BVIEC Must Not Chase Profits: Skelton-Cline
Local commentator Claude Skelton-Cline has urged the BVI Electricity Corporation to move away from a for-profit mindset amid rising electricity costs across the territory. He emphasized that the utility is publicly owned and must prioritize reliable, affordable energy over bottom-line revenue.
Local commentator Claude Skelton-Cline has called on the management and leadership of the British Virgin Islands Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) to reconsider its operational priorities, stating that the public utility should not be acting as a for-profit enterprise during difficult economic times.
Speaking on a recent episode of his talk show, 'State of Emergency', Skelton-Cline addressed mounting public frustration over surging electricity bills. The utility provider has attributed the higher costs to global fuel price volatility, which has driven up the fuel surcharge component on monthly consumer statements.
According to Skelton-Cline, essential services such as electricity and water must prioritize public service over commercial profitability. He noted that like the Water and Sewerage Department, BVIEC functions as a critical public utility designed to serve the community rather than generate financial surpluses from residents.
Skelton-Cline pointed out that under the territory's constitutional framework, the sole shareholder of BVIEC is the Office of the Financial Secretary, representing the people of the Virgin Islands. Because the government is the sole owner, he argued that the core objective should be ensuring steady, uninterrupted power to sustain local businesses, industry, and daily household life rather than generating excess revenue.
He also weighed in on public debates regarding outstanding debts owed to BVIEC by central government departments. Skelton-Cline described public controversy over these arrears as misplaced, asserting that because the government is the sole owner of the corporation, internal debts should not distract from the utility's broader national mandate.
While stressing that BVIEC must maintain administrative transparency and accountability, Skelton-Cline insisted that discussions surrounding bottom-line earnings should take a back seat to providing accessible, dependable energy for the Virgin Islands community.
Primary source: VINO