Skelton says bureaucracy, not ministers, blocking critical projects
Territorial At-Large Representative Ronnie Skelton has argued that bureaucracy within the public service, rather than elected ministers, is preventing critical development projects from being delivered in the Virgin Islands.
Skelton said during the recent budget debates that the territory no longer has the administrative capacity to carry out large capital programmes, despite repeated allocations in successive budgets. He told lawmakers that additional layers of procedures have slowed implementation to the point where approved projects struggle to move forward.
“We have really put a layer or two or three of bureaucracy on top of what used to exist,” Skelton said, adding that the country no longer has the machinery to deliver what is promised in the budget.
Skelton pointed to persistent underspending on capital works as evidence of a system that cannot execute its plans. He said governments often allocate tens of millions of dollars for development, only to see much of that money remain unused by the end of the year.
“You allocate all of these projects to be done, and by the time the year finishes, you might do $35 million or $40 million,” he said, describing the situation as “kind of an impossible task” under the current system.
According to Skelton, the delays are not caused by ministers refusing to act, but by administrative bottlenecks that slow decisions and approvals. He said ministers themselves have acknowledged that projects stall once they enter the system.
“Every time I speak to the ministers, they are basically saying that the system… can’t get this stuff to move forward,” Skelton said, calling the situation damaging to the BVI’s economic progress.
He warned that the failure to execute capital projects has direct consequences for residents, particularly those who depend on construction and infrastructure activity for work and income. Skelton said capital spending should be one of the fastest ways to stimulate the economy.
“Construction is one of those things that really gets people going — going to the supermarket, paying their light bills, paying this and paying that,” he said, stressing that stalled projects deny people those opportunities.
Skelton also highlighted growing public frustration, saying residents hear repeated commitments in parliament but see little change in their daily lives. He described a widening gap between what government says it intends to do and what people experience on the ground.
“When you go out there on the street, there is a disconnect,” he said, adding that plans and budgets must “touch the people on the street” if confidence in governance is to be restored.
He urged the government to narrow its focus, select fewer priorities, and reform internal systems so projects can move faster. Without such changes, Skelton warned, large budgets would continue to deliver limited results for the territory.
Copyright 2026 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
Why don’t they all just join the government at this point. I have witnessed the ugliness of this house of assembly. They have no ideas, they have no love for this country. It is all about personal gripes. No principles. The only thing that both VIP and NDP care about is destroying Myron. For the life of me I cannot understand it. I have never seen so much obsession with one person. And it is all about jealousy. That is the bottom line.
These ministers go out of their way to say that they are in charge. Well, if you are in charge the run things. Don’t turn around and blame the bureaucracy.
Ronnie has lost his political usefulness a long long time ago. Him and those around of him are trying to fulfill some fantasy on the backs of the people. The NDP is going no where.
Blame the civil servants. Why this man don’t just go home. The ministers are not planning properly. It is obvious.
Bureaucracy block sea cows bay road? Bureaucracy blocking the water crisis? Bureaucracy blocking Hodge’s creeek road?
Dude shut up if you don’t know what to say.
The Hon. Mr. Skelton is spot on! The BVI has a way of bureaucratising things into submission. Much of the nonsense comes from no person with common sense supervising the bureaucracy. Petty bureaucrats are free to lump red tape and nonsense upon red tape and nonsense, all to ensure the positions, prerogatives and indispensability of the bureaucrats’ jobs.
Have you ever looked at the application for a fishing license for tourist here for a week? Utter nonsense, you’d think the tourist was arriving on his factory ship! Fisheries needs to learn, the tourists’ licenses are ONLY ABOUT THE MONEY!
It’s true across the board with the bureaucracy here. Unsupervised and lacking in common sense.
It is that same bureaucracy that you and past leaders have deliberately put in place to make yourselves so stinking rich! All while the ‘common people’ must scratch the $hit off the rocks you leave behind to make a living!
THINK ON THAT, all courtesy of the ‘selfish thirteen’ (HOA members)! Bureaucracy served all of you well!
Makes me sick!
Did you get sorted? Can you get through security without being checked now? I know that was one level of bureaucracy you thought was out of control. Hope you left to do whatever you want to do now. You get that bureaucray fixed??
Long time no hear Mr SKELETOare you still alive ?? I was wondering .you have nothing good to say when it comes to things of importance ,, wow, and you are getting paid big money.. please go home, allow somone else to takeover that seat please please
Hon Skelton is right. Too much red tape.. its everywhere. The country is stifled and the people are frustrated. Issues begins at the head. If the head is rotten the body will eventually rot. What’s at the head trickles downward… Its a fact…