HOA returned public service powers back to UK, says Skelton Cline
Commentator Claude Skelton Cline has accused the House of Assembly of giving back powers over the public service to the governor’s office, reversing long-standing local oversight.
Skelton Cline said the Public Service Management Bill, passed last year and brought into force in January, stripped the Deputy Governor’s Office of responsibilities it had carried out for decades.
“The House of Assembly handed back to the Office of the Governor basically every function that this deputy governor and all previous deputy governors were carrying out relative to our public service. That’s what y’all did, and of which I am not now or ever will be in favour,” he stated.
He explained that the 2007 Constitution only assigned the governor responsibility for terms and conditions of service, while day-to-day management rested with the Deputy Governor’s Office in practice. He argued the new law went further.
“The governor is now responsible in law for the public service, for performances, for supervision – something that we had in practice through the deputy governor. This government gave it back,” he said.
Skelton Cline highlighted that the original draft of the bill, taken to Cabinet by the governor, would have enshrined the deputy governor’s oversight in law.
“A good piece of document … empowering officially and ultimately, hopefully, in law the office of the deputy governor,” he explained.
He praised Education Minister Sharie deCastro as the only legislator to support that version, adding, “She was the light in the darkness.”
The commentator, who described himself as an ally of the ruling Virgin Islands Party, insisted his remarks were not an attack but a critique. “I am telling you on this matter you were wrong, you were dead wrong, and it needs to be corrected,” he argued.
The bill’s passage followed recommendations from the Commission of Inquiry, which in 2022 urged reforms to improve accountability and reduce political influence over the civil service. The inquiry had found serious failings in governance and called for clearer lines of responsibility between elected officials, senior public officers and the governor.
Elected members have since clashed over how far authority should extend to the United Kingdom’s representative. Some, like Skelton Cline, see the shift as undermining local self-determination.
“We are trying to protect, preserve and perpetuate. We are trying to empower ourselves. We are trying to move towards the path of self-determination … and how do you let go through the House this kind of legislation?” he asked.
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Was it not our own that told masser when we were planning an escape?
Was it not our own still fight. and tear us down in favor of others?
Is it not our own who still thinks and believes that the white man can rule us better than we can rule ourselves?
That piece of legislation has proven that without any doubt. It also proves that if you want authentic legislation that truly will look out for and protect the people, the right mind sets must be the ones appointed to makes the correct reccomendation for to a constitutional review.
Hence, if, brainwashed 16th century and other minds are put in such positions that is the kind of results that will come about.
The houe negro is still with us psychologically today, and this we often forget or over look in matters of critical importance.
Last, our people must begin chosing and marching towAards unity. If not, wewill continue to be manipulated by forces that doonot and never had the interest of our people at heart.
Virgin Islands people, stop hating on Claude and Myron, we must unite now!!
Is it not our own from the CARICOM and others likeminded whose cannibalism and said attitude has made these VI a septic place in compliance with their own.. An overburdened justice system groups of foreign policemen overburdened hospital mediocre health facilities schools with teenaged updeuislun thugs and drug pushers…locks and bolts as absolute necessities for home and all possessions big and small.Bastard babies and one parent households the norm prostitution and in the wide open, A pox on the infidels must continue on these cursed demonic interlopers in addition to the BVI system which knowingly altered enabled and continues to deface customs and morals in our BVI as a means to further enable their deep pockets.1
You think and its resonance implies caucasion. Are you? I wouldn’t doubt.
You should follow suit and return the money you got paid for no work to the treasury. Return the priest collar to God one time also.
IT WAS AN HONEST MISTAKE , IT NWAS SUPPOSED TO BE SUPPOSED TO BE SENT YOU , BUT YOU KNOW WE ROLL AROUND HERE
Hello! CSC here, how the hell am I going to get contracts for doing nothing when the governor in charge of everything, I could a lean on uncle or other family members in government or even lineage. My goose is cook now, I am going back to Detroit to sell pizza.
Once Skelton Cline is against it… I am for it..