There needs to be a 're-shuffling of our entire' NDP Gov't - Skelton-Cline
The latest call has been made by former BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA) Managing Director Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline, who believes a re-shuffling of the National Democratic Party (NDP) Government is warranted.
“I think what needs to happen if you talking about good governance to turn this train around, there needs to be a shuffling and re-shuffling of our entire government,” Mr Skelton-Cline said on the CBN Channel 51 show, Vigilate Dialogue, with host Shania M. Smith on Monday June 5, 2017.
As the guest of the local show, Mr Skelton-Cline and Smith were discussing various aspects of Governance and highlighting a number of issues that has gripped the territory because of the lack thereof.
Premier Smith ‘not the best’ person for MoF
Skelton-Cline suggested that Premier Smith may not be the best person in Cabinet to handle the Minister of Finance portfolio. “We have a challenge here in our territory where our Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith, who is a good man, who I think was one of our first surgeons here who had done a tremendous job in his primary work as a medical physician. He later ran for office got elected two or three times and has now became the leader of the country.
“Prior to that he did not function as Minister of Finance. That was not his forte, that is not his skills set and in this last two sections he has assumed the role as Minister of Finance and we have found ourselves in a very peculiar and precarious position.”
For that reason Mr Skelton-Cline said Premier Smith should give up the portfolio as Minister of Finance. “If I were to advise our Premier, if I were you, I would take that Minister of Finance and give it to the best person on the team, who I think is Ronnie W. Skelton and let him handle the Ministry of Finance...”
The very vocal Skelton-Cline who currently has taken legal actions against the NDP Government for not renewing his contract as promised use the Bahamian Government as an example that Premier should follow.
In that instance the Premier there who is also of the Medical profession made the move to split his Ministry of Finance and did not take on the portfolio unto himself. “You have to match skill set with a specific office if you are going to yield the highest good.”
Gov’t of secrecy
The Vigilate Dialogue guest was also flabbergasted by the fact that the Premier continues to have a government of secrecy. He pointed to the media being the first to bring it to the attention of the public that Mr Neil M. Smith will not be returning to the seat as financial secretary. “This is not Chinese Checkers, this is Chess, these are some major, major moves, constitutionally, these are some major moves.” he said adding, “Why are we finding this out in the press, why are you finding out after you say you send someone on vacation for two months?”
Mr Neil M. Smith was sent on vacation for two months from sometime in March after coming under serious fire for Premier Smith’s release of inaccurate information to the public. He has since been replaced by Mr Glenroy A. Forbes, a story first and accurately reported by this news site.
Mr Skelton-Cline insisted there is a major communication problem in the government that is causing a major break down of the territory. He went as far as to accusing the government of caring only about holding on to an office.
“Politicians are only thinking about the next elections, they can only count votes and count money rather than what is in the benefit of the territory.”
Ms Smith posited that its time the people of the territory take a stand and decide what it is they need for the country come the next election. “That’s the long and short of it because if we are not going to ride above the politics and say we are looking out for the next generation these are the things that will have to go into play.”
Meanwhile, former legislator and strong NDP supporter Mrs Eileene L. Parsons OBE had first recommended, in a letter to the NDP, that the portfolio of finance be given to Hon Ronnie W. Skelton (AL). Then chairman of the BVI Health Services Authority (BVHSA) John I. Cline had publicly supported Mrs Parsons suggestion but this upset Premier Smith, who demanded the resignation of Mr Cline.
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24 Responses to “There needs to be a 're-shuffling of our entire' NDP Gov't - Skelton-Cline”
MR Cline tell the public why you never come forth before if you were in your former position your lips would have been tights seal. You are no better than them.
After I get past that, everything you said makes sense.
This man is an example of majority of the people who are complaining about NDP or Government this and that. When the Government does things in their favor then its fine. When they are on the outside looking in and can't get their way any longer, all of a sudden they are speaking publicly as if they care about the country. Where was Claude when people were crying out about the pier and he was just shoving it down people's throats? We have a set of hypocrites parading this place pretending to be patriots!
When them start to say Good Morning, Good Afternoon and Good night then talk to me.
As much as I do not like America and its politics, I agree with how they choose their Secretaries. They select persons qualified in the particular field for each post.
We can not get away from the elected officials being unqualified in the ministries to which they are assigned, but can not we do something about how the other posts are filled?
They just need to be gone for a while. All of them need 4yrs to ponder on their flaws and correct themselves to promote any of them or to reward any with an term will only empower them to continue to do worse
Cline seems to have made a career of getting government funds and is not sure what to do without it because I suspect he feels entitled. Detroit paid him and were broke. VIP paid him for a project never completed as far as I know. And NDP paid him as a loyal soldier until he wasn't loyal anymore. He is part of them problem and needs to be gone to ponder his ways as well not to be pining for a new party or VIP to recruit him. He will deny it but he has a "I can't say no" problem.