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Cabinet approves Antoinette Skelton as reviewer of CoI Recommendation B24

- To be paid of ‘first-tier’ stipend of $5000 for review to be completed in 6 months
Former Director of Social Security Board Ms Antoinette Skelton has been approved by Cabinet as the reviewer for Recommendations B24 of the CoI Report Recommendations. Photo: VINO/File
According to the CoI Implementation unit reports on progress for November published on December 20, 2022, the name of the independent reviewer for Recommendation B24 was agreed upon by the Governor and the Premier. Photo: GIS/Facebook
According to the CoI Implementation unit reports on progress for November published on December 20, 2022, the name of the independent reviewer for Recommendation B24 was agreed upon by the Governor and the Premier. Photo: GIS/Facebook
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – The Cabinet of the Virgin Islands (VI) has approved the appointment of former Director of Social Security Board (SSB) Ms Antoinette Skelton as the reviewer for Recommendation B24 of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) Report Recommendations.

This is according to the statements of the Cabinet Meetings of December 9, 2022, chaired by Governor John J. Rankin, CMG, and held at the Premier's Conference Room, Cutlass Tower.

Ms Skelton exited the post of Director of SSB in 2021.

Review excludes Social Security Board 

The approval is as set out in the terms of reference developed by the CoI Recommendations Implementation Unit and vetted by the Attorney General's Chambers, with the exception of the Social Security Board.

It is noted that the appointment is for six months, starting December 15, 2022, until April 30, 2023, subject to the exchange of letters between the VI Government and the UK Government; and Cabinet decided that Ms Skelton be paid the first-tier stipend of five thousand dollars ($5,000).

Recommendation B24 of the CoI report calls for a review of all Statutory Boards to determine the overall level of governance and steps required to remedy any deficiencies.

The review will also examine the extent to which those boards are behind in their obligations to submit timely financial reports and audits and the extent to which those boards are applying policies intended to promote good governance, such as a conflict of interest policy and a political interference policy.

Review should be undertaken by Senior Public Officer - CoI Report 

It will look at the extent to which those boards follow a due diligence policy and, according to Commissioner Sir Gary R. Hickenbottom, the review should be undertaken by a senior public officer and should identify what steps need to be taken to remedy any deficiencies and a timescale in which these steps should be accomplished, in the form of a report to the Governor. 

According to the CoI Implementation Unit Report on progress for November 2022, published on December 20, 2022, the name of the independent reviewer for Recommendation B24 was agreed upon by the Governor and the Premier.

The review should be completed within six months, according to the terms set out in B24 of the CoI report. 

