We more often elect the idiots among us — Skelton Cline
Commentator Claude Skelton Cline has warned that the BVI is stuck in a cycle of electing politicians who fail to deliver, saying voters repeatedly choose leaders based on emotion rather than competence.
Speaking on his Honestly Speaking radio programme, Skelton Cline said politics remains “an emotional exercise, not primarily an intellectual one,” arguing that this pattern explains why effective leadership rarely emerges.
“This is why your best and your better citizens seldom, if ever, come to power politically in any country,” Skelton Cline argued. “As a matter of fact, more often than not, we elect the idiots.”
He noted that voters frequently reward candidates they like rather than those who demonstrate the ability to manage public resources or govern effectively. “You elect people based upon likability and not ability,” he stated. He added that this preference for charisma and familiarity over competence undermines efforts to run the territory efficiently, both fiscally and administratively.
Poor infrastructure, slow gov’t services and unresolved district issues
Skelton Cline said the problem is not new and has been observed in democracies elsewhere, but the impact is being felt sharply in the BVI. Poor infrastructure, slow government services and unresolved district issues have been recurring concerns. He pointed to residents who continue re-electing representatives even though “your roads are still a mess, your toilet still can’t flush, your centres ain’t functioning… but you know what? [They] make me feel good.”
His comments come at a time when the territory continues to face longstanding governance challenges. Recent assessments of public administration have highlighted delays in service delivery, inefficiencies in project execution and gaps in oversight that have spanned multiple administrations. The Commission of Inquiry report detailed decades of underperformance in key sectors and ineffective systems that have slowed development.
The best among us seldom rise to power
Skelton Cline argued that these failings are reinforced each election cycle when voters dismiss capable candidates in favour of those who simply make them feel comfortable.
“The best among us seldom rise to power,” he said, adding that “the brightest, the intellectual, the thoughtful, the reflective” are often overshadowed.
He called on the public to break the habit of repeating “yesterday’s missteps” and warned that the next general election could reproduce the same outcome unless voters critically assess who they support. He said the country is now at risk of entering another election cycle without learning from past choices. “We keep on having conversations with some of these same people out of familiarity, not ability,” he stated.
Skelton Cline suggested the territory may need a fresh slate of leaders to move forward. He said the BVI cannot continue “living today in yesterday” and must instead elect people who can govern effectively and advance the country’s development.
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And those idiots only employ idiot consultants who fail to deliver.
Such a pity this radio of yours is still working and we have to hear more from this particular ex employee.
LOL. That was a good come back. You and I have disagreed sometimes but boy that response was good. I love it. You hit the ball right out the park.
Why do people often attack the messenger rather than the message. he is indeed the wrong person to deliver this message but he speaks nothing but facts! Don’t we engage in the repetitive cycle of election the same politicians over and over again based on everything listed out in the article. I bet if VIP gets voted out, the same politicians on the opposing side who been in there for years and are a part of the problem would get voted in once again and then cycle repeats itself but instead of bringing nuance to the conversation, you all attack the person speaking facts. I’m a local and this is so typical of most locals.
Enforcing these square pegs in round hole in order to get private contracts doing nothing but paid handsomely.
The system of democracy that the colonials gave us is performative politics and theatrics, if we ever had anyone among us that is educated and independent minded the international white hegemony will brand them to communist and see to it they are not elected, once they sound pro western like a puppet they would be propped up by the business community of white monopoly capital domination, no one on this world is ever elected against the opinion of the white unipolar world, other leaders like in Grenada former late prime minister bishop was taken out for thinking outside the box.
We had our own noel loud and others who are not marionette politicians dubbed as crazy, then we have a park in his honor after the fact of realizing his brilliance, but that not a problem for the UK as long as he didn’t attain power to break their neocolinial agenda.
Claude is an opportunist that would be trusted to be part of government because they knew of his pass life on Detroit, he would be an American puppet, no wonder he love his Puerto Rican prime minister natalio Wheatley.
The BVI need a development policy that both party if elected have to follow. And the people will be able to judge performances, rather than each party creating pork barrel schemed for enrichment of families and cronies.
He once ran to be one of those idiots and was rejected. Not even an idiot he could do good. LOL
The Biggest Idiot of them all
The first true statement he has ever uttered….
Well I must say if Claude ever told a lie, it wasn’t today! LOLOLOLOL!!!! 10000% FACTS!!!!!!
Did he just call Natalio an idiot? Gravy train blues it sounds like. Not suggesting issa lie though.
This Idiot is Right. It is really the Voters who are Idiots. A Plate of Food and a Beer on Election Day and BAM! They Vote in the Idiots for another Four Years and the Idiots Know that Game. The Majority of Men and Women who sit in the Hollywood HOA are Selfish Idiots that is why Come next Elections 95% of them should be Sent home on Retirement. Young and Old.
You are one of those
CSC you is one of them, but not elected,. Of the elected clowns I’d include MH.
Dear Mr wise guy, that’s why you will never be elected….
Hope they do not elect that redman in the third that will be a step backwards
Wiggy shut your f…. ass up people dont want u
i agree with claude