Bureaucracy Stalling Critical BVI Projects
Territorial At-Large Representative Ronnie Skelton says administrative bottlenecks in the public service — not ministers — are preventing large capital projects from being delivered in the Virgin Islands. Speaking during budget debates, he warned persistent underspending and procedural layers are undermining jobs, economic stimulus and public confidence.
Territorial At-Large Representative Ronnie Skelton has blamed layers of bureaucracy in the public service for the Virgin Islands’ chronic inability to deliver major capital projects, saying the problem lies in administrative capacity rather than ministerial inaction. Speaking during this year’s budget debates, Skelton told lawmakers the territory no longer has the machinery to carry out large capital programmes despite repeated budget allocations.
He said additional procedures and approvals added over time have slowed project implementation to the point that many approved works fail 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 projects routinely stall once they enter the system.
He pointed to persistent underspending on capital works as evidence: governments often allocate tens of millions of dollars but complete only a portion by year end. "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.
Skelton insisted ministers were not the source of the holdup, saying ministers themselves have told him the system cannot move projects forward. He described the situation as damaging to the territory’s economic progress and to residents who depend on construction and infrastructure activity for work and income. "Construction is one of those things that really gets people going — going to the supermarket, paying their light bills," he said, arguing that capital spending should be a quick and effective way to stimulate the local economy.
When projects stall, those knock-on benefits are lost and households feel the impact. The representative also highlighted growing public frustration: repeated commitments in Parliament are not matching what people see in their communities. "When you go out there on the street, there is a disconnect," he said, calling for plans and budgets that "touch the people on the street" to restore confidence.
To address the problem, Skelton urged the government to narrow its focus, select fewer priorities and reform internal systems so projects can move faster. Without such changes, he warned, large budgetary allocations will continue to deliver limited results for the territory and fail to produce the jobs and economic activity residents expect.
His comments add to ongoing debates over public-sector efficiency, procurement and capital implementation as the BVI seeks to ensure budgeted funds translate into visible, timely improvements for communities.
Primary source: BVI News