19 Responses to “Cabinet approves Antoinette Skelton as reviewer of CoI Recommendation B24 ”

  • WOW (27/12/2022, 12:53) Like (20) Dislike (6) Reply
    The unity government is taking us back to the stone ages
  • one eye (27/12/2022, 12:59) Like (33) Dislike (4) Reply
    This is shmefull after what she did to ss wuth the land deal and the jsmesy thing
  • Nice Lady. (27/12/2022, 13:03) Like (33) Dislike (13) Reply
    Worm hard, Work Smart, came from humble beginnings to attain the top position in SS turn it into a prosperous entity..When head coach couldn't get his way with SS money, she was made to suffer, but God is good, now she has the last laugh.. I will hope she continue to be a true professional, do her new task without fear and or favour..Do the right thing.. A few people seem to think that one Port board to serve all Ports is a good idea..I don't know possible that is. I just think that they are too many boards and its not voluntary service, every single serving member getting paid, we can start reducing our expenditure and being more financially responsible by reducing and merging boards...Congrats Ms. A.S.
    • To nice lady (27/12/2022, 14:20) Like (15) Dislike (9) Reply
      You have it wrong. You mean when she couldn't do what she wanted anymore with our SSB money she retired on her own. It is amazing how some of you decides good people from bad people based on your status quo mentality. Plenty ting to talk with this woman.
  • asking for a friend (27/12/2022, 13:47) Like (18) Dislike (8) Reply
    Do you could not find a young person?
  • Oh My (27/12/2022, 13:53) Like (13) Dislike (5) Reply
    What a mistake.
  • hold on (27/12/2022, 13:55) Like (28) Dislike (3) Reply
    Did these people do an independent audit on Social Security Board under her leadership? If not that should have been done first.
  • Youth (27/12/2022, 13:55) Like (14) Dislike (3) Reply
    We are doomed as some people are evil to the core.
  • disappointed (27/12/2022, 14:23) Like (17) Dislike (5) Reply
    The most of the BVI people do not look at what is right or wrong but rather who is right or who is wrong. If this was solely about what is right and what is done wrong then this woman would never be allowed to resurface in this kind of capacity.
  • With time (27/12/2022, 14:27) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    With time the real truth behind this COI will come out. This is not to say that some changes were not needed years now but that is true for all sectors including the Governor and his group and not just elected officials and certain public officers. The status quo lost their leverage in 2019 and worked with the devil at all of our expense to try to get it back. Now the devil rewarding one of his agents.
  • No transparency (27/12/2022, 14:39) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    Those who turning a blind eye and deaf ear to the way this COI was launched and done are just as corrupt as those they claiming are corrupt. The Governor launched a COI and he hand picked the Commissioner of the COI during COVID without any transparent process and flew him in with him as both came from the UK together. The guy reputation fit exactly what they wanted done. The Governor issued the terms of reference for the Commissioner of the COI to work from and be guided. The Governor gave the Commissioner of the COI staff to work with which happen to be from the same UK office where the Governor is from so all of them have the same boss. The Governor gave the commission of the COI more powers than the courts which is a violation of our Constitution rights. All of this was done and more and we allowed this to happen in this way and allowed the Governor to determine on his own that this is transparency. Everyone with sense saw what the report would say in advance as it can only say the same things the originator been saying but needed a so called transparent event to try to legitimize their actions and it is only fair that who pay the piper calls the tune. Now we agree that a lot of modernizing of policies and laws are needed but that holds through for the Governor also but doing wrong saying that it is right in an effort to correct what is deemed wrong is not only unethical but criminal.
  • In a few years (27/12/2022, 14:45) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    In a few years we will soon see that these pre authored recommendations by the governor one man Commissioner was not about accountability and good governance as is being used as the buzz phrases but rather a way to ensure the common person in the BVI gets nothing done in government and gets nothing from government. The gap between the rich and poor would be so huge that chaos will break out. It is an old plan that works every time by the colonial masters. All they keep doing is modernizing it and keep making us think from slavery days that only them can be trusted and only them can ensure our success. What is worse that in each error they get a large portion of people to initially believe them until later on when it is too late.
  • bvibuzz (27/12/2022, 16:35) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    Are you serious? I am sick to my belly of this unity government
  • 2nd district (27/12/2022, 17:57) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mitch get his step mother who can do no wrong for him
  • questions (28/12/2022, 09:37) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    WHY DON'T WE ALLOW PEOPLE TO RETIRE IN PEACE?

    COULDN'T SOMEONE ELSE ACTUALLY REQUIRING WORK AND WHOSE BREAD AINT BUTTERED YET DO THIS?
  • jurassic park (28/12/2022, 10:34) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    The return of the dinosaurs
  • vote them out (28/12/2022, 14:04) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    So you really mean to tell me there was NOBODY out here that was suited for such a position that you went and took a Retiree out of her resting to PAY her a Salary ontop of the pension and benefits she already getting. Listen UNITY government I DID NOT vote for you i remember clearly voting for NDP and VIP these imposters called UNITY will destroy the BVI!!
  • HMMM (29/12/2022, 09:27) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Was this position advertised as recommended by the COI as part of proper protocol??? Will we EVER get it right??


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