BVITB faces $375K High Court claim over dismissal dispute
Former Deputy Director of the BVI Tourist Board, Rhodni Skelton, has filed a claim in the High Court seeking US $375,000 in compensation, challenging a tribunal award he says undervalued his dismissal case.
The case, filed on July 17, 2025, stems from a decision by the Labour Arbitration Tribunal in June that awarded him US $59,027.31. Skelton argues the sum falls far short of the losses he suffered after his employment ended on February 6, 2023.
In the claim, Skelton asked the court to review the tribunal’s decision “on the grounds of irrationality, statutory misapplication, and procedural unfairness.”
He insisted the tribunal erred by failing to apply provisions of the Labour Code requiring lost wages to be awarded until the date of determination.
“The quantum awarded is so disproportionately low that no reasonable tribunal could have reached it,” he stated in his filing.
Skelton contends he was unemployed for 27 months and faced significant difficulty finding new work despite his seniority. He is seeking an order quashing the tribunal’s award and substituting a new sum that recognises his wage loss, lost pension contributions, gratuity, medical insurance, and reputational damage.
He added that during mediation, the Tourist Board’s own legal counsel acknowledged that $375,000 was reasonable, though the Board of Directors later rejected the figure.
The filing also alleges that his case was handled unfairly. He said the tribunal ignored two requests to reconsider the award before its written ruling and delayed its judgment for 12 weeks after an oral decision. Skelton also emphasised that he signed a release form “under duress,” which he said proved his departure was not voluntary.
Skelton worked at the Tourist Board for nearly two decades, including more than 16 months as Acting Director. He later spoke publicly about disagreements with the Board over leadership direction and said he was presented with unfavourable options to remain. At the time, Premier and Tourism Minister Dr Natalio Wheatley described his departure as amicable, though Skelton described it as a difficult decision.
The High Court is now set to review whether the tribunal’s award should stand or be replaced with the larger compensation sought. If successful, Skelton’s claim could significantly increase the payout owed by the Tourist Board.
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More so than that, I feel if you was Director, we would’ve had a very detailed Tourism plan in place for the Territory, despite Government’s shortcomings.
WRONG!! This man did LITTLE OR NO Work while at the Tourist Board. ALL TALK AND NO ACTION
This got to be that wicked A* T
lol @ closing the comments on the Myron article. We already know where the allegiance of this site lies, bruh
How come we could comment on this and not Myron’s story, is this protectionism?
Why are comments closed on Barnes v NDP article but open on this one?
Just pay the man already!
ONE WANTS TO RUN THE COUNTRY AND THIS ONE IS EXPRESSING HIS ENTITLEMENT MORE POWER TO YA’AL
IF WE CANT COMMENT ON MYRON’S STORY WE WONT COMMENT ON THIS ONE EITHER
Maybe ask the BVITB employees who suffered working for him including staff who were made to leave having left after Irma with families who were trying to get their lives back in order. Worst management I have ever experienced (in a very successful 35 year career in luxury BVI tourism) without any understanding of the markets outside of the USA and no interest in learning. Just saying …
Who was the Director after Irma? Who was the HR Director? These are the people who make any such decisions in any organization. Skelton as Deputy. He clearly couldn’t make any of those decisions that is simple common sense. Tell the truth.
So you mean a Deputy has no power to make decisions. NOT TRUE. He made lots of decisions
He had power to collect on the 15th and 30th though.
The truth? I could tell the truth. I could tell you about working for him and when he came to London after Irma. I could share a lot but I have more class and professionalism than to do so on an internet forum with people who hide their names. He knows. God knows. Everyone at BVITB knows. If anyone with any authority wanted a proper enquiry, they would have asked for one. Ginny (Lennard so to make sure I’m not hiding my name)
@ginny. What you are doing is UNPROFESSIONAL. Furthermore you were up in London living Large and not having to wait for your boss to come in half dr**k after 11 every day when work starts at 8:30. What time was it in London then? 1 pm – time for a drink and a smoke for you. Yon NEVER worked in BVI at BVITB so you have no clue as you were living large and working hard in London
Every story has two sides!
He was ho***ble. DID NO WORK BUT WANTED ALL THE CREDIT
So he spent all his money on a failed project now he wants more?
Entitled just like his …
You already commented
So he resigned because he wasn’t made the Director and wants to be paid? What work did he really do for the 16 years besides come work late, had junior staff doing his work, * with staff, running his mouth and traveling? I’ll wait!
Wha dah * mean?
How come the belonger/citizen line is so compromised. now they let BVIslanders stand in line with work permit people which makes the process much slower. People with a BVI passport are much quicker to process, and this is their home & country. Why subject us to a long wait to arrive home?
What? BVIAA what is going on at the airport with Immigration???
That’s a big fat lie
There had been so many directors of Tourism in the BVI. Some have ended up in prison for using the business card for personal expenses. (operations & Law degree) others had failed to deliver anything. Law suits from Overseas companies employed to market the BVI and the goverment did not pay them. So many people have been let go from this Position. Tourism is such a massive revenue of the BVI we need to employ a professional for this position. We need to do better in this position as the whole island relies on Tourism.
The employee jailed years ago WAS NEVER A DIRECTOR. she was VM the Comptroller
It is unfortunate that some continue to push this narrative of “entitlement.”
We are speaking about an educated Virgin Islander — someone who even took leave to further specialize in the very field they were serving in. Instead of celebrating this commitment, it is disheartening to see voices in government, and even within Cabinet, along with their supporters choosing instead to frame Virgin Islanders as deserving only of the lowest rung on the ladder.
But I guess it’s much easier for them to do that now that they have already gone and set themselves up for life.
Yes, there are cases where individuals gain positions solely because of political affiliation, but those instances are often more obvious than many care to admit.
Regardless of how you might feel about his father. This is not one of those cases.
The broader reality is that by 2025, most Virgin Islanders have invested in their own higher education, gained experience working abroad, and returned home with valuable skills to strengthen our territory. And are worth the same if not more than the expects we seem to have no issue paying $200K and $300K plus to …
Why then should we not stand up for ourselves when we are being disenfranchised or treated unfairly?
Virgin Islanders might as well NOT return ‘HOME’
And there you have it, the BVI illusion of grandeur surfaces once again and again and again and again and again.
I support Mr. Skelton 200%. These labour people and this Weak tribunal are all in bed with these employers..This compensation ain’t make no sense..This tribunal need investigating to see what they cut pay or under the table buy out is. Mr Skelton claim / case is legit and fair, the Tribunal ruling was unfair, and very inconsiderate, “Easy win at the high court”.
they could put 1000 dislikes, many are with you. in this time we need a solid,trusted hand. Ronnie right don’t fuss with them just bless them on the journey they want to go on; reminds me of the prodigal son.
This little fella who is always calling hard working ppl poor can’t manage without a big cheque from the government and has the nerve to look down on people and here upset he didn’t get what he asked for. Go use your grand skills like us little poor ppl who didn’t have a big government cheque to rely on all our lives. You can do better than that young man. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. Man up.