Social Commentator Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline has said the current system of government within which the Virgin Islands (VI) operates is not effective as ministers are overwhelmed with massive portfolios and opposition members are unable to do much of anything. Photo: Facebook

Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline has said Premier Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) and his government ministers have too much in their portfolios to give each adequate and accurate attention. Photo: GIS/File

According to Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline the Virgin Islands will eventually need to have an executive structure in government. Photo: Government to the Virgin Islands

During his show, ‘Honestly Speaking’, on ZBVI 780 AM, on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, he gave his two cents on the government’s desire for an expansion to the House of Assembly, in particular to have a sixth ministry. 

“The shoe size that the Virgin Islands is currently wearing, the shoe is too small for the foot…we are now walking around with 12-inch feet trying to keep forcing them into 6-inch shoes, not going to work.”

Premier’s Portfolio

Skelton-Cline listed some of the responsibilities of a few government ministers. 

As it relates to Premier Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley’s (R7) portfolio, it includes Finance, Tourism, Culture, Sustainable Development, Financial Services, Economic Development, Digital Transformation, Agriculture, Constitutional Advancement, Disaster Recovery, Ecclesiastical and Religious Affairs, Fisheries, and Food Security. 

The Premier, he continued, is also responsible for the implementation of the Commission of Inquirty (CoI), Integrity in Public Life, Internal Affairs with the Governor’s Office, Maritime, Administration, and Shipping, Protocols, Public Service, Regional Affairs, Archives, Cinemas, Coordination of Government Policy, Cultural Heritage, District Council, Festival Fairs Committee, Gaming, Prospect Reef development, race tracks, statistics, banking, National Bank of the Virgin Islands, consumer affairs, corporate Economic Planning, E-Government, Human Resource Planning, Industrial Development, Insurance, Immigration, Investment Promotion, Labour, Registration, Apprenticeship Training, Employment, the Rated Program, Science and Technology, Trade and Business, Trust, Weights and Measures, Workforce,

All these, Skelton-Cline said, are with the Premier’s Office, with one minister, even though he has Junior Ministers. “How in the sheggedy is one person supposed to really, adequately, and optimally give leadership and management to all of these subjects? It cannot happen. Superman can’t do it, Superwoman can’t do it.”

Deputy Premier & Minister for Communications and Works’ portfolios

As it relates to the portfolio of Deputy Premier Hon Julian Fraser, RA (R3), his portfolio includes but is not limited to Administration of Crown Lands except for Wickam’s Cay, building inspections and standards, climate change, coastal zone management, electrical inspection, environment, forestry, geology, housing, land policy, land recognition, land registration, minerals and mining, national parks, marine parks, nature conservation program, survery, town and country just to name a few

“And you wonder why we can’t get nothing done? One person, with these overwhelming portfolios,” Skelton-Cline said. 

Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5), he said, is responsible for aircraft engineer, mortgage registration, airports, alternative energy, city management, civil aviation, electricity, explosives, facility management, fire and rescue, hazardous materials, marine transport, meteorology, ports and harbours, public works, roads, telecommunications, transportation and traffic, vehicle licensing, water and sewerage, and Wickham’s Cay development.

“Brothers and sisters, we have a structural and systematic problem in this country…unless you address the source of troubles and what is challenging us, you’re not going to change the fruit; you’re not going to be able to get a different result.”

These government ministers, he said, have too much in their portfolios to give each adequate and accurate attention. “Even with persons in these departments, if you don’t have the proper leadership and administration in these departments, they fall apart,” he added. 

VI would ultimately need an executive structure

Skelton-Cline continued that, adding to their massive portfolios, these ministers are district representatives, which further compounds the issue. 

“When you are a district rep, and you are a minister, several of the balls are going to fall unattended.”

The solution, he opined, would be to change the system in which the VI functions. 

“We ultimately are going to need an executive structure because you could have five to six persons seated in the Opposition getting paid doing nothing, not because they don’t want to [but] because they can’t, because the system that we are in is designed for only the government to effectuate any real change. That’s the reality.”