Stop parachuting expats here to take our jobs
Radio host Claude Skelton Cline has issued a fiery call for the BVI to stop “parachuting” expatriates into senior government positions, arguing that qualified Virgin Islanders are repeatedly overlooked despite being qualified for important roles.
Speaking on his Honestly Speaking talk show, Skelton Cline referenced the BVI’s burgeoning climate diplomacy that is getting international attention and promises for funding. He emphasised that as the territory is building an important new footprint on global climate issues, leaders should ensure that this new sector is led by locals — especially those with a proven record of climate leadership.
He singled out climate expert Angela Burnett Penn — a director within the Ministry of Natural Resources — urging the government to ensure she is given a rightful leadership role as the territory strengthens its presence in international climate negotiations.
“There’s a young lady in this country… a very bright, smart lady with a heart for these kinds of subject matters,” he said. “Her name is Angela Burnett Penn. I know some years ago, St Lucia seconded her where she went and was the catalyst for transforming their climate change matter.”
He added: “When it comes to the hiring of staff to give leadership in this country on this subject, I hope one: that a Virgin Islander is selected, and two… I hope that she is at the top of your selection — a woman, a daughter of this soil, with the gift, the talent, the training, that has shown sustained demonstration of her hard work and passion.”
Skelton Cline’s comments come amid ongoing tensions in the BVI over employment and leadership roles in a workforce where expatriates make up roughly 70 percent of the labour force. Many Virgin Islanders argue they are routinely sidelined for top jobs — even in sectors where they possess the training and experience.
“We have to stop parachuting persons into this country to provide leadership in major departments when we have locals who are more than qualified,” he said. “Are you listening to me?”
He warned that several expats currently occupy senior roles while qualified Virgin Islanders serve in acting capacities or are left waiting for confirmation.
“I want to say to the government of the day… when these persons’ existing contracts end, they must end and be replaced with Virgin Islanders,” he insisted. “We cannot just keep talking and frothing at the mouth. We must commit the wisdom of these words to action, to practice, to policy, and to legislation.”
Skelton Cline questioned why Virgin Islanders serving in acting roles — particularly in agencies such as Immigration and Customs — have not been formally confirmed.
“Why are these people still acting in immigration? Why are they not being confirmed?” he asked. “They are sitting in the positions, they are doing the job in those positions — why are they not being confirmed?”
The talk show host said the issue is not a lack of talent among locals but a lack of strategic organisation.
“Virgin Islanders, we are not outnumbered — we are outorganised,” he said.
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Ah. Radio time at BviNews. There are other shows.
Some of you, if allowed by the rest, will wake up in chains one day before the good lord calls you home.
“Why are these people still acting in immigration? Why are they not being confirmed?” he asked. “They are sitting in the positions, they are doing the job in those positions — why are they not being confirmed?”
Dangerous questions if you don’t like the answers.
Perhaps because they were found not to be up to the task?
Why you so publicly want to shame them by pointing out that they have not been appointed is more the problem.
He is pushing for.his girlfriend in immigration
I approved this message
i don’t like this guy but what he is saying here makes sense, work a work permit needs to be replaced the job should be advertised for locals only applications and if a qualified local is available then they should be hired and work alongside the person whos permit will expire so there is a seamless transition with the senior positions.
This makes no sense. You are practically saying that an expact is needed to ‘train’ a local to take their position? First of all why should they be obligated to train someone to take their livelihood? Secondly, a local that is already qualified does not need an expect to train them. Therefore the expact in the position should be left there.
How will this Happen when the DG has empowered a non virgin islander to be his PS and the head of the government HR and she has said she is not into Virgin Islanders first.
When you were living in the US, did you still share this sentiment or was it the fact that you committed crimes and had to run that changed your views?
You are the world’s most insufferable contrarian. I hope expats make the decision to stop supporting your businesses and when you have to borrow money from your very well known expat friend, keep the same energy.
We locals will support him always
Speaking of jobs- when will you complete the jobs that you got paid for from our treasury that you didn’t do?
Couldn’t agree more. What a (dangerous) clown. He’s a total hypocrite.
The first paragraph is spot on, ultra correct and magnificantly stated.
However, we must do more as apeople and gfovernment to bring those truths and realities into effect.
The British has not a good human legacy with us Virgin Islands people. Their legacy is one of capture, bondage, sale, profit, profit, murder and more exploitation.
That is all they have ever been capable of doing as conscoius beings.
Hence, the denial of the former AG, COP, Jackie Vanterpool, to an English man is indictive of their historical and practicing mind set.
Hence,now, it is up to us, whether we are liked or not, those who know, speak, recognize and accept truths and love our islands, must come together and remove our country and people to their rightful place in their country and away for the Britian expatriate blight.
You guys can’t get a qualified CEO for the only public hospital
Contractman again.
Boycott this mans business!
It have enough bvislanders to support his business….CLAUDE FOR CHIEF IMMIGRATION OFFICER
Your other half must be hurting you bad! That heart must be hurting real bad. Is that side from one of the down island as you usually refer to them?
I have 34 years experience and I am qualified professional and studied for 9 years for my degrees and professional exams so that I could do my job. I would love local people to work for me but they are just not qualified. The BVI needs to sponsor children to go to university to get degrees and professional exams but it all starts with getting an good education at school first. The children are the BVI’s future so they should invest in them.
With all due respect to this individual, today, being qualified is the entrance requirement for applying for a given position where corporations are looking to employ the “best” qualified applicant.
Sadly, being qualified only gets you the interview.
How many locals does he have working? No many…hmmm….just talk talk talk. He loves the attention. I like his ‘chain business’ (also illegal) but boycotting it. No supporting a hypocrite. He is embarrassing to the Christian faith.
