

Archer said his office did as the Governor requested and even “included instructions on how public officers can be released if they intended to attend the march while ensuring the delivery of services to clients, which is in line with established policies within the Public Service.”