By Todeline Defralien, From Turks & Caicos Sun

The controversy surrounding Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), John Masters, who is under investigation by the Integrity Commission, has engaged the attention of Governor Peter Beckingham and Premier Rufus Ewing.

The Premier told reporters that he met with the Governor after concerns about Masters were brought to his attention and he is confident that something will be done about the situation.

“Several concerns have been registered about the Director of Public Prosecutions and those concerns landed on my desk and I have communicated these concerns with the Governor who has briefed me and reassured me that these have been addressed at the highest level and we will have some resolution in the very near future,” Premier Ewing said at a recent post-Cabinet press conference.

“We know that there are certain issues that are right now in the courts with regards to the DPP, and because of that I will not be able to make additional statements, but I will say that I am satisfied and confident that these issues and concerns by our citizens, employees of Government will be addressed,” Ewing said.

Staff morale in the DPP’s office has plunged significantly since Masters, who is from Australia, assumed office last year. His relationship with subordinates has been described as adversarial.

Masters recently sent Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Angela Brooks, on administrative leave for unknown reasons. Prior to that, he had stopped Brooks, a native of Grand Turk, from prosecuting matters in the High Court and he refused to let her act as DPP whenever he was away from office.

Earlier this year, the Integrity Commission launched a major investigation into Masters, whose spending habits, hiring practices and management style have created a stormy relationship with his staff and engaged the attention of the Governor and members of both sides of the House of Assembly.

Confirming that he is under investigation, Masters recently told the SUN: “Whilst I know that there is an investigation taking place with the Integrity Commission I do not know any details. I have not been contacted by the Integrity Commission but I believe that members of the Office of the DPP have been spoken to. I add at this time it was with my full encouragement that they cooperate with the Integrity Commission whatever their investigation is about. I take this opportunity to say that it comes as no surprise that such a complaint has been made because I have made a lot of changes to unsatisfactory practices that have become entrenched in the Office of the DPP (ODPP). There has been a culture of internal bullying and self-interest by a few members of staff and I emphasise: only a few members of staff. The bulk of the staff, both administrative and lawyers, is professional. I am proud and feel privileged to be working with them.”

He added: “Some of the matters that I have been forced to address are frankly unbelievable for an institution that should attract the respect and confidence of the community. It has undoubtedly become apparent to those opposing change that it is going to happen unless I can somehow be undermined or made scared of reprisals unless I back down. But let me tell you, I do not react to threats.”

The SUN obtained an email which Masters wrote to Chief Financial Officer Stephen Turnbull stating that he wanted spending powers that would allow him to “work on the same basis as the SIPT (Special Investigations and Prosecution Team).

In that email, Masters wrote: “I am trying to resolve this pragmatically. Stephen, am I going to have to spend thousands briefing senior counsel to get legal advice on this? I cannot continue working it in this fashion. I am contemplating Contracting with an accounting firm to do a complete risk assessment on the financials of the ODPP. Again, this seems such a waste of resources if we can resolve it ourselves. Stating the obvious, I cannot sec the logic in accepting that the system cannot work for the SIPT but can work for us. We are speaking of discretionary spending of only tens of thousands of dollars. To give an example, if we had decided to pursue the recent prosecution or the Secretary for finance, for me to go to conferences with counsel would have necessitated me disclosing that fact to people who should not have known. I have like circumstances at the moment and am forced to disclose it. What if by the way, the person above says no, I will not approve it – do I drop the action?”

IMAGE: Premier Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing & His Excellency Governor Peter Beckingham 

For more on this story go to: http://suntci.com/governor-and-premier-meet-on-controversial-dpp-p2280-106.htm#sthash.ld1wDgFO.dpuf