Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

'We need to headhunt' for a new Financial Secretary- Skelton-Cline

- said prospective candidates for next FS ‘do not meet the moment’
Host of Honestly Speaking, Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline has called on the relevant authorities to recruit a Virgin Islander living overseas to be the next Financial Secretary (FS). Photo: Facebook
Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline said Financial Secretary, Jeremiah G.A. Frett, will retire by year’s end, althouth Mr Frett has not confirmed his retirement. Photo: GIS
Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline said Financial Secretary, Jeremiah G.A. Frett, will retire by year’s end, althouth Mr Frett has not confirmed his retirement. Photo: GIS
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI- Host of Honestly Speaking, Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline has called on the relevant authorities to recruit a Virgin Islander living overseas to be the next Financial Secretary (FS).

During the last airing of his show titled ‘State of Emergency Part 2 ’ on September 1, 2026, Skelton-Cline said the current FS, Jeremiah G.A. Frett, will retire by year’s end. 

The VI, he said, needs to “headhunt” for the best Financial Secretary, and that person needs to be “some Virgin Islander that lives across this globe”.

Skelton-Cline said that person should be recruited and paid properly to take up the mantle. 

“The complement of persons we have there currently: they are our brothers and sisters; they are fine, but they do not meet the moment.”

The FS is responsible for the day-to-day management and administration of the Ministry of Finance to maintain the efficient delivery of services across the departments under the ministry’s portfolio.

Critical that VI gets the best FS

Skelton-Cline explained that given the current global climate, market and “tectonic shifts” in every sector, it is critical that the very best is given the position.

The future FS, he said, is a Virgin Islander who just does not live here yet. 

“We need to headhunt; we need to go get them.”

He also said that a lot of Virgin Islanders residing overseas will be looking to move back home, as the VI is positioned in one of the safest places in the world. 

“By safe, I simply mean where there’ll be no bombs or torpedoes going off anywhere… not that we would be exempt from some of the catastrophe and shortage of supply like food and fuel.”

Mr Frett was confirmed as Financial Secretary in July 2022 after having acted in the role since January 2021. There has been no confirmation of Mr Frett’s upcoming retirement.

24 Responses to “'We need to headhunt' for a new Financial Secretary- Skelton-Cline”

  • … (06/09/2026, 11:06) Like (23) Dislike (1) Reply
    Frett was not ready
    • jerome (06/09/2026, 20:23) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      I am not kidding, and this is serious! He calls himself a Pastor. I have yet to hear of him doing any Pastoring, church work, or projects helping children, the sick and shut-in, or the community. What is the name of his church and the location? How is he helping the people in his congregation who support him? Everything he talks about is venomous and political, never about GOD, saving souls, or raising funds to help people. Did I miss something, or is that just a title he carries around as a JOKE? As I said, this is serious!
      • Tommy Gunn (08/09/2026, 06:47) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
        @jerome... please....save YOUR SOUL......Claude is an agitator and he obviously pushes your buttons....get saved on your choice and accord. In the end you answer God for yourself.
  • Pastor (06/09/2026, 11:19) Like (21) Dislike (4) Reply
    Hey pastor.. you again. Why not return the moeny to bvi government from.shi**ty consultancy. Budget will balance aftern that.
  • ROOT BEER (06/09/2026, 11:35) Like (21) Dislike (5) Reply
    CLAUDE YOU ALREADY HAVE ONE OF YOUR HENCH MAN WHO IS A BVI LANDER LIVING IN THE STATES TO APPLY FOR THE JOB SO HE CAN SHARE HIS PROFIT WITH YOU. YOU CAN'T GET CLOSE TO THE COOKIE JAR SO YOU WILL RECUTE A FRIEND TO CARRY OUT YOUR AGENDA
  • Xxx (06/09/2026, 11:58) Like (9) Dislike (22) Reply
    Return allen
  • Well (06/09/2026, 12:13) Like (21) Dislike (2) Reply
    Once it’s not you, we good.
  • TRIBE MENTALITY (06/09/2026, 13:02) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    WELL HIS HOLINESS IS ON THE PROWL THIS TIME HE LOOKING "HEADS " WE CAN'T WSIT TO SEE THIS POPULAR BUSINESS MAN IN HIS WRAPAROUND - HIS SPEAR AND HIS SHIELD WALKING OR RIDING ON A JACKASS AROUNG ROAD TOWN / AS SITTING IN THE STREETS WON'T BE BE A GOOD IDEA ( TOO HOT ) BUT GOING TO HELL WOULD BE WORSE SO HE MIGHT AS WELL PREPARE HIMSELF TO MEET THE DEVIL AS ITS GONNA BE FIRE DAY & NIGHT WITH HIS DADDY , DON'T KNOW IF HE WILL BE ABLE TO .OUT SMART THE DEVIL IN HIS OWN DOMAIN / ONE WE DO KNOW IS , HE'S BRAVE ENOUGH TO TRY • HOPE HIS OTHER TWO FAKE HOLY BUDDIES WIL L HELP HIM WITH AN AIR CONDITIONER WHEN HE START TO HOLLER
  • local boy (06/09/2026, 14:02) Like (4) Dislike (4) Reply
    Here comes Mr. England another British white boy to run things over we.
  • asura (06/09/2026, 14:51) Like (8) Dislike (4) Reply
    Certainly the two deputies are not ready
    • @asura (08/09/2026, 13:33) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      I agree, as far as I see, they both just about who can dress the best. No substance.
  • Baldhead (06/09/2026, 17:02) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    We know for sure it ain't going to be you
  • dog man (06/09/2026, 17:07) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Y someone from overseas and it have people's here can do the job. But you now is polytrix in the BVIs.
  • ??? (06/09/2026, 18:17) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    CSC paid back the consultancy money yet? Then go sit down.
  • Pizza man (06/09/2026, 18:51) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    This pastor can't even run a pizza parlor but he want to advise on how to run a country. Lord have mercy
  • Mary (06/09/2026, 20:13) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Nothing is wrong with what the man is saying. BvI needs to find a capable FS
    People in this country are so bias and bad minded thinking.When your time is up it is up. The present FS has put in hiss time.
  • @ DOG MAN (06/09/2026, 21:20) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    WR HAVE PEOPLE HERE WHO NIS MORE THAN COMPETENT ENOUGH TO FIX OUR INFRACTURES , WHY DON'T YOU HOLLER AT THEM ? ~ THEY WERE COMPETENT ENOUGH TO RAISE THEIR SALARIES ETC
  • BuzzBvi (06/09/2026, 22:33) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    I am sure their are some VI school children would come back. Or some one now working for New York sanitary services.
  • Good Choice (06/09/2026, 23:03) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Give it to Madam Frazer
  • Outsider (07/09/2026, 11:21) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
    Hands off our FS; he's a good man.
  • mr (07/09/2026, 11:24) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    We need an investigation in to all the contracts you had with government.
  • Csc is correct (07/09/2026, 13:36) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    CSC is correct, we need a quality FS , DPP and AG to run this country because the three people who presently holds those positions are a waste of time, space and money.
  • WOW (07/09/2026, 18:55) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Claude Ottley Cline..remember being the Hip. Hop Mayor's right hand man?


Create a comment


Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.
Video Ad


Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.