Term limits not necessary for all leaders — Skelton
Former legislator Ronnie Skelton is the latest public figure to submit his views on term limits for elected leaders, stating that this measure isn’t necessary for everyone elected to office in the BVI.
Term limits for elected leaders has been debated in the BVI for years as some residents believe it will help to ensure accountability among those who are elected to govern the territory’s affairs.
Speaking on the Real Talk Show hosted by Karia Christopher, Skelton said he only supports term limits for positions like Premier and Speaker of the House of Assembly.
“If you’re going to be the Premier forever, I would say that shouldn’t happen. You can have term limits for the Premier and for the Speaker, you can have term limits for certain people in the system,” Skelton noted. “What we look at is the US system but if you take the US senate, there’s no term limit. Where there are term limits is the President and Governor [roles].”
Skelton said he believes all leaders other than a Premier and Speaker of the House of Assembly, can operate without term limits once the correct systems are put in place to ensure that power doesn’t go unchecked.
During the same interview, Chairperson for the Constitutional Review Commission Lisa Penn Lettsome said the issue of term limits has been raised by persons who’ve attended the public meetings across the territory.
“One of the drawbacks that we’ve heard is that those who are against it say it would lessen the pool of persons who are potentially interested. We have to bear in mind that when politicians give up their day-to-day jobs, it’s very difficult for them to get back into the mainstream if they’re not successful in politics. So the argument is that it may make it more unattractive for persons,” Penn Lettsome explained.
She added that some residents have suggested a staggered term system where leaders take a break from representing and may re-enter politics after that mandatory break ends.
While term limits have been a topical discussion in BVI politics for years, no serious efforts have been made to implement it.
In the meantime, Skelton said he supports recall legislation which would give residents the power to remove elected leaders from office before a general election is called.
“I want to add that you should have a recall system. If a constituency wants to recall the elected person, then there should be a system for that,” said Skelton, who is also one of the commissioners overseeing the constitutional review.
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What happen to PVIM? It looks to me like they were only formed to make sure NDP didn’t win the last election which is a very low thing to do. The place was in uproar for the last 3 years and months and not a word from PVIM. I guess they will come sneaking around now close to election looking votes when they were absent all this time.
They need term limits in the US to stop Uber wealthy individuals like Pelosi from continuing well past the days days when even their plastic surgery is drooping.
You just upset Myron is out of the upcoming race for thi**ing.
Myron days are long gone he need to go try and stay out of jail
The problem here is that you are asking the wrong question. The real question is WHY DID ANYONE IN THEIR RIGHT F**KING MIND VOTE FOR A PARTY THAT WAS JUST WHIPPED TOGETHER TO SPITE NDP!
I can tell you why, it’s because many voters who are now complaining are bad minded and dirty hearted people which is why the BVI will continue its downward slide unless ways are changed. There is no way PVIM should have garnered as many votes as they did as it was very obvious their reason for contesting the elections and it had nothing to do with representation. I do not blame PVIM for taking voters for fools and accomplishing their tasks, voters have responsibilities and that’s that!
Think up your own name cretin.
the number of elected politicians to 3 or 5 at large members of the HOA and limit all of them to a 4 year term. The candidate who receives the most votes becomes the Premier. Eliminate the speaker so the Premier runs the HOA for his term. Also no more political parties.
Ronnie loves the power reason why he would say something like this. I voted for this guy 2 times when I was a teen and later on in my twenties. He is a very successful businessman he doesn’t need politics. Also he was the better candidate last election to be our Premier. None of these Politicians will never bring a referendum to the HOA for term limits and this is the mindset with Folks like Ronnie and Fraser. They have the mindset like only them have ideas and philosophies for the British Virgin Islands ??. They don’t want to give the younger generation a chance. It’s all about Ronnie W. Skelton. Who has Ronnie and Fraser took under their wing to mentor ? to be in a leadership role. Reason I stop vote for these guys. It’s all about them no succession planning
Where was it said that Myron got arrested for stealing? People in this country are horrible. We deserve what we are getting now. I told my friend Myron to stay out and leave these people alone. They don’t know good people. Not one of those politicians was more productive and helpful to people than Myron. My friend, you take care of yourself and those close to you and leave these ungrateful people alone. They deserve the leaders that they have and that they will get.
Why is Myron in the convo? It’s about term limits, Myron days are long gone he needs to stay out of bvi politics and leave them bad minded voters alone
The time limit we want for you Skelton is zero
He should not show his face in the public …. It is because of his badmindness and dislike for foreigners why the country was taken over by VIP and look where we are today ,
He and Eileen did not want a candidate who was not indigenous… Look where this got us .
We need to take a close look at the inner workings of the political system … Some of us belongers are not figuring out the politics. Myron is one of the person who represent us and the whole population in Cabinet. That is why they don’t want him there .
Ronnie helped to set a string of events in motion to bring the country to its knees
The question or the concern is that all they all do is talk, no courage, no will, no action…The BVI Plaque with envy and jealous, hence greed and selfishness become, because everyone wants to be seen as better off than the other ..I like Ronnie as our next Premier, he is a make things happen guy, he is in need of nothing, I also like Sowande but he has no control, every one doing as they wish.. Ronnie is my first choice, Sowande my second because of his good temperament…
In my opinion term limits are not democratic. Persons should be free to choose who they want even if they have been in office for multiple terms. Elections reform is what’s necessary to take away incumbents advantage and to place candidates on a more level playing field. My freedom to elect someone should not be taken away whether the person is 18 or 80 or have been in office for 5 terms.
Are you talking about the same Myron who said he can’t look out for BVIslanders? Myron should be disqualified with that type of belief.
Play the tape you wicked l**r. Myron never said that said snd those who spread it never heard him utter those words. And Myron did more for BVIslanders when he was there than everyone else who was there at the time with him. Our lies has caused us to be where we are and we are still doing. We will not rest until we destroy the little that we have left of our home.
So you vote for someone because of their temperament when they have demonstrated a high degree of incompetence. This is why the country is where it is. This man cannot even get the bush cut around the country but he has a nice temperament so I will vote for him. Could that smooth temperament be because he has no clue about anything?