Frequent holidays destroying businesses
Talk show host Claude Skelton Cline has argued that the BVI needs to rethink the number and timing of its public holidays, warning that frequent breaks from work are placing an added burden on businesses during challenging economic times.
Speaking on his Honestly Speaking programme recently, Skelton Cline questioned the impact of yet another public holiday on the territory’s economy.
“They tell me Friday (June 12) is a holiday of some sort. I’m not sure what kind of holiday, but whatever it is, it’s impacting business. We got too many holidays, and it’s doing damage to businesses,” he said.
His comments came just one day before the territory observed the Sovereign’s Birthday holiday on Friday, June 12. Skelton Cline said the issue was not necessarily the existence of public holidays, but rather how often they occur and where they fall on the calendar.
“We gotta find another way to put these holidays somewhere else that is not negatively impacting business,” he stated.
The outspoken commentator argued that the territory cannot afford repeated interruptions to commercial activity, particularly as businesses continue to grapple with rising costs and broader economic pressures.
“In times like these, we cannot afford the frequency of these holidays in the middle, at the end of the week. We gotta find another way to do this,” he said.
While Skelton Cline did not offer specific proposals, several countries have adopted systems that move certain public holidays to Mondays to create long weekends while reducing disruptions to the workweek.
The comments come as businesses across the Virgin Islands continue to raise concerns about the cost of doing business, labour shortages and ongoing economic uncertainty. Some employers have previously argued that frequent public holidays can affect productivity, particularly in sectors that rely on regular customer traffic and operational continuity.
However, public holidays are also viewed as important opportunities for cultural celebration, historical reflection and family activities, with many workers welcoming the breaks throughout the year. The BVI typically observes about 15 public holidays annually, although the total can vary slightly when substitute holidays are added or special commemorative holidays are declared.
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No wings n pizza sold Friday huh! Hurting YOUR bizness eh fake pastor. Good
These business people think they run this country.
CSK is right about this!
Mmm and why is it news what he thinks every day.
And that stupid holiday to celebrate the royal family birthday cost businesses paying out double time to employees and government benefits by get increase nis and income tax deductions, and it destabilize business render them unreliable.
That crap has to stop where this criminal Royal family thing the world is its little slave to should echoes whatever sentiments the white supremacists royal family who robbed and murdered our people and now subjecting our great grand children to dance and sing to amuse them.
Well if yuh dohn like the holiday then go work. Better yet – do
Some community service and shut yah traps. @Eldread – you can always move to the Indians, Round Rock or migrate elsewhere since you don’t want the holidays especially those tied to history.
You is another modern day contradicted vampire.
It’s clear why he didn’t respect Fridays holiday. It’s the kings birthday but he rants on about not knowing why there was a holiday or what it was about. Every other holiday he preaches about the history of the BVI and how important it is to celebrate. I’m afraid its him showing his pure racist side yet again.
What is destroying businesses is the innumerable counts of failure to pay employee contributions to the relevant authorities. It depletes staff morale. Talk about that.
Csc is not a pastor he is a problem maker
Begin with removing all colonnial holidays. Thsy serve no tangible benefits.
Begin with learning how to spell.
In the US businesses is open on Holidays. What businesses will do is the major Holidays will close at a certain time so employees can go home and spend the rest of the Holidays with their family. I love to work on Holidays because I get regular pay and time and a half pay.
If you work after 6;pm on any Holiday you get your regular pay and night differential. Back here everything is lock down on major Holidays. Good Friday, lock down, Christmas, lock down. You can shop Christmas Day in the US be it Supermarket or regular stores. I spend last Christmas in the US and I went to the Supermarket on Christmas Day to shop for groceries.
Stop begin being rude. Stop demonstrating your true inhumanity.
Further, not every unedited comment with a typo indicates one with no verbal exposure. On the contrary, that person is probably further educated than you.
Not everyone sees the specter of the remnants of colonialism as a virtue worth respecting or accepting.
Freedom of thoughts is universal. Humanity needs less of your kind.
With the exception of this year, there has not been a change in the number of holidays per year for decades. Where has this guy been?
the probelm with public holidays is that hourly paid staff get paid double time and half so a $10ph employee now gets $25ph for doing the same job with less people coming through the doors i the service industry and that is why places close on these days
Hey wiggie wiggie, you couldn’t wait to jump on the lyrics that his exelency cSc hollered out ~ to cast in your usual bit of racist narratives to add to both of you pot of hypocrisy / and thats the only thing that both of you are good at – its called DECEPTION but your egoes got the two of you under control , same thing with your arrogance / karma will humble the both of you and jokers like you , so enjoy your fantasies while they lasts • free your minds and seek the lord while he may be found…
For locals / belongers every day is a holiday that’s why the expat workforce is so needed.
Are the number of public holidays are major contributor to poor productivity? No. It is more likely poor planning, organizing, supervision, etc, driving the poor productivity. Agree that more effective scheduling can be planned, distributing through the year. Personal Time Off ( PTO), along with holidays are part of employees compensation packages. Employees are vital resource in both the private and public sectors. It vital and critical to their psyche to having down time to rest, spending quality times with families.