Deputy Governor (currently Acting Governor) David D. Archer Jr, left, and Governor Daniel Pruce. Cabinet members have been accused of boycotting meetings when the Deputy Governor is presiding. Photo: GIS/File

Social Commentator and Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline has called on Cabinet members to refrain from absenting themselves when the Deputy Governor is presiding over sessions. Photo: Facebook

Skelton-Cline made this appeal during his programme, "Honestly Speaking," which aired on ZBVI and Facebook on July 8, 2025.

He stated, "What has been their understanding and their position regarding the choice to resist attending Cabinet sessions when the Deputy Governor is presiding? On the surface, this seems pretty clear and explicit, so what's the glitch? The governor is not just a person but an institution."

He further explained, "The glitch lies in the fact that when the Governor is absent, as we currently have, the Governor then delegates authority to the Deputy Governor based on the Constitution."

Skelton continued, "My understanding is that the Office of the Deputy Governor, along with its occupant who acts as the Governor, exercises the same authority as the actual Governor. However, the conflict arises because, in accordance with the 2007 Constitution, the people can gain more rights toward self-governance. The current Deputy Governor is vested with authority that traditionally belongs to the UK-appointed Governor."

We cannot 'continue fighting amongst ourselves'- Skelton-Cline

He noted that some elected officials are claiming that the Constitution is being contradicted. They argue that when the Governor is absent, even though authority is vested in the Deputy Governor, the Constitution states that the Premier, in their absence, should appoint the Deputy Premier to preside. "This creates a glitch," he pointed out.

Skelton further questioned, "So, do we have a Governor or not? And what does acting mean? The same Deputy Governor, whom some elected officials are reluctant to sit with in Cabinet, is the one who must sign the documents that empower the current Acting Premier to act. The Acting Premier cannot function without the signature of the Acting Governor."

He emphasised, "I believe both sides have constitutional and legitimate rationales for their positions. However, what we, as Virgin Islanders, cannot afford to do at this point in our journey—especially given all the challenges we face, such as constitutional renegotiation, the grey list, beneficial ownership issues, and a barrage of legislation that often leads us backward—is to continue fighting amongst ourselves at the expense of conducting the people's business at the cabinet level."