UPDATE: Claude Skelton-Cline approved to head BVI Ports Authority!
The cabinet paper, according to this news site's sources within the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) Government, was brought before the Executive Branch by Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark Vanterpool.
However, it was falsely reported by a pro-government online news site on November 23, 2012, that a contract will be inked by Skelton-Cline today. This is not so, as Mr. Skelton-Cline, the nephew of Minister for Health and Social Development Ronnie W. Skelton, still holds a contract with government as a consultant to Minister for Communications and Works Vanterpool on ports matter.
According to the same NDP source who spoke to this news site, “Claude contract will end next month and that is when he will start so do not believe all you read on Platinum.”
See previous story posted on Nov. 12, 2012:
Claude Skelton-Cline tipped to be Ports Authority MD!
Word just reaching this news site from our team of reporters around the Virgin Islands is that Ports Consultant to the Minister for Communications and Works Claude Skelton-Cline has been tipped to become the Managing Director (MD) of the BVI Ports Authority.
According to a National Democratic Party (NDP) source, Mr. Skelton-Cline has been one of several candidates who applied for the vacant post of Managing Director and were interviewed. According to the same source, Mr. Skelton-Cline has the support of the Communications and Works Minister Mark Vanterpool as well as allegedly members of the NDP caucus.
It is unclear if the BVI Ports Authority’s Board of Directors have made a recommendation to the subject Minister for onward transmission to Cabinet.
It is also this news site’s understanding that the former Managing Director, Vincent ‘Old Father’ O’Neal, has reapplied and has been interviewed for the post. The BVI Ports Authority Board did not renew his contract when it expired in July of this year. Currently, Gene Creque is holding the Authority’s top job until a new MD is named.
Newly appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ports Authority, Edward J. de Castro, could not be reached for comments up to press time.
Claude Skelton-Cline
Claude Skelton-Cline, an indigenous Virgin Islander, was a NDP candidate in the 2011 elections for the seat in the second district. He was defeated by political veteran, now in his fifth consecutive four year term in office, Honourable J. Alvin Christopher who ran under the Virgin Islands Party banner.
In December of last year following the elections, Mr. Skelton-Cline received a $96,000 a year plus consultancy contract with the NDP Government assigned to the Minister for Communications and Works to advise him on Ports matters among other things.
Before returning home to the Virgin Islands a few years ago Mr. Skelton-Cline, who is also a preacher, had worked for the former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick as the Director of Faith-Based Affairs.
Earlier this year, Minister for Communications and Works Hon. Vanterpool praised Skelton-Cline for the work he was doing as a consultant on the Ports. Minister Vanterpool said Mr. Skelton-Cline was doing a great job in getting information as a liaison between the Ports Authority Managing Director and his team at the Ministry.
It appears that Skelton-Cline played a vital role in the controversial $75M Ports Development Project which included the extension of the cruise ship pier and development of its surroundings. The project was stopped a few months ago by the Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith in order for it to go out on public tender.
Mr. Skelton-Cline, who holds Bachelor and Master’s Degrees, is unlikely to commence work before his one year consultancy contract ends next month if he gets the Ports Authority top job.
The BVI Ports Authority
The BVI Ports Authority remains one of the most lucrative statutory bodies with some 6 years of surplus and does not rely on central government for any of its revenue. Its mission includes the provision and maintenance of the required sea transportation infrastructure for the Virgin Islands, and the efficient and effective handling of the related cargo and passenger operations.
The BVI Ports Authority (The Authority) was established by the British Virgin Islands Ports Authority Act, No. 12 of 1990 (the Act), as a separate corporate entity, solely owned by the Government of the Virgin Islands. The Authority began its operations under the Act in January 1991. Prior to the establishment of the Authority, most of its functions were carried out by the Ports and Marine Services Department of the Government.
The Ports and Marine Services regulations (the regulations) and the related Tariff were saved under the Act and together they govern the operations of the Authority. The Ports Authority is governed by a Board comprised of a Chairman, Deputy Chairman, five members, and three ex-officio members.
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90 Responses to “UPDATE: Claude Skelton-Cline approved to head BVI Ports Authority!”
The last MD was related to the last Premeir. Do you have any comments about that?
