Atrocious! Too hard to do business in BVI – Skelton Cline
Claude Skelton Cline
Commentator Claude Skelton Cline has described the difficulty of conducting business in the Virgin Islands as “atrocious”, arguing that excessive bureaucracy and inefficiencies continue to frustrate both local entrepreneurs and foreign investors.
Appearing on his Honestly Speaking radio programme this week, Skelton Cline said the territory needed sweeping reforms to simplify the process of establishing and operating businesses.
“The degree of difficulty to conduct business in this country is atrocious. The degree of difficulty both for locals [and] foreign direct investors,” Skelton Cline stated.
He argued that obstacles existed across multiple sectors and called for a review of government procedures affecting commerce.
“We must completely eliminate all unnecessary components that are not needful to establish and carry out business in this country, from the mom-and-pop store to the trust companies,” Skelton Cline said. “We must completely streamline the processes in trade, in banking, in licensing.”
According to Skelton Cline, improving efficiency would allow businesses to operate without what he described as unnecessary frustration and administrative hurdles.
The issue of bureaucracy affecting business operations has been raised repeatedly in the territory over the years. Concerns from business owners have highlighted licensing delays, banking challenges and administrative requirements that can slow commercial activity and investment.
Skelton Cline also contended that politicians seeking public office should commit to tackling long-standing inefficiencies. “Any new government coming to power, any person seeking office in this country must make a commitment to us… to do the heavy lifting,” he stated.
He further criticised what he viewed as an overly burdensome banking system for residents and businesses, suggesting that domestic customers should not be subject to the same requirements imposed on international financial services clients.
“It is unjust. It is unfair. It is unethical. It is immoral to put your locals through the same processes that you’re putting IBC, International Business Corporation, in,” Skelton Cline said.
As part of a broader vision for economic development, he proposed creating a sovereign wealth fund that would allow Virgin Islanders to hold a stake in national assets and help finance future investments in education, infrastructure, and other public priorities.
Skelton Cline argued that economic reforms, coupled with a more efficient business environment, could strengthen the territory’s ability to attract investment and expand opportunities for residents.
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IS A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD / WHAT IS GOOD FOR ONE SHOULD BE GOOD FOR ALL ( OF COURSE, WE SHOULD HAVE THE FIRST PREFERENCE AND EVERYTHING SHOULD BE DONE IN HONESTY & INTEGRITY AND WITH RESPECT TO EVERYONE ( WE ARE ALL HUMAN BEINGS , AREN’T WE ALL ? ) TALKING IS CHEAP , AND THATS ALL WE HEARING FROM THESE SET OF WANNABES WHILE THE TERRITORY ISN’T GOING ANYWHERE , TOO MUCH HOOD RATS FIGHTING FOR THE CHEESE AND WILL STEP ON EACHOTHER IF THEY GET IN THEIR WAY ( BY ANY MEANS NESSESARY ) SO WHAT CLAUDIA ACTING LIKE HE DISCOVERRD WHATS GOING BEHIND THE SCENES HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR DECADES / SO WHATS NEW ?
That kind of bureaucratic foolishness that spoils the chances of an ill deserved profit for a obviously poverty stricken Parson Hallelujah.
A rare occasion when CSK says something sensible.
I don’t know whether CSC’s recent comments are motivated by a desire to secure a contract or advisory role, but it is fair to acknowledge that he has been raising important points and offering valuable insight into what must be done to move the Territory forward.
One clear area for improvement is the streamlining of government processes through greater digitalization. By digitizing as many services and procedures as possible, we reduce unnecessary human intervention and limit the impact of personal attitudes, bias, favoritism, and inconsistency.The result would be a more efficient, transparent, and accountable system — one that delivers fairer outcomes, reduces waste, and removes layers of bureaucracy that no longer serve a practical purpose.
When he was a big consultant, it didn’t matter. Now that he has to rely on BBQ chicken legs and pizza for his living all of a sudden, he understands. It’s so interesting time and karma can quickly humble the most pompous and stubborn!
Even with the VI purpose Fund offering a possible $200,000 prize for start ups or existing businesses looking to expand people are reluctant to apply because they don’t want to be bothered with the badmind (bureaucracy) that is within the governmental bodies in the B.V.I It’s very rampant and discouraging. I started a business in the States and it literally took about 30 minutes through Legal Zoom. The hardest part was the required announcement in a local paper for 5 consecutive weeks which wasn’t hard at all. It’s pure badmind holding back would be business owners.
Let’s see where our tithe has gone cars and watches most likely.