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Court can’t force HoA to abide by ruling – Skelton-Cline

- Says court will also decide who pays for what transpired in D4 Saga
Outspoken Social commentator and man of the cloth, Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline says that in the District 4 Saga with Mark H. Vanterpool and House of Assembly (HoA) Speaker, Hon Julian Willock, even as the matter is currently before the High Court, the court still cannot force the HoA to abide by its ruling. Photo: Facebook
According to Skelton-Cline on the Tuesday, April 16, 2019, edition of his show, ‘Honestly Speaking’ on ZBVI 780am, he is glad the issue moved to the court and that the territory will know for sure what the outcome will be, when the court resumes on Thursday, April 18, 2019. Photo: VINO/File
According to Skelton-Cline on the Tuesday, April 16, 2019, edition of his show, ‘Honestly Speaking’ on ZBVI 780am, he is glad the issue moved to the court and that the territory will know for sure what the outcome will be, when the court resumes on Thursday, April 18, 2019. Photo: VINO/File
BAUGHER'S BAY, Tortola, VI - Outspoken Social commentator and man of the cloth, Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline says that in the District 4 Saga with Mark H. Vanterpool and House of Assembly (HoA) Speaker, Hon Julian Willock, even as the matter is currently before the High Court, the court still cannot force the HoA to abide by its ruling.

According to Skelton-Cline on the Tuesday, April 16, 2019, edition of his show, ‘Honestly Speaking’ on ZBVI 780am, he is glad the issue moved to the court and that the territory will know for sure what the outcome will be, when the court resumes on Thursday, April 18, 2019.

Knowledge

“I’m so glad that we are going through this exercise because it helps us to come to know something that we would have not ordinarily know. For example, no matter what the court rules, the court still cannot force the parliament to abide by its ruling,” Skelton-Cline told his listening audience.  

In echoing sentiments he made at a previous edition of his show, Skelton-Cline says knowledge of the constitution is important and that is why the people of the territory should know it as much as they know the bible.

“I thought that was interesting… I didn’t know it in the way I have come to know it over these last couple of weeks,” he said in reference to the laws.

“But clearly she [Justice Ann Marie-Smith] had at first glance, dismissed the opportunity for any Judicial review. So as I understand it, what we can expect for this coming Thursday at least is for her to assess whether or not the resignation is legitimate or not,” he said.

Cost of Hearing

With both Mr Vanterpool and the HoA Speaker hiring a team of attorneys, Skelton-Cline says the court will also be, “quantify the cost, [to know] who is going to pay the court for what has transpired.”

The Speaker has retained the services of a law firm and representing the Virgin Islands (VI) HoA is a team of four lawyers including Anand Ramlogan SC, former Attorney General (AG) of Trinidad & Tobago, along with Mr Jared Jagroo. Mr Valston Graham, current Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), St Kitts and Nevis is the owner of the law firm hired by the HoA.

Mr Vanterpool—who maintains that he should be sworn into the HoA—has hired Defence Attorney Patrick D. Thompson in addition to Queen’s Counsel, Edwards H. Fitzgerald.

13 Responses to “Court can’t force HoA to abide by ruling – Skelton-Cline ”

  • strupppes (17/04/2019, 12:26) Like (13) Dislike (12) Reply
    STFU
  • pat (17/04/2019, 13:04) Like (9) Dislike (18) Reply
    I agree with CSC
    • Is there anyting that the Overspent does not have expert in (17/04/2019, 17:43) Like (13) Dislike (5) Reply
      Apparently not as far as him is concern!
      Him clearly has some expert in ignoring a budget, and overspend it by $40m, but most persons would not tink that was a expert. But not he, and him thinks that he should have contract renew.
      Him just signed a 6 month contract for $96,000.00 (that is $8,000.00 per month to you and me) to advice about tourasm - him first have to learn something about tourasm.
      Him now knows about parlamentry procedure and sayin that the Speaker (with whom he be runnin for most contraversal man in BVI) can ignore what the Court decide - maybe next week him will read about conventitons and understood that Speaker (not even this bias Speaker) cannot disabey Court.
      Why we no give him contract to advice of saving the offshore busoness, another to advice on traffick in road town, another to supavise the RDA budget (because it no overspent on anyting yet), another to advice on the aeroport, and another very highly paid one for general foolishness and stupidness.
      • wize up (18/04/2019, 02:51) Like (7) Dislike (3) Reply
        @ is there anything: the good gentleman that head the RDA take home over thirty thousand of your tax dollars each month(just a reminder) but it major drama/breaking news to give payments to our own people (smile!!!!) others waltz into Road Town and paid big bucks each month then granted additional money for house, car, entertainment and cell phone and every man mouth zipped However when it comes to Road Town people we have to take the back seat(play the tape) seven point two million dollars was handed out and to this where is what your money went to purchase(this same aeroplane company owned the people of this territory five hundred dollars in outstanding payments)...the record is there....Blackman redemption?????
        • @ wize up (19/04/2019, 02:45) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
          At least the RDA head is doing a JOB. ie Putting this country back together without any aim for political gain. And he is paid from loan funds backed by the UK. So far all the projects RDA have tackled are on track. The ones that stayed with the Government are not! Go figure.

          There is no way in he11 that CSC deserves $16,000 a month of taxpayers money. NO way.
          • wize up (19/04/2019, 11:07) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
            @ WIZE UP: It is a loan and the people of this territory have that loan to pay back(the fact remains his thirty thousand dollars each month is paid by the people of the territory)...you continue keeping the faith...next time have them the give the 16,000.00 to you!!!!(there is big difference between a monetary Gift from the UK & a loan from the UK)...
            • @wize up (19/04/2019, 20:38) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
              Thirty thousand dollars to someone who is QUALIFIED to earn that sum. The position was ADVERTISED and the most suitable person selected.

              CSC is NOT qualified. His record all around is FAILURE. That is the point.
            • @wizeup (19/04/2019, 20:49) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
              Did you say I should get them to pay the $16,000 a month to me?? LOL. I am not interested in raping the government. I prefer to earn my pittance.
      • what (18/04/2019, 06:45) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Who taught you math? 96/6=8? 96/6=16
        • huh (18/04/2019, 10:05) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
          He is being paid $16k per month!!! - that is outrageous. And he is taking it in a company name so he does not have to pay payroll tax, NHI or SS payments!
          • wize up (18/04/2019, 21:12) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
            @ HUH: the RDA man getting 30,000.00 each month(blog that you jive turkey!!!!!)
  • Quiet Warrior (18/04/2019, 04:23) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    “............even as the matter is currently before the High Court, the court still cannot force the HoA to abide by its ruling.” Ok. What section of the constitution is CSC basing his opinion on? Are there any precedents to CSC assertion? The VI is parliamentary/representative democracy with three branches of government: Legislative, Executive and Judicial. The Legislative branch passed laws, Executive Branch execute the laws and Judicial Branch interprets the laws. The three branches are supposed to be separate and co-equal. However, In the West Minister system, the legisaltive and Executive branches are somewhat one and the same. For the most part, the same people serve in the legislative Branch and the Cabinet. Our neighbor, USVI, has three separate branches.——-Governor (Executive), Senate (Legislative) and Courts (Judicial). It is important to note that the court interprets laws, not make law. Well, at least that is the intent. Nonetheless, sometimes there are activist jurists on the bench that wants to make law.
  • tired of this man (18/04/2019, 11:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    so why waist tax payer money if that's the case.


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