They all have one thing in common ... none of them have suitable qualifications for the job! It's a perfect fit!
congrats claude, you'll do well here and you will never have to run away from here cause we don't jail our indigenous crooks.
you can describe my comments with any adjectives u like, but u cannot deny their veracity.
We should all want for the betterment of this territory.
If such a plan is in the books, good way to go there now Skelly!
"OK", I agree with you ten thousand percent! Too much of us Virgin Islanders(British) are willing to put down our own in their own land and praise foreigners in ours. That we must learn to stop.
Always remember, "Why Not", one's college degree does not always have to fit the bill for a job. Presidents Obama, Clinton, Carter and Bush did not have job descriptions that ever prepared them to be leaders of America.
Most Fortune 500 CEO's education didn't prepare them for their job description. Neither did Branson's.
It seems to me that when it comes to Virgin Islanders(B), the hammer should drop if they're one step out of line. But for foreigners, any old dawg off the street is, by default, qualified to lead, especially if they're white.
Soooooo, for the rest of the moo-moo them out there, Skelly is here to stay and as such, if dawg, cat , skunk, and porcupine could crawl out of nowhere and become something in this country, dog gone damneth, our Skelly should be able to achieve similiarly.
Always remember, "Why Not", if honey is in the rock, Virgin Islanders(B) MUST get their share!!!!!!!!!!!
Bill Clinton decided upon a life of public service at the age of 16 and set about educating himself for just such a life. Barrack Obama also knew at an early age that politics and public service would be his life's work. His education was entirely geared towards a career in politics and ultimately the presidency.
Jimmy Carter joined the navy straight out of high school. Through the Naval Academy, Carter took courses in Nuclear Physics. He worked on various major developmental projects including nuclear submarine propulsion, etc. When his father died, he was forced to leave his navy career behind in order to run his family's peanut farm. Once that was in hand, he embarked upon his political career in early 1950's.
For the next 30 some years, he spent his life in public service in the senate, as Governor of Georgia and ultimately the President.
George Bush was probably the least qualified to become President of those you have mentioned. His main qualification was that he grew up around politics and politicians. He earned an MBA at Harvard Business School. His (official) political career began in 1978 when he ran for the House of Representatives. He was Governor of Texas and then of course, President.
So, with just a cursory investigation into those you have mentioned, I can safely say that each of those mentioned were certainly qualified for the job of President.
The difference between our political representatives and the U.S. representatives you mentioned is that all of the U.S. representatives spent a good amount of time in the political arena before ascending to a position of authority or any position that could have a major impact upon the finances or future of their country.
But electioneering politics aside, why should Claude Skelton-Kline not serve as the BVIPA MD? Unless there is some other disqualifying argument other than hands-on marine port management experience, he should be afforded the opportunity to serve as MD. Though it would be advantageous if he direct, hands-on port management experience, it is not a show stopper. The MD is responsible and accountable for operating the port effectively and efficiently to attain the port's vision/mission, and to deliver high quality services at the least cost.
Nonetheless, the MD does not have to be steeped in technical skills to be effective. In the the supervisory/management triangle, technical skills are highly required at the base and midlevel. However, at the apex, administrative skills are a core requirement. Any potential MD needs to be skilled in problem-solving, interpersonal and administrative skills.
We will pay for the poor decisions that we make, maybe not today but tomorrow with interest.
Cline as Managing Director of the Ports Authority?? I assumed that we had bottomed out when they appointed Miss P. Scatliffe as CEO at Water and Sewage and pushed aside Mr. Grant who spent years training for that Post. Now Claud and tomorrow the appointment of Mr. Henley from Cane Garden Bay as the Deputy Managing Director for the Port. It is obvious that Mark believes that the port is limited to the Cruise Ship Dock. This has to be the epitome of corruption since over quater of a million dollars which was made available to these people under the Neighbourhood Watch Program is still not accounted for. Trust me, Mark knows exactly what he is doing. Fortunately, he does not hold the future.
More damning is the fact that he obviously supports the Cruise Ship extension and pier park without really considering what the people have said. NDP are feathering their nest with "yes" people so they have more power in their developing. Kelton's nephew is padding the government with go-along people.
Wow!