What is policy advice?

Good quality policy advice is given frankly and freely to decision makers entitled to receive it. Good policy advice allows decision makers the confidence to make decisions addressing problems in a timely manner. A good policy adviser presents a range of clearly expressed and logically set out options that would have been developed through the application of analysis on information related to the issue. The good policy adviser sets out the intended impact of each option presented in terms of the desired outcome. He also suggests the methods and mechanisms of implementation. Methods of monitoring and evaluation are also included in high quality policy advice.

Policy advice is the output of policy analysis by policy “professionals” who maybe called policy managers, policy specialists, technical specialists or policy experts. But these professionals have something in common. Their activities are collecting information, using data, discussing issues, weighing options, communicating their results and making recommendations. Policy advice is not only a function of the advice, but it is more importantly how well it analyzes the issue, how it is perceived and how it is received.

How is it different from policy analysis?

Policy analysis is essentially the analysis of information. It includes determining the issues at its causes and identifying what could be done to address them.  However, it generally falls short of making the recommendation although it reaches a conclusion. Policy advice says this is what you do whereas policy analysis says this is what is found.

In which areas do we offer policy advice?

The Deputy Governor’s Office offers policy advice to decision making officials under the three broad areas of governance, national security and courts administration. However, presently our specific areas of focus include human resources management, temporary liquor licences, games of chance, policing, disaster management, sister islands services, courts management, visas and visa waivers.

How do we deliver policy advice?

We deliver policy advice via memoranda, position papers, briefs, Cabinet papers and technical papers. Much of our advice is formulated on the basis of research including questionnaires, surveys and other information gathering methods. We transmit our advice via e-mail, hard copy, meetings, consultation and presentations to Cabinet meetings.

Who is eligible to receive policy advice from us?

Policy advice is always transmitted to high level decision makers including the    Governor, Ministers, Heads of Department and high level technical officers.  Our policy advice is never given to the public or given publicly.

Who has access to our policy advice rendered?

The Deputy Governor’s Office renders policy advice to the Governor, Minister, Permanent Secretary and Strategic level managers frankly and freely. Our policy advice is part of the record of the Government of the Virgin Islands. Our advice to ministers is guided by the Code of Conduct guiding the relationship between civil servants and ministers. We are also guided by the manual for preparation of Cabinet documents. In this regard our advice is confidential to the recipients unless there is a Cabinet or ministerial decision to release such advice.

Our policy advice is categorised into several levels of security and this information is the property of the Government of the Virgin Islands. Generally, our advice is classified as restricted or confidential. Access to these documents is then managed in the normal way applicable across the public service. Policy advice would eventually be declassified and made available in due course, if necessary.

In summary, policy advice is only available to the relevant level officials based on existing access policy immediately and declassified over time to the public, if needed.