Acting Premier and Minister for Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change, Honourable Julian Fraser RA (R3)/ right, has faced significant criticism for advocating the approval of the Public Service Management Act of 2024, which expands the role of the governor. Left: Governor Daniel Pruce. Photo: GIS/File

Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline, a talk show host, social commentator, and pastor, expressed his dissatisfaction with Acting Premier Honourable Julian Fraser RA (R3) during his radio show, 'Honestly Speaking', aired on ZBVI and Facebook on July 8, 2025. Photo: Facebook

Deputy Governor David D. Archer Jr. Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline has said 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. Photo: GIS/File

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.