Everything run by locals runs exceptionally well — Skelton Cline
BVI institutions run by locals have come in for high praise by political commentator and clergyman, Pastor Claude Skelton Cline.
But he contrasted these institutions with the public service which is helmed by the United Kingdom (UK) appointed governor and a locally selected Deputy Governor.
“Everything we run in this country, everything that is run by locals in this country, runs exceptionally well,” Skelton Cline said on his Honestly Speaking radio show yesterday, March 1.
Skelton Cline pointed to the financial services sector – which he said the UK never wanted the BVI to have – as an example of this and said successes in the industry came despite hurdles placed in front of locals.
The clergyman praised the work and vision of the recently retired CEO of the BVI Financial Services Commission, Dr Robert Mathavious and former First Lady, Lorna Smith within that arena and said Mathavious was particularly keen on ensuring that locals populated that industry.
According to Skelton Cline, the Social Security Board was another example of a similarly well run and locally helmed body.
Public service doesn’t run well
Meanwhile, the talk show host questioned the practice of holding only the elected government accountable though, even as the unelected side of the proverbial coin was left unscathed.
“You know what don’t run well? Our elected form of government that is dependent on a public service that is run by the governor and deputy governor, that is what doesn’t run well,” he argued.
Skelton Cline said he was not blaming individual public servants for the sector’s performance, but suggested that good people were being placed in a bad system.
“Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, Her Majesty‘s Prisons – those are the things that don’t run well. Do you know what side of the coin those things are under? They are under the unelected and selected government part of the public government partnership that we have with the United Kingdom,” he added.
The talk show host also had a response for critics who may doubt his point of view.
“You say, ‘well, Claude Skelton Cline I hear you. But, are you saying our elected government is not in charge?’ Of course, they’re not! In charge of what?” he asked.
Skelton Cline argued that the BVI sends 13 people to the House of Assembly to carry out its affairs, only for them to step into shoes that don’t fit.
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Hahahahahaha…….this story title is going to get a lot of laughs!
Hilarious.
The Electricity ? Airport? Roads? Labour? Immigration? Inland Revenue? The Ports? Education?
Is he dumb or blind?
No – he’s saying that is the Governor’s role NOT local …
Passing the buck completely. If this was really with the Governor’s office, there would be widespread redundancies tomorrow.
Definitely both dumb and blind !!!!
He pocket full so he blowing hot air
Ask the customers who bought food at his business about how good it was LMAO!!!! If any of you saw the Facebook post when the lady posted the food pic and price …you’ll know what I’m talking about
Hard to believe that he is serious.
actually publishing news….
Trying to get friendly again with the local population after allegedly taking bribes and stealing public funds through his ‘consultancy’ contracts.
total ramblings of an uniformed political buffoon.
What Total nonsense regards the financial services sector. the BVI does not have a financial services sector it has shame business set up to hide money through mainly London to avoid TAX and launder illegal money.
I have been into the offices of these companies and seen the locals in their new suits with phones that done ring, in-trays and out trays that are emptier that CSC brain.
Their is nobody in BVI who has real and proper financial qualifications and people from BVI who do live outside of the BVI.
if it was not for Brexit this would all be coming to an end right now because of EU laws. But it will not last for long. you are going to lose that income very soon as the world Bank legislates against the UK for transparency.
I recon you got 5 – 7 years. use that time well to to beef up other income streams, the only thing you have is tourism.
the charters give some money but not much, the cruise ships are peanuts. you need to clean the island up get quality hotels and get people to stay on island that’s the rear money you need.
problem is and back to CSC’s main point, Locals in BVI are not doing a good job period. its a mess and you can get away with the mess when you have income from Financial services and the incompetent un qualified people can hide.
when the money goes there will be no place to hide. the UK gov knows this and despite what BVI cronies say the COI is there to help get things right before the coming financial crash comes.
spot on!
April fools came early…..this foo definitely smokin cr@ck
or the short version LOL you Muppet CSC
You are delusional Claude.
Thank you for my daily dose of laughter!
Wha happen he make so much money to do nothing that he not even in touch with reality any more? Almost everything is backwards and inefficient around here what is he talking about!?
One final message CSC your mate Kwame is talking to the NY district attorney. You may want to purchase some airplane tickets I suggest Asia is nice this time of year lol
Mr. Cox wants to talk to you too CSC
Perhaps SKC has finally found his calling as a comedian. From here on out his pronunciations should be seen as him testing out new material.
Claude the Fr**d at it again. Complete and utterly nonsense. Can’t wait to leave this h**l hole.
Two of these ***** as Headline News. NEXT!!!
He on the pipe again?
Why this pastor come on the radio to sin?
This statement demonstrates his feelings about us the people of the VI. We are stupid, and not worthy of honesty and sincerity.
He roams free to comfortably utter the most vile and ludicrous of statements to our faces and with no shame or embarrassment.
Him and the current Premier must be patrons of the same demonic entity.
