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CoI: UK won’t just walk away with ‘bloody nose’- Skelton-Cline

- Says VI already in a condition where inquiry is affecting bills
Government Consultant and outspoken talk show host, Claude O. Skelton-Cline says he is now in a state of concern for the future of the Virgin Islands when the ongoing VI Commission of Inquiry (CoI) comes to a conclusion. Photo: VINO/File
Skelton-Cline’s concerns were in connection to House of Assembly Speaker, Hon Julian Willock announcing that (UK) Secretary of State Dominic R. Raab has indicated that bills, such as the Drugs (Prevention of Misuse) (Amendment) Act and the Disaster Management Act, 2021, are being further delayed assent due to the ongoing CoI. Photo: HoA/Youtube
Skelton-Cline’s concerns were in connection to House of Assembly Speaker, Hon Julian Willock announcing that (UK) Secretary of State Dominic R. Raab has indicated that bills, such as the Drugs (Prevention of Misuse) (Amendment) Act and the Disaster Management Act, 2021, are being further delayed assent due to the ongoing CoI. Photo: HoA/Youtube
Rt Hon Sir Gary R. Hickinbottom is the sole commissioner for the VI CoI. Photo: VINO/File
Rt Hon Sir Gary R. Hickinbottom is the sole commissioner for the VI CoI. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Government Consultant and outspoken talk show host, Claude O. Skelton-Cline says he is now in a state of concern for the future of the Virgin Islands, when the ongoing Commission of Inquiry (CoI) funded by the United Kingdom (UK) comes to a conclusion.

“We are already in a state, in a condition, where we are now learning that certain bills are not being assented to until some conclusion of a Commission of Inquiry,” he said on the Tuesday, April 28, 2021, edition of his ‘Honestly Speaking’ show.

CoI impacting assented bills 

Skelton-Cline’s concerns were in connection to House of Assembly Speaker, Hon Julian Willock announcing that (UK) Secretary of State Dominic R. Raab has indicated that bills, such as the Drugs (Prevention of Misuse) (Amendment) Act and the Disaster Management Act, 2021, are being further delayed assent due to the ongoing CoI.

Hon Willock questioned whether the VI constitution was being suspended, and according to Skelton-Cline, “So in essence, the Speaker is asking based on my interpretation of his letter, are we already in a place where we are moving down the road for suspension of the constitution?” he asked.

Announcing on his show that it would be the worst-case scenario to have the VI’s constitution suspended, Skelton-Cline questioned, “are we going to simply sit back or are we going to put a demand on Government, on the Governor, on the UK to state clearly what is going on here?”

CoI outcome could negatively impact VI

He said currently Institutional UK is making ‘moves’ pointing to the outcome in the Turks and Caicos Islands when the constitution was suspended, and even the possibility of the UK government taking over the local Ministry of Finance as a target.

He said at the cost of the CoI, “When all this is said and done, they are going to spend millions of dollars here in regard to this Commission of inquiry... You think that the UK is going to walk away from here with a bloody nose, without looking for some intended desired result that they are now searching for?” 

UK may find what they are looking for 

The man of the cloth underscored that with this sole Commissioner, Rt Hon Sir Gary R. Hickinbottom already having the ‘broadest of stroke’ to go on a quest to find what can be inquired about in the VI Government, 'the UK will find whatever is it they are looking for."

While legislators, including Premier Andrew A. Fahie (R1), had indicated that they had nothing to fear about the CoI, Skelton-Cline says he is now deeply concerned about the future of the country over what is taking place with the CoI.

The UK Government has fully backed the CoI in the VI in the height of the global coronavirus pandemic while UK Prime Minister Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson aka ‘Boris’ has himself refused a CoI into his spending and handling of the pandemic, saying that having a CoI in the pandemic is bad timing.

29 Responses to “CoI: UK won’t just walk away with ‘bloody nose’- Skelton-Cline”

  • The Noose (30/04/2021, 08:23) Like (82) Dislike (1) Reply
    If there WASN’T wrong doing over the years, there wouldn’t be a need for a CoI! You & many more have benefited from the public purse without merit, while administration after administration claim ‘there’s no money’ but hand out contracts after contracts & the basic services, water, sewage, roads, languish in disrepair & the tax payers suffer!
    • Crazy stupidness and foolishness (30/04/2021, 13:42) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
      him fast running out of time
    • josiah'sbay (30/04/2021, 19:37) Like (0) Dislike (8) Reply
      The COI should be an internal endeavor. What is the UKs intent is it to recolonize us or implement direct rule? What? I'm tired of hearing people say, if we don't have any thing too hide then what is the problem. The problem is that we are so afraid of self-determination that we prefer a status of semi colonialism rather than taken up the challenge to address or issues and problems and fix them.
  • Youth (30/04/2021, 08:40) Like (0) Dislike (30) Reply
    The UK arep dictators. They do not play fair but instil fear.
    • @Youth (30/04/2021, 15:40) Like (4) Dislike (13) Reply
      It may be him, but it is not just him, it is every Black person in this Territory.

