‘You have to wrestle power away from the UK’, Skelton says
Territorial-at-Large representative Ronnie Skelton has hailed the proposed House of Assembly (Management) Bill 2025 as a major step toward strengthening the BVI’s self-governance, declaring that history has shown that people have to “wrestle power away from the United Kingdom,” as the colonial power would not willingly hand it over.
“I have learned from my history and my age that the British don’t really give you anything, you have to fight for anything, you have to wrestle it from them,” Skelton said during debate in the House of Assembly.
“You can’t want to live in the highest law-making body in the country and then you want to live with your parents. That makes no sense, that’s not progress.”
Skelton, a veteran legislator and former Minister of Finance, said he fully supports the bill, which would create an independent management body to oversee the operations of the House of Assembly — including staffing, budgeting, and administration — free from direct control of the Executive branch and the wider public service.
He noted that the issue of legislative independence has been discussed for decades, dating back to his time as Finance Minister in 2003.
“Some nearly 20 years later, it’s happening now,” he said.
Supporters of the bill, including Speaker of the House Corine George-Massicote, have argued that it represents a necessary evolution toward true separation of powers. The Speaker has, however, clarified that the legislation will not separate the legislature from its accountability to the people, but rather allow it to function without interference from the executive government.
Skelton said the reforms are essential to strengthening democracy and ensuring that institutions protect the people “from the powerful and the corrupt.”
He argued that the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary must each operate independently to safeguard the territory’s democratic integrity.
“A civil service controlling a parliament — they know that is wrong. Parliament is supposed to be an independent body,” he stated.
He also connected the bill to the wider constitutional reform process now underway, describing it as a “stepping stone” toward internal self-government.
“We need to do the things that build institutions for the country and to protect the people… this bill is a step in the right direction,” he said.
The bill comes at a time when the BVI continues to balance constitutional talks with the UK following the 2022 Commission of Inquiry and the threat of direct rule under an Order in Council.
For Skelton, the message was clear: “The British have to understand that people need to grow.”
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“You can’t want to live in the highest law-making body in the country and then you want to live with your parents. That makes no sense, that’s not progress.”
Then why is Fraser suggesting building another floor of the House for your parents to live? You guys are making no sense?
Also UK are ready to give the people of the VI what they want and what is in the UN charter. They just need to hear from the VI people through a referendum. The referendum you all say the VI people are TOO DUMB for. You think you as the parents have to decide for us!! You guys make no sense!!
The UK are ready the UN are ready the people of the VI are ready. HOA13 and P487 are not ready. You just can’t face the fact that the people of the VI will not give you what you want which is unfettered access to continuing greedy, corrupted, New Colonial style power.
The VI people want a Nation that works for them not an entitled elite. An elite that has grown since the days of H L Stoutt. Where there is no VIsion the people will perish under the weight of the elites SECRET corruption.
Vigilate
Ronnie what are you saying. The BVI has the power now and the UK wants to take it away because you all Politicians have played into their hands with the corruption.
But I blame the people for voting back in these same old Politicians who have messed up the country and not vote in new blood.
If you are worthy of the power you will enact the Unearned Income Act, rescind the Greedy Bill, give back your pay raises and retirement increases. If you do those three things you may be worthy of re-election; if not just a greedy corrupt politician like the rest of them!!
USE MYRUN’S METHOD LIKE WHAT HE USED ON YOU
The UK give you $$ every year. In the future hope for more control but at the moment, these politicians are in it for themselves and do not have the best interest of the average person from the BVI.
Skelton let me start by saying the bottom line is you the present government and whoever else stand to gain from the independence of the BVI. Have any of you ever asked the Citizens of British Virgin Islands if they wanted to become independent? What just happened with the Deputy Commissioners job Natalio Wheatley knew about it before it hit the news but he kept quiet about it so he can use it against the UK and try and bill a case about his passion independence but we are a lot smarter than you give us credit for. You don’t care about the people of the BVI if you did you would do a referendum.
Natalio knew
That absolutely makes no sense. The BVI is better off being friendly and amicable and try to work along and work together with the UK and the British.
100%. 75% of us don’t want independence. We lack in many areas and will continue to need the UKs support.
“You can’t want to live in the highest law-making body in the country and then you want to live with your parents. That makes no sense, that’s not progress.”
Then why is Fraser suggesting building another floor of the House for your parents to live? You guys are making no sense?