It’s the type of jobs he’s speaking about. They have no issues with workers in the supermarkets, clothes store the lower level jobs… when they dabbing their jaws its in reference to what they consider elite jobs…. office work, desk jobs
@Neah they are to lazy.
Your expat wife should be first on the plane if you want to go there.
Hmmm he born here? Isn’t he an expat? Hmm yea ok! Well just asking. From a Virgin Islander to an expat.
PUT HIM INCHARGE OF LABOUR DEPARTMENT
I wonder what expatriates have done to him . He is hateful, bitter and angry.
He cannot stand expatriates because they do not lavish their money on gucci chsin,thousand dollars hand bags, hundreds dollars hair styles, thousands dollars outfit
They save their frw pennies after the exhortations rent and have different priorities.
That is his problem . Realine your sly hate speech and stop
Using othets to sprw division
Expats must leave the island for the locals haha you’ll see what’s going to happen!! All the other sisters islands just need to start treating the bvi people the same.. add fees and visas for bvi islanders.
Well, I totally agree with Mr. Skelton Cline. This here country of ours is the only country in the Caribbean where an employer has over 25 employees in a business and you have a difficult time finding a local among them and this is almost every business, large, medium and small. There is certainly more going on than the ability to find qualified, “hardworking” locals. Neah for example with her/his Phd cannot in this country find one qualified local as we are all uneducated and need to go off to study. After all she/he spent over 9 years studying and we must match that. And Common Sense, well, we can only get an interview and are all too dumb, ugly and stupid to pass muster.
Well, I am a local, professionally trained and working in my country for over 36 years and I am personally aware of many locals, who are properly educated, experienced and over educated for some of the positions that they presently hold or are home from University and having a difficult time finding work in their field of study. We can’t also forget our high school graduates and those studying at HLSCC who are in need of full and part time work. But sight unseen, with some of their degrees created by AI persons from all over the world are here and working as it is said not only are we not qualified, we are lazy, disrespectful, urgly and do not want to work. Too many entry level positions as well as professional positions locals are not considered as the first preference is always an outsider.
It only happens here. Despite the ugly comments on here, our Caribbean people from neighbouring islands knows, knows that it does not and cannot happen in their country of origin, neither can we go to Asia to seek employment and score mass employment as is seen here. So this talk of boycotting Mr. Skelton Cline’s business, etc, nonsense. He is speaking the truth. It is long past time that the Labour Department has some grown folks working there who has country at heart and care about their people. This is instead of the ones currently hired to stamp every application that passes their desks whether there are qualified locals seeking work or not. It seems the Labour Management System is only for persons all over the world to apply, for the local applications are invisible. A consorted effort should be made to have businesses hire locally. Where is our National Pride? Come on. The Vincy’s has so much of it, they celebrate political success gained in their country in our streets, while living and working here and didn’t vote. BVI is for Virgin Islanders first, first, periodtttt. Note I didn’t say only, but first preference is an entitlement for nationals of a country, any country if qualified. Some of the people that are brought in for these entry level positions didn’t graduate high school and sold coconuts, vegetables and fruits on the side of the street before they came here. So I agree with you Claude Skelton Cline. When we are gainfully employed for a proper living wage in our own country, then the remaining jobs are available to outsiders. Isn’t that the norm all over the world in small countries?
ANSWER GIVEN ~ WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WE ARE DEAL WITH A CON ARTIST , WHO’S GOAL IS TO DECIEVE PEOPLE, SO HE DID HIS JOB PERFECTLY , GOT THE DOLLARS ( MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, SO HE DID HIS MOONWALK , WHY YOU THINK HE EARNED THE NAME ” CITY SLICKER ” BY USING HIS MILLION DOLLAR SMILE ,AND A LITTLE SWEET TALK FROM THE BIBLE , AND BY THE TIME YOU RESLISE IT , HE ALREADY TAKEN YOUR MONEY FOR SAVING YOUR SOUL •
You know how much local looking work with qualification and still cant get and when you look you see Philippines, Guyana and them in the jobs crazy you think in any other country you will see that you put your own first not last and yes alot ofvlocal like to work
The Virgin Islands (British) would be better off ignoring VI locals for top jobs. Get people who know what they are doing and are not bias towards their family and friends.
HEY THAT POSITION YOU MENTIONED , IS BELOW YOUR HERO’S STANDARD WHAT YOU REALLY MEANT TO SAY IS ” CLAUDIA ” FOR PREMIER , ( WE BELIEVE THAT BLOGG WAS EITHER WRITTEN BY YOU OR BLONDIE ,AKA ” WIGO ” THE DUDE WHO LOVES TO PLAY WITH WIGS , / BOTH OF YOU SPEWING OUT THE SAME RACIAL RETHORIC DAILY , JUST TO CREATE FRICTION , BUT THE PEOPLE ALREADY KNOW BOTH OF YOU BY NOW , SO BOTH OF YOU CAN CONTINUE SINGING YOUR BORING BROKEN DOWN RECORD CHORUS LIKE CANARIES , ITS JUST PASSING THROUGH OUR EARS ( BYE CLAUDIE – BY JULIE .
Holy CĹAUD ,IS SAYING)> AM SAYING IT HERE AND NOW , THIS SHIT GOT TO STOP , OR WE GINE START KICKING SOME BUTTZ .
It is the same BVIslanders that think the place is theirs that can’t stand to see their own to be great. If a BVIslander based on their expertise qualify for a job and is provided with the right support to do the job and they succeed, guess what We all win. We are trying to build our small island just not one family. SMH