      Our lives, as we have known them, poltically, economically, socially, emotionally and psychologically are coming to an abrupt end, and it all has to with money, who has it and who should not have it.

      The imperialist thinks that the Black man should not. He thinks that the Territory has become to rich for the Black man to be in conrtol, and so he is coming to take that control away from him. It is that simple.

      They are going to walk right in and take the control finances of this country from right out of the hands of the government and people.

      Stay tuned, you will see.
  • My Take (30/04/2021, 08:41) Like (3) Dislike (49) Reply
    It is time to march against the UK.
  • east end man (30/04/2021, 08:42) Like (4) Dislike (23) Reply
    The last governor gus and the former commissioner of police should be part of this commission of Inquiry. Ting to talk.
  • again (30/04/2021, 08:43) Like (6) Dislike (39) Reply
    These uk people trying to use this COI to try to bring back slavery but in a modern way. PEOPLE WAKE UP!
  • We Know (30/04/2021, 08:45) Like (5) Dislike (32) Reply
    This inquiry is not independent. It was brought on by the brits. It is being guided underneath by the Brits. The conclusion has already been written by the Brits. There is no fairness im this organized lynching.
    • Regga (01/05/2021, 07:40) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      And what evidence do you have to support your point of view? I thought as much.
    • Regga (01/05/2021, 07:44) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      And what evidence do you have to support your point of view? I thought as much.
  • east (30/04/2021, 08:50) Like (4) Dislike (24) Reply
    Who can survive someone who has determined that they will look through your entire life from the day you born to present to see if any time you have done anything wrong? The UK is hypocritical. They are unrealistic. They need money since leaving the EU so we and all OTs become their mission.
  • resident (30/04/2021, 08:59) Like (62) Dislike (1) Reply
    Where did all the Govt revenue go since 1990? Infrastructure? Education?
  • BuzzBvi (30/04/2021, 09:14) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    Wriggle, weriggle, squirm squirm. Let's hope there inniss anyone being missed by the VI COI.
  • Just saying (30/04/2021, 09:22) Like (25) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mama told me "bigger the Bible, bigger the crook"
  • lol (30/04/2021, 09:22) Like (43) Dislike (1) Reply
    All of a sudden your tone has changed Claude? We asked that you and the Government tone it down and focus on moving the Territory forward but you doubled down on disrespecting the Governor and UK. Now you are here trying to be the voice of reason but too little, too late. You are trying to soften the blow because you already know the COI has uncovered and will report on the nasty deeds but we won't be fooled.
  • reason (30/04/2021, 09:35) Like (36) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mr. You are the one staining the beautiful BVI wolf in sheep clothing.
  • stop (30/04/2021, 09:53) Like (36) Dislike (3) Reply
    Premier Andrew A. Fahie, Claude O. Skelton-Cline, and the rest of the pack, If you have nothing to worry about "Why all the talk every day as we get closer? If I know I haven't done anything wrong I would just sit back and let them knock themselves out, but you all are so worried everyone can see that. Andrew A. Fahie doesn't know the right approach to anything his first year in office he forth with the Governor and the UK wanted the loan on his own terms, if you are smart you won’t go strong-arming the person or people who are your landlords. I have never seen a Government fight so much with the UK. Independence forget it most people in the BVI don’t want it they know better
  • hey (30/04/2021, 10:28) Like (41) Dislike (1) Reply
    Mr cline don't worry about this island worry about yourself. you seems to know a lot. our bvi will always be here even when you are gone. you came back here with your ideas and two governments buy into them.now you are worried about this island. lol.what we the people want is the facts and who doing what and who getting paid for doing nothing. without you the vip would still have formed the government because the people had get fed up of the ndp. now because of you the people ready for a change as of yesterday.
  • Denzil (30/04/2021, 10:44) Like (28) Dislike (0) Reply
    He scared of something!
  • ?? ? (30/04/2021, 10:48) Like (31) Dislike (1) Reply
    CSC! It's because of People like You why there is a COI
  • SERVANT OF THE MOST HIGH GOD IN JESUS THE CHRIST (30/04/2021, 11:10) Like (25) Dislike (2) Reply
    Good words follow good thoughts. Peace is better than war. The inocent mind is better than a guilty one. Those that have done no wrong are fearless when facing investigations. Why do you and others, in my opinion, fighting so forociously against the CoI? Do you not know that the Bible says that all that are done in darkness will be brought to the light? The Bible also says, "Let God be true, and every man a liar."
  • folks (30/04/2021, 11:58) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    This nail in the coffin of the VI is simply doing the job for which he was hired and our which he is being paid long bread by the taxpayers.
  • @ your take (30/04/2021, 14:04) Like (4) Dislike (4) Reply
    Yeah let's march straight back to Africa / no more uk and RACISM we got enough from ourselves already
  • Unemployed for months.. (30/04/2021, 14:36) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Stop talk sh!t, and help people find jobs instead...!
  • NB (01/05/2021, 08:29) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    For the love of the Almighty, Claude SHUT YOUR mouth, please.
  • mumu (02/05/2021, 16:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Anyione who names their company Mumu holdings has every reason to crap themselves.


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