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

Claude O. Skelton-Cline wins Round 1; Lawsuit against NDP continues!

-High Court Judge grants the Former BVI Ports Managing Director Leave via a Judicial Review to sue Government for not renewing contract as Managing Director
Former Managing Director of BVI Ports Authority Claude O. Skelton-Cline (centre) has been given Leave via a Judicial Review to sue the National Democratic Party Government led by Premier Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith (right) for not renewing his contract as Managing Director. Governor John S. Duncan OBE (left) had announced that Caibnet had made the decision not to renew Mr Skelton-Cline's contract. Photo: VINO
The High Court has ruled that former Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA) has grounds for a lawsuit against Government. Photo: VINO/Internet Source
The High Court has ruled that former Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA) has grounds for a lawsuit against Government. Photo: VINO/Internet Source
Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline had presided with Minister for Communications and Works Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4), left, over the controversial Tortola Pier Project. Photo: VINO/File
Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline had presided with Minister for Communications and Works Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4), left, over the controversial Tortola Pier Project. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- It was this news site that first and accurately reported that the contract for the former BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA) Managing Director, Claude O. Skelton-Cline, would not be renewed as it was blocked in Cabinet.

Further, we were first to report that Mr Skelton-Cline turned to the courts to seek redress by first seeking a Judicial Review (JR), which meant a court would have to decide if there were grounds to pursue a lawsuit against Government for their decision not to renew his contract.

First round win for Claude O. Skelton-Cline

It was yesterday September 27, 2016 after some seven months that High Court Judge Vicki Ann Ellis sided with Mr Skelton-Cline, giving him permission to proceed with suing the National Democratic Party (NDP) Administration over the process used to not renew his contract.

With Information obtained from sources within the Judicial System and others in the NDP Administration close to the case, Justice Ellis ruled in Chambers, away from the media and public, that the Government was guilty of unfair procedure and that the Cabinet decision was Ultra Vires to Mr Skelton-Cline.

She also ruled that Mr Skelton-Cline had legitimate expectations that his contract would be renewed, and there was a breach of natural justice against him.

Justice Ellis also blasted the Government for their unreasonableness, irrationality and procedural impropriety over the Cabinet Decision not to renew Mr Skelton-Clines’ contract with the BVIPA.

Mr Skelton-Cline is being represented by the law firm Hunte & Co, and the government by the Attorney General’s (AG) Chambers.

NDP infighting; Millions in overrun!

Skelton-Cline ran with the NDP in the 2011 General Elections in the Second District and lost to former legislator J. Alvin Christopher (R2).

He presided with Minister for Communications and Works Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) over the controversial Tortola Pier Project which the people were told would cost about $50 Million but today has reached close to $90 Million, a $40Million over-run.

Mr Skelton-Cline told reporters at an April 2016 press conference that he was only disclosing nine percent of information on the project and all the allegations surrounding same.

John S. Duncan caught lying!

It was on April 12, 2016 that local reporter Zan Lewis of ZBVI 780 AM Radio Station had an interview with Governor John S. Duncan OBE hours before Mr Skelton-Cline held a live press conference.

Governor Duncan took to the airwaves to tell the public in speaking about the former Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority that the National Democratic Party’s Cabinet had “taken a decision not to renew the contract of Mr Skelton-Cline.”

On April 18, 2016 our newsroom published an accurate article after we taped the interview from ZBVI where the Governor was making those statements.

In a dishonest way Mr Duncan, when asked by a BVI Beacon Reporter Mr Kenneth E. Silva in a May 19, 2016 interview (page 14) to explain the status of Skelton-Cline’s contract, claimed that Virgin Islands News Online’s (VINO) report of what he said were “inaccurate misquotes.”

In fact, Mr Duncan told the Beacon Reporter, “I think that even though you’re a newsman, you shouldn’t believe everything you read in the papers. What I said to your colleague was the limit to what I’m prepared to say on that matter: That is, the Cabinet considered carefully the recommendation of the board on the renewal of the contract of Mr Skelton-Cline, and took a decision on it. That’s it: The rest is pure conjecture and misquoting. I’d like you to note that.  I’ve seen the reports in [VINO], and they are inaccurate misquotes,” the Governor concluded.

Meanwhile, Mr Silva confirmed to VINO that his question to the Governor was specific to the contract renewal issue involving Mr Skelton-Cline.

‘Liar Liar pants on fire’ John Duncan

Our newsroom went back to the tape of the interview by Zan Lewis with Mr Duncan, and found both to be an accurate reflection of what Governor Duncan said and what we reported.

Therefore, it is fair to conclude that Governor John S. Duncan OBE told the public a lie about being misquoted by VINO, which further erodes his own integrity, as a United Kingdom senior civil servant in the Foreign Service.

17 Responses to “Claude O. Skelton-Cline wins Round 1; Lawsuit against NDP continues!”

  • wow (28/09/2016, 15:58) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    the plot thickens
  • B Real (28/09/2016, 16:03) Like (21) Dislike (2) Reply
    Who thought Claude ain't going to WIN THIS. The man use to work for KWAME KILPATRICK wah you think he aint learn a thing or 2?
  • gkefkkdakxq (28/09/2016, 16:05) Like (8) Dislike (3) Reply
    Fight on my brother
  • 5 million (28/09/2016, 16:43) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    They will settle soon
  • wize up (28/09/2016, 16:51) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    Job or cash(take the cash!!!)
  • Lost souls..... (28/09/2016, 18:10) Like (2) Dislike (11) Reply
    Take the job. Let them watch you everyday in the face or bend their heads and pass. An injustice was done to you. You were doing a fine job. Prove to the them it was not about the money but your pride and dignity. Take the job back......if offered
    • @Lost souls.... (30/09/2016, 12:32) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      The job is not up for discussion. There was a contract with obligations on both sides. If they did not want to renew his contract, they needed to give him three months notice of that fact. His contract expired, he stopped working and they gave no notice which simply means Government has breached the contract. He will get damages for this breach, at a minimum of three months for the notice and up to a maximum of whatever the court felt was reasonable in the circumstances. The case was never about winning. it is also not about any accusations of wrong doing. It is simply a question of wrongful termination/unfair dismissal according to the terms of the contract. On those points, Claude will win it. It was never about his performance at the Port, only about quantum of damages - how much he should get for failure of the Govenment to give reasonable notice of termination of the contract.
  • was 2nd to break the story (28/09/2016, 18:30) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    When will we be able to hear the other 91% from claude?
  • EDDY (29/09/2016, 07:24) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Who recommended the renewal?
  • pat (29/09/2016, 08:25) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    lying Duncan
  • qc (29/09/2016, 13:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    lets see who will win round 2
    • Schuuuups (01/10/2016, 10:13) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      All this nonsense but rounds. Just give the man some change and call it to an end. Like say 2 million and leave that. An almost two year contract for 100k a month.. Lawyer get their share outside that. I dont see why the need to play this thing. Peir park done build, The Duncan killed the Audit and the C.O.I so he shut everybody down. pay the man. he got to spend it here. You know what you know and all they have to do is keep feeding you work. They need to improve on pier park day to day business because it is not good. Somebody need to grow some nads and say what the park is for. If its for cruise passengers only and not local shoppers just say. Its just a shopping district not somebody house. They need to look at St.Maarten and other locations and see what they are doing and learn and beef up ours so the businesses can make money. I prefer to hear and deal with that instead of this issue with Claude and NDP. They need to just pay him and move on.


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.

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.