Civil servants demoralised by lack of resources and fear — CSC
Civil servants in the Virgin Islands are struggling with low morale and inadequate resources, according to commentator Claude Skelton Cline.
He warned that the public service is being “paralysed” by poor management and chronic underfunding.
During his Honestly Speaking radio programme, Skelton Cline said frontline officers are asked to deliver critical services without the staff, systems or budgets they need.
“We are asking them, commanding them to do a job and yet not providing the resources to do it,” he argued.
He said many officers work evenings and weekends unpaid, while others are left idle in departments that lack clear direction. “We have some categories, some persons in certain departments who are working overtime, going home at 7 o’clock. We have some of them who are working on weekends just to keep up. They ain’t getting paid for that,” he explained.
At the same time, Skelton Cline argued, a culture of fear has silenced many workers.
“Most of you in there don’t agree with what’s happening. Blow the trumpet. Stop hiding under the civil service bushel where they have you silent and nothing can be corrected because you’re afraid of backlash,” he urged.
The broadcaster pointed to long-standing complaints from department heads at Standing Finance Committee sessions, where officials have repeatedly said they need more staff and proper tools. He noted that areas such as Immigration, Customs and the Passport Office are under severe strain.
“Their mandates are so broad, they’re covering so many different subjects, and we wonder why this thing is going at a snail’s pace,” he said.
Skelton-Cline stressed that without money allocated and released in the national budget, change will not happen.
“I want to say to the people of this country, I don’t care how much any politician tells you they’re going to do something. If it ain’t in the budget, it ain’t getting done. And if it’s in the budget and the Minister of Finance does not make the funds available for that line item, it can’t get done,” he argued.
He concluded that the system is leaving civil servants exhausted, fearful and unable to meet the needs of a growing population.
“We have created a pattern here that debilitates, that paralyses our public service. Not to mention the fear that they are functioning, trying to work under, particularly because of what has transpired over these last three, four years,” he insisted.
Copyright 2025 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
The civil service in the BVI has no accountability, no responsibility, and no service.
The BVI has ground to a halt and the commentators themselves are corrupt.
Ask teachers
1. Money spent on aids and preparing classrooms.
2. Wants all these learning corners and no resources …teachers’ money
3. Playground duties during lunch time yet some principals want you to leave at the same dismissal time ( no conscience)
4. Using personal internet.
5. Inadequate furniture including fans for these hot rooms.
6. Change in systems today for today…Schoology.( stress)
7. Teachers still giving parents wish lists.
8. Classrooms have to be teacher funded if you want it too look child friendly. Yet all these millions were spent on education …
For all the free vacation days you all get, that should be the least. No where else in the world pays teachers for 3 months off in a year. If i was a Govt worker i would kick up against this.
The Govt provided classrooms. They never asked you to decorate it. If they wanted it decorate, they would of them self. Half the time the classrooms are distractions for learning.
$250,000 plus spent on Vybes and other music fests but the schools have no proper cooling systems not even A/C in this extreme heat. Weather is not like it was long ago (CLIMATE CHANGE). Imagine if it’s raining and the windows have to be closed with the heat.
2. The teachers’ desks are outdated rusted metal used in the 80s and earlier.
3. Why doesn’t ESHS have a building for students to eat or a cafeteria in this day and age?
4. Times have changed and students should be allowed to leave their mobiles with the office and collect it after in case they have to contact a parent/guardian after school for whatever reason.
5. CTL, Drakes, Island Department Store, OneMart, Rite Way, Bobby’s, Trust Companies and MOST IMPORTANTLY GOVERNMENT donate fans and/or central cooling A/C to ESHS and other schools.
The heat could cause a lot of frustration for everyone including students who need to be in an environment that’s comfortable to learn.
The Civil Service is functioning at its poorest levels since its inception. …
Its always something to blame than themselves for their failures, Are they doing the best job with the tools they have, Do they need tools to be polite and courteous..Do they need tools to smile and be pleasant..Stop it. Get real..
Well! Well! Claude gone befriend the civil servants since he knows that the governor will get more power over the country.
But in any case, Claude fake contracts eat up the monies that civil servant and pensioners would a get
Moral is low
1. Too much prejudice/ jealousy
2. Too much advantage taken of who might not be in your social class
3. Economically – individuals who are at a certain level is being marginalized
4. Educated Belongers and contracted workers ate often ignored and not appreciated or acknowledged for their hard work
5. Generally speaking workers and colleagues prefer to point out your shortcomings instead of accentuating your strengths
6. Nobody care anymore when you face challenges. The world generally is getting callous and unsympathetic.Those days are getting far and few
WAGES not encouraging to add to the social element of hypocrisy
KC should not be in The Premier’s Office I am sorry to Say…she needs to be in * somewhere…