Skelton-Cline Opposes HoA's Decision to Return Powers
Claude O. Skelton-Cline, a prominent clergyman and media personality, has voiced his firm opposition to the House of Assembly's recent move to hand back significant powers to the Governor, as outlined in the new Public Service Management Bill, 2024. This controversial decision, which reverses a push for more localized control, has sparked debate on the future of public service management in the British Virgin Islands.
In a significant development that has stirred up political discourse in the British Virgin Islands, Claude O. Skelton-Cline, a well-known clergyman and host of the Honestly Speaking show, has publicly denounced the House of Assembly's (HoA) decision to revert powers back to the Governor as a part of the newly enacted Public Service Management Bill, 2024.
This bill, introduced by the Premier on behalf of the Deputy Governor’s Office in August 2024, was initially hailed as a progressive move towards enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the public sector by modernizing and streamlining management processes to better serve the Virgin Islands community.
However, Skelton-Cline, on his weekly show aired September 2, 2025, criticized the bill for ultimately consolidating power within the Office of the Governor, a move he perceives as a step backward in the territory's quest for greater autonomy. According to Skelton-Cline, the bill, while presented as empowering the Deputy Governor—a position constitutionally required to be filled by a Virgin Islander—has paradoxically resulted in handing over significant local powers back to the Governor, and by extension, the UK government.
Skelton-Cline's critique centers around the legislation's provision that places the responsibility for the public service, including performance and supervision, squarely in the hands of the Governor, a situation he vehemently opposes. The Public Service Management Bill, which was passed with amendments in the House of Assembly on August 29, 2024, and assented to by the Governor in November 2024, officially came into force on January 1, 2025.
Despite its aim to define more clearly the roles and responsibilities of ministers and senior public officers, including their ability to delegate functions and manage staff, the bill has faced backlash for its perceived centralization of power. This development raises questions about the balance of power between local governance structures and the British Crown's representative, at a time when discussions about autonomy and self-determination are increasingly prevalent within the territory.
Skelton-Cline's outspoken stance against the bill's implications highlights a broader debate on the future of governance and public service management in the British Virgin Islands, as residents and officials alike grapple with finding the most effective path towards a responsive and efficient public sector.
Primary source: VINO