“The Board of Directors of the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board and Film Commission has announced the appointment of Mr Rhodni Skelton as the Acting Director of Tourism, effective Monday, 25th May 2020.

“The appointment will run until 30th June, 2020, by which time the organisation aims to select a substantive candidate for the post of Director of Tourism,” a press release from the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board and Film Commission on May 26, 2020, stated.

It said Mr Skelton, who currently serves as the Deputy Director of Tourism, will act in the post vacated by Mrs Flax-Brutus and will be responsible for the day to day management of the operations of the BVI Tourist Board including its overseas offices and marketing agencies.

Organisational procedures

Chairman of the BVI Tourist Board and Film Commission, Mrs Kenisha A. Sprauve said, “After expressing our thanks to Mrs Flax-Brutus for her years of service, we commenced the application process for the post of Director of Tourism. In keeping with organisational procedures, Mr Skelton, our Deputy Director, has been appointed to act in the position until this process is completed.”

Mr Skelton, the son of former legislator Mr Ronnie W. Skelton, acted as Director of Tourism when the former Director of Tourism proceeded on vacation leave back in January 2020.

He was appointed as the Deputy Director of Tourism effective May 8, 2017, after serving as Film Commissioner and Events Marketing Manager from 2004 to 2015.

Mr Skelton holds an Associate Degree in Business Management and a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from Northwood University; an MBA in Human Resources Management and Finance from Wright State University and a Master of Science Degree in Tourism and Project Management from the University of the West Indies. He was certified as an International Film Commissioner by the AFCI (Association of Film Commissioners International) in 2008.