Hon Fraser slammed for supporting Act that returns powers to Governor
This legislation grants the governor the authority to assess public service officers, financial secretaries, and permanent secretaries, effectively removing this responsibility from local supervisors.
Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline, a talk show host, social commentator, and pastor, expressed his dissatisfaction during his radio show, "Honestly Speaking," which aired on ZBVI and Facebook on July 8, 2025.
Skelton-Cline stated, “Member of the Third District of the Virgin Islands, you were the driving force behind the Public Service Management Act of 2024. Your colleagues have informed me that you advocated for shifting the government's majority vote. Previously, the performance of permanent secretaries was assessed typically through objective performance reports, feedback, and ministerial communications.”
He added, “The governor, in conjunction with the Deputy Governor, relied on this system, alongside ministerial communications with the Premier and the Cabinet, to understand how efficiently the ministries were being managed.”
Governor’s role ‘expanded’- Skelton-Cline
The social commentator continued, “With the honourable member of the Third District's advocacy for the Public Service Management Act of 2024, the governor's role has been expanded. Now, the office of the governor acts as the supervisory body for these offices in the public service.”
He emphasised, “These offices were constitutionally returned to ministers under our 2007 constitution. It's questionable how the governor, whether regarding financial secretaries, the Public Service Authority (PSA), or public officers, can operate within legislation that contradicts our constitution, especially when led by the Honourable Deputy Premier and Member for the Third District.”
‘Stop being shortsighted’
Skelton-Cline acknowledged that the responsibility does not rest solely on Hon Fraser, stating that the entire government is implicated in the creation, drafting, and passing of the Public Service Management Act of 2024, which has expanded the powers and responsibilities of the governor, sidelining the Deputy Governor.
He concluded, “We must stop being shortsighted and only considering the individual currently occupying the position when making long-term decisions about that office. If you are making choices based solely on your dislike or disagreement with the current officeholder, you have no business presiding over people. I offer this as a critique and assessment.”
The 2024 Public Service Management Act contains nine key components that detail vital aspects of public service operations. These include: the Public Service; Duties, Responsibilities, and Powers of the Governor and Deputy Governor; Permanent Secretaries; Heads of Department; Role of the Director of Human Resources; Virgin Islands Public Service Learning Institute; Registration of Interest for Specified Public Officers; Integrity in Public Life; and Miscellaneous Provisions.
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22 Responses to “Hon Fraser slammed for supporting Act that returns powers to Governor”
#PastFedUp
But no. What will happen is all efforts will be made to be sure that it does not work. Roadblocks will be set and petty squabbles engaged in. It will be resisted at every step like the COI and instead of taking stock and using what could be learnt from the COI, or reports we will do everything to ensure things do not work and do not get implemented, because of our stupid minded, greedy, selfish leaders that can no longer see what would be good for the people of the VI. It is like VI people do not live here and that the nation is just their petty playground filled with cash to share amongst friends.
In the meantime the world will spin and the VI will be left behind.