The government is being run by locals and it is going full speed to h**l. What is your point? In every country there are competent locals and there are incompetent locals. What is remarkable though is the ability of the government to assemble a team with all incompetent people and actually win an election. Now this is remarkable!
The last party was useless but this lot take the cake, they honestly haven’t got a hope in h**l to get back in, it’s why he is decorating the entire island in his colours to make it seem like everyone is for them , honestly if you see a tree or post with those green bands , rip them down ( and do something unusual and put it in a dustbin instead of dumping on the ground) His days are numbered
Clearly Mr. Skelton Cline is living in Fantasyland, and not a reality-based world. Is he getting the political advise he passes on to the Premier from Tinkerbell perhaps?
People still refer to this fr**d as pastor what a shame why don’t you go hide yourself on some deserted island
Erection time is getting close
seems like you have something on your mind. or did you mean election. I wonder what is in your hand.LOL
Hello sheep by day and Wolfe by night not everyone that cry lord lord will see the kindom of God
It gawls me that this mf is not history. He makes a hogs stomach sick. All this c**p was on ur table with Ur big contracts now U here talking p**s. It’s amazing who listen to this cri**nal saying MAN OF THE CLOTH to all who does ur all worse than him.
TRY TO DO BUSINESS AT NATURAL RESOURCES AND LABOUR, ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE AND INLAND REVENUE JUST TO NAME A FEW, IT’S MY OPINION THAT THESE 3 OFFICES ARE IMPEDING DEVELOPMENT- IT MIGHT NOT BE ANY PARTICULAR PERSON OR DEPT BUT COULD BE THE SYSTEM ITSELF. BULIDING A PROPERTY IN BVI IS ALREADY STRESSFUL AND SOMETIMES THERE IS NO RECOURSE WITH THESE OFFICES.
are just exercising predators their ability to deceive the same people that bother are supposed to be praying for ,it seems as if the people are PREY for these predators
Wasn’t it a local who used to run dominoe Gas?
One thing that runs exceptionally well is the Pastor’s dodgy consultancy business. $100k (plus tip) from his cronies in Government for doing f*** all, is genius.
you said it ridecht / this guy is in the twilight zone, he is an agent of deception and he himself doesn’t know he is only deceiving himself in the process
He runs his mouth well. Like a overfilled broken toilet. Him and Cindy a pair.
Claude, please contact DMV and try and register a vehicle, you cannot event get an appointment for several weeks. Try and book a driving test (road or cone) you are waiting months.
I have been trying to get town water connected to my property: full paid with written confirmation in June, still waiting for supply.
PLEASE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT DUE, BUT BVI IS A EXEMPLAR ON BUREACRACY AND LACK OF CUSTOMER SERVICE.
Definitely the worst customer service! R [supermarket], banks, restaurants…you name it! I’ve NEVER seen people allowed to be so slow n unfriendly keep their jobs anywhere other than here in the BVI! The slowest n worst customer service on the planet! It’s shameful n embarrassing!
Perhaps he doesn’t have to go to the Labour Department, the DMV, the Bank or the Inland Revenue then. It took me 3 minutes for car inspection and then 2 hours to pay for it. Work permit renewals have taken 5 months and I know someone whose took 7 months. As for the Inland Revenue when I had to get my certificate that my employer had paid last year it took 90 minutes to pay for it then 2 months to get it and then another 2 hours to pick it up. And I try not to go into the Bank because thats nightmare.
And forgot to mention immigration and the electricity queues. There are two speeds in BVI – slow and dead slow. Since when has the Governor been responsible for Labour, Immigration, Electricity the Inland Revenue, the banks? Maybe if he was charge they would be better?
Maybe whoever owns the business for repairing the potholes need to be sacked. They fill holes temporary and they appear again a couple of month later. Money for old rope. Also didn’t the Government have to take back the requirement for employers certificates in work permits for tax, SSB and NHI because in some local businesses don’t pay them.
As for customer service in BVI – what’s that in BVI? That’s why I don’t buy anything from any shops if I have to – only Bobby’s and even some of them girls are just rude. And because of the high prices I order a lot of mine stuff and ship it because its cheaper in than buying it here. I wont give a cent to shops or businesses who overcharge and don’t go into to places that are not friendly – so mostly all.
Maybe he doesn’t get out of BVI much?
Maybe its time for the expats to leave – then CSC see how much money would be earnt when they are not here to pay the high costs of everything. A decent loaf of bread is $10 ( in UK GBP1), apples $10 per bag (GBP2), lemons $9 (GBP2), I saw box of tea at $8-$10 (GBP2), spinach, lettuce and broccoli $6 (GBP1) and anything organic is even more; my degree deodorant went up from $5 to $9 per item. I have given up meat because too expensive. Yes I know about shipping costs but the hike in prices for 1 item is very great. And yes I could go home and probably will.
Thank you Mr. Cline for cheering me up. Just when you think there is nothing to laugh about this clown does it everytime – makes me laugh out loud that is.