Also UK are ready to give the people of the VI what they want and what is in the UN charter. They just need to hear from the VI people through a referendum. The referendum you all say the VI people are TOO DUMB for. You think you as the parents have to decide for us!! You guys make no sense!!
The UK are ready the UN are ready the people of the VI. HOA13 and P487 are not ready. You just can’t face the fact that the people of the VI will not give you what you want which is unfettered access to continuing greedy, corrupted, New Colonial style power.
The VI people want a Nation that works for them not an entitled elite. An elite that has grown since the days of H L Stoutt. Where there is no VIsion the people will perish under the weight of the elites SECRET corruption.
Vigilate
Ronnie, what more power do you need? The government is renting your building, and no one even questions it.
You never stood up for the people when you were Opposition Leader. You can’t relate to our struggles — you were born with a golden pacifier in your mouth. You don’t know what it’s like to choose between paying a bill and buying food, or to walk in shoes worn down to the ground.
The UK never stopped you all from giving yourselves a big raise. They never stopped you from enjoying all the perks and privileges that come with being a member of the House of Assembly.
You and the elected officials keep asking for more power — but how does that help the public at large? How does it put food on our tables or give us access to the same quality healthcare that politicians enjoy? How does it support our struggling businesses, or help those of us who are unemployed and underemployed instead of shaming us when we turn to social services for help?
How does it make our communities safer from crime, when the economy is failing and our young people aren’t being mentored or given real opportunities for work?
We keep hearing about what you want but not what the people want. If this continues maybe you alone need to vote yourself back in because you have shown that you do not need nor care for the people
ronnie did not ask government to rent the building, the government did that itself. go ask the government why they rent the building from on her processing sh!l
I anticipated a comment like this — pettiness has become far too common. Let’s be clear: Ronnie is a businessman engaged in real estate. I never said he should be prohibited from having a contract with the government. Has the UK flagged this as a conflict of interest? Not to my knowledge.
The real issue lies elsewhere. Ronnie accepted the double pay granted to elected officials and remained silent — offering no explanation or defense to the very people he was elected to represent. People like myself, who went out of our way to vote for genuine change: better employment opportunities, improved healthcare, equitable social support for those in need, assistance for struggling businesses, and encouragement for new investment to help our people become gainfully employed and live the BVI dream — the same dream Ronnie himself enjoys.
Yet when you call, he doesn’t answer. Just as we showed up for him during the last election, we expected him to show up for us — especially when only 29% of the workforce consists of BVIslanders. We expected him to take a stand during a no-confidence vote against a stagnant administration, or to speak out against excessive taxation while this government continues to spend lavishly on itself and neglects the people it was elected to serve.
Too often, they play the race card when convenient, yet eagerly socialize with the very individuals they publicly claim to resent. This is not the standard of representation that I, or many others, envisioned. I am confident that many will agree — Ronnie’s recent statement was not made in the best interest of the proud and hardworking people of this country.
Is this the same Ronnie whose pocket gets fatter by $36,000 per month courtesy of the tax payer.
No wonder he don’t want mommy or daddy looking over his shoulder.
Lord have mercy.
Contrary to popular belief the skeltons were not always rich. They got their big break in the early 90’s when Lav and Rob allegedly throw the bone of allowing Harney to rent from them.
Dont let their arrogance fool you. Know your history.
I know Ronnie a long time and have a lot of respect for him. Based on what you say they have been well off for over 45 years. May have been longer. I am not jealous of his success. I am disappointed that he is not humble enough to look out for the common man. We supported him and expected the same in return. The UK does not impact the common man but the uk government need to stand in the gap more to defend us commoners or else tyranny and dictatorship will prevail as we will have no one to turn to when we are victimized that is why there are so many people dying.Those that have given up.
Garner stop bloging for your uncle and pretending that you are some friend of Ronnie’s for 45 years. LOL
I have no idea what this means. Who is my uncle. Honestly Ronnie is not my uncle. I am just a common man who is here to talk for those that can’t speak for themselves. Just like people voted in America for common sense we need to learn to do the same thing too.
It’s a good job we wrestled away the $400m loan guarantee from the UK with a requirement for competent contractors.
That’s why we have no mains water and puddles of sewage in Road Town; oh and good roads….Way to go, BVI!!
100% of the people will VOTE for UK SUPERVISION for Tortola Toddlers..