3 September 2021
Statement by RWBro. Barry Reaper PDGM
RWBro. Barry Reaper, PDGM, one of the authors of a report of some 18 months ago, has issued a statement of explanation, following the report's unauthorised distribution by an anonymous sender. “This is, no doubt, designed to create embarrassment to the current leadership of the Craft,” said Bro. Reaper. “With the dissolution of the Board of General Purposes, and the suspension of Bro Stark for a period of twenty years, we assume that the majority of the recommendations in the Report are now moot.”
The matter was mediated, complaints withdrawn and determined by the Board, being the proper authority to deal with complaints.
RWBro. Reaper states:
The Report of March 2020 was submitted at the request of the then Board of General Purposes through the Grand Registrar. RWBro. Robert Barnes PDGM and I together with the support of Mr James Francis, Principal of Patron Legal Solicitors (who was acting on a professional basis) were appointed as an independent investigation panel to report on a series of allegations made by RWBro Justin Stark against five respondents, namely then RWBro. Richard Elkington, DGM, now GM; RWBro. Tony Bucca, DGM, Elect now DGM; RWBro. Garry Runge, Grand Secretary, and two Members of the then Board of General Purposes, VWBro. Harry Pitaro and WBro. John Blyth.
The Report contained the summary of our findings and recommendations pertaining to each, arising from our study of the information (some 80+ emails) provided for us to review which we did at face value. We considered that it was not appropriate to interview either the accuser or the respondents for any further clarification or otherwise with respect to the matters before us.
The Report was detailed over some 31 pages with respect to each allegation made against each of the Respondents and we appended against each the following classifications – either “Supported Allegation” – or “Unsupported Allegation” or “Does not warrant response.”
The completed Report was subsequently forwarded to the Grand Registrar who we assume reported to the Board of General Purposes in April or May of 2020 – we are aware that a professional Mediation took place thereafter, between the parties involved in accordance with our recommendations – we are not aware as to whether a resolution was reached or otherwise.
However subsequently, during the third quarter of 2020, the Report was widely leaked throughout the Jurisdiction and the Grand Secretary was requested at that time, to investigate the source of the leakage. In this regard, we are not aware of the outcome, but we assume that it was unresolved.
We are informed that currently further wide Jurisdictional leakage of the Report has now again emerged linking the Report to an email advice of 29 March 2020 distributed by RWBro. Richard Elkington as incoming Grand Master – this is, no doubt, designed to create embarrassment to the current leadership of the Craft.
With the dissolution of the Board of General Purposes, and the suspension of Bro. Stark for a period of twenty years, we assume that the majority of the recommendations in the Report are now moot.
Fraternal Regards,
RWBro. Barry Reaper PDGM
