‘We cannot have a de facto premier’ – Skelton-Cline
Speaking on his show Honestly Speaking on ZBVI 780 AM on March 13, 2018, Mr Skelton-Cline was raising concerns about the “old guards” continuing to hold different important positions in the Territory and not allowing young and capable persons to play their part in nation building.
One such example, according to the commentator, exists at BVI Finance, the marketing arm of Financial Services Commission (FSC). Elise Donovan, he said, is the one who has been assigned to that post; however, he alleged that Mrs Smith in her capacity as Interim Executive Director continues to hold that post.
“I am not sure why that is the case but again, another young person, this one is a young lady, who needs to be back home in the post that was assigned to her.”
We cannot have a de facto premier
Mr Skelton-Cline then asserted that Mrs Smith, the wife of the Premier, is exercising power not vested in her.
“I want to state about Mrs Smith, not just someone who happens to be the wife of the Premier, but her role as a public servant. She continues, in my opinion, to usurp authority that is not vested in her. It seems like to me that anyone else who wants to have power in the BVI on any political order should run for office,” Mr Skelton-Cline said, but did not elaborate further on where Mrs Smith has allegedly been “usurping authority not vested in her.”
“We cannot have a de facto premier, we cannot have a de facto leadership in our country.”
According to the former Managing Director of BVI Ports Authority, Ms Donovan needs to be home in the post that was assigned to her.
Donovan appointed CEO since July 2017
It was in May of 2016 that retired civil servant Mrs Smith was named as the “interim” Director of BVI Finance, as it was claimed by some at the time that there were “no one else qualified to run the body”.
However, on July 20, 2017 in a press statement, the organisation announced the appointment of Elise Donovan as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Donovan, who was expected to leave the position as head of the BVI House Asia, was scheduled to take office until October 1, 2017.
It is unclear if that has happened as efforts to get a comment from BVI Finance were futile up to time of publication.
They have done their work
“Yes, persons like Mrs Smith have done their work, they have labored over the years, they have made their contribution, but how is it when we come to committees, when we come to boards, when we come to agencies, that we keep recycling the same people. Where are the young people who we sent off to college, invested money in and can’t come back home because the same people are hogging the show? The same people are taking the space. That is why I applauded when I see that David Archer was appointed Deputy Governor.”
Mr Skelton-Cline added that such a shift must continue in the Territory, and the old guards must allow the young people to make their contribution to the Territory.
“The persons who have the capacity, the aptitude, the wherewithal, need to be given a fair and honest opportunity to help build and advance their country.”
‘Rubbish’- Mrs Smith
This is not the first time persons have accused Mrs Smith of “running the show”; however, it was on the television show Real Talk with Karia J. Christopher on January 3, 2017 on CBN Channel 51 that the question was put to her.
Mrs Smith, who said she doesn’t read the online blogs and comments criticising her unless persons bring them to her attention, said contrary to what people say she does not tell her husband how to run the territory.
“It is nonsense, it is rubbish, [and] it is the furthest from the truth.”
She did say, however, that she has influence over her husband but at the end of the day it is his decision to make as no one elected her.
On the same show, Mrs Smith had raised eyebrows when she disagreed with the common notion, especially among Christians and Muslims, that the husband is the head of the household.
“No, absolutely not. The head of the house?” Mrs Smith responded when Mrs Christopher told her she had a woman previously on her show that told her that her husband is the head of the household and “he leads and I will follow.”
“But I know that is not you,” Mrs Christopher said, adding that it is, nevertheless, what the Bible says.
“You don’t have to take the bible literally…nobody should take the bible that literally,” Mrs Smith had responded.
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26 Responses to “‘We cannot have a de facto premier’ – Skelton-Cline”
Cant get though in politics so they stirring up trouble from the sidelines. Regardless of what went on with him and the NDP. He had his chance and he blew it by overdoing it.
Anguilla a&$ been trying run the country since Lavity days
You should have stayed asleep. The woman is intelligent to a certain extent but no more intelligent than anyone else.
AARH. Ask the hill man who used to be in immigration bout this. Hmm. Time will tell. This illusion of transparency that is going on is going to be detrimental to the public service as some young persons in the BVI are not buying it.
I am sick and tired of Claude Cline.Is this how he intends to be elected to office?
Where was he when Lorna was making her contributions to this territory.? It might be better for us all if he returned to you know where and face his music instead of trying to assert himself foolishly into things he knows nothing about. Is this is all about revenge for them firing him from Port?