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Claude O. Skelton-Cline questions why VIslanders are still in acting positions

- said qualified locals must replace non-Virgin Islanders when their contracts are up
Social Commentator and Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline questioned why several Virgin Islanders are in acting positions during Honestly Speaking on November 25, 2025. Photo: Facebook
Claude O. Skelton-Cline has called on the current government and future governments of the Virgin Islands to replace non-Virgin Islanders who hold positions at various departments with qualified locals once their contracts have ended. Photo: GIS
Claude O. Skelton-Cline has called on the current government and future governments of the Virgin Islands to replace non-Virgin Islanders who hold positions at various departments with qualified locals once their contracts have ended. Photo: GIS
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI- Social Commentator and Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline questioned why several Virgin Islanders are in acting positions.

During the Tuesday, November 25, 2025, episode of Honestly Speaking on ZBVI 780 AM titled ‘National Labour Pains Part 2’, Skelton-Cline asked, “We have to stop parachuting persons into this country to provide leadership in major departments when we have locals who are more than qualified to fill, operate, manage, direct, [and] lead in these posts.”

He stated that non-Virgin Islanders are holding various positions in the Virgin Islands when they are “able, capable, trained” Virgin Islanders who possess the necessary skillset to fill these same positions. 

“I want to say to the government of the day and to future governments, when these persons' existing contracts end, they must end and be replaced with Virgin Islanders.”

Skelton-Cline added that it cannot be more of the same talking and “frothing at the mouth” when it comes to this situation. 

“We must commit the wisdom of these words to action, to practice, to policy and to legislation.”

Virgin Islanders are unorganised, not outnumbered 

Skelton-Cline continued his program, saying that Virgin Islanders are not outnumbered but are instead unorganised. 

“Why is it that people, Virgin Islanders, are still acting in Immigration, whatever the situation in Customs and across whatever departmental lines, persons who have been sitting in those positions, why are they not confirmed?” Skelton-Cline asked. 

The people who are acting, he stated, are in those positions and are doing the job. 

18 Responses to “Claude O. Skelton-Cline questions why VIslanders are still in acting positions”

  • CSC (26/11/2025, 12:51) Like (32) Dislike (0) Reply
    Because you took almost $500.000 from the gv kitty for doing nothing.
  • lodger (26/11/2025, 13:31) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
    For at least 50 years locals mostly (and a few expats) have been given acting posts. But in most countries if you perform the job satisfactorily for 6 months you are upgraded to the substantive post and accompanying salary. But here people remain acting for years due to local politics, family ties etc. It has always been a bone of contention, nothing to do with skin colour. The latest fracas has to do with the reluctance to follow up on the COI recommendations. Why do you think the UK officers left without success in that area?
  • Opinion (26/11/2025, 13:35) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    Simple, because we are good actors.
  • Herbs Powa (26/11/2025, 14:21) Like (6) Dislike (3) Reply
    You are also acting as if a white bwoy name Jesus is coming back here.
  • strupz (26/11/2025, 15:05) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    If you trying to get your former private secretary confirmed as Chief Immigration officer please go seh down.
  • You’re right about 1 thing (26/11/2025, 15:45) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    The BVI is indeed UNORGANIZED AND IN NEED OF REVAMPING FROM TOP TO BOTTOM, FRONT TO BACK AND SIDEWAYS. The BVI is way backwards when it comes to so many different things. Lack of advance security technology, lack of a proper water system, lack of advance of a proper health system in place. A proper garbage disposal system, a lack of advance internet service and the list goes on and on. If I should start naming everything I would be typing until sundown. Other Caribbean Countries is far ahead of the BVI when it comes to advance technology and other advancements. Something is seriously wrong. Sorry to say it but the BVI looks like chopped liver.
    • @You’re right about 1 thing (26/11/2025, 20:11) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Have you noticed people here love to stray away from the truth.
  • Tab (26/11/2025, 16:26) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    Contract man is at it again. Csc ,you were not acting when you got 3 contracts back to back under Andrew Fahie's government. Pay back the money ???? ????
    • Talk like U have sense.. (27/11/2025, 04:36) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Acting is Part of the process, don't matter where you are from, you given the opportunity to show your capabilities to shine and to prove your worth, some actually failed while acting, they show through their performance that they do not deserve the position..
  • Wowwwwww (26/11/2025, 17:12) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    But CSC, as a native aka son of the soil bvilander
    you were given numerous contracts and you failed on carrying out the duties of the numerous contracts you were given. So what exactly do you expect? Perhaps that is one of the reasons people from the outside have to come in and do the work to the best of their ability.
  • No to Demmings (26/11/2025, 18:41) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    No body want that fool as no chief Immegration officer she is bad news
  • Eagle Eye (26/11/2025, 20:19) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    I appeal to all Virgin Islanders to please support this man's builsness as he is a true patriot and you ought to give him credit for that,but conversely I do urge all Non Virgin Islanders not to support his buisness , and support otherwise where you have ancestral roots.God bless the USA where anyone can born there and be given an American passport and be known as an American..Who are the workers in his buisness? NonVirgin Islanders do continue the silent protest witith no noise but action.
  • Hmph (26/11/2025, 22:27) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Some in acting positions need to get DEMOTED. Some have no effective leadership skills and hinder real progress for the Territory. Waste of time! If a Ministry, Department or Unit has a high turnover rate and poor performance or output under the person who is acting then HR needs to get to the bottom of it.
  • ok (28/11/2025, 06:31) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Y'all love acting..like Claude.Hes an actor..a bad actor.he was in a movie in Detroit were he,the hip hop mayor and their cronies were ripping of the city of Detroit for years .When y'all see this man say the word Kwame and you'll see his head spin like a top to see who knows bout them Detroit days.Pizza pizza Detroit style?Remember Kwame is the trigger.Try it some time.
  • hmm (28/11/2025, 10:26) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The reason why Virgin Islanders are still in acting positions is because of this. Two confirm posts; DPP and AG. Look at their ratings and how much money tax payers have lost. The AG, does not respond to any documents unless you take the government to court which costs tax payers money. The DPP is not taking her time to vet cases costing the tax payers money. Two senior lawyers confirmed and millions in lost. Go check the records. And come back and answer your question
  • The holy one (30/11/2025, 21:42) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    How long are YA'AL plan to practice this acting job ? I did mine in Detroit and graduated with flying colors , and then do a moonwalk back here and meet some of YA'AL acting , and i have been back here for years now and YA'AL aint graduated yet , looks like am going to have to open a school for ( virgin islanders only ) and teach YA'AL myself , and to hell with them island people who don't want support any my others businesses anymore , I don't really need YA'AL , my virgin islanders people will support me , ah only got to put on my million dollar smile and their souls is mine , whether they know it or not, that's how bad i am .


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