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‘Don’t lose sense of pride, restore HoA right away’- Claude O. Skelton-Cline

The House of Assembly building in Road Town was damaged by Hurricane Irma on September 6, 2017 and remains out of commission over two months after. Photo: VINO/File
Talk show host and former BVI Ports Authority boss Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline has called for the House of Assembly (HoA) building to be repaired with haste. Photo: Youtube/File
Talk show host and former BVI Ports Authority boss Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline has called for the House of Assembly (HoA) building to be repaired with haste. Photo: Youtube/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- While the Territory is “back on its feet and open for business,” according to Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL), the Virgin Islands symbol of strength and pride- the House of Assembly building- remains damaged well over two months since the passage of the monster hurricane, Irma on September 6, 2017.

The HoA has had sittings since; however, at different locations: The Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff’s Bottom and Ritter House in Wickham’s Cay II, both on the main island of Tortola.

‘We can’t lose our sense of pride’

Talk show host and former BVI Ports Authority boss Claude O. Skelton-Cline; however, has called for the HoA building to be repaired with haste.

Mr Skelton-Cline pointed out that right in the middle of town is the Virgin Islands House of Assembly, which remains in disrepair for more than two months, “no windows, no doors, just was wide open. There have finally been some boards on the bottom section, none on the top section.

“Good people we can’t lose our sense of pride and have no sense of shame. This is our House of Assembly, this is the symbol psychologically that communicates a powerful and positive impact, we are up, we are functioning,” Mr Skelton-Cline stated on his ZBVI 780 AM radio talk show, Honestly Speaking, on November 21, 2017.

Restore the HoA right away

According to Mr Skelton-Cline this is unacceptable, when what the HoA symbolises is taken into consideration.

“That House needs to be restored straight away. We need to see our elected officials in that House doing business. The gallery needs to be available where persons can come and hear for themselves what is happening in our House of Assembly.

“So please Government, don’t do it because Skelton Cline said it, lets get the thing up and let us have that symbol that communicates strength and positivity. Let’s have it up and running,” Mr Skelton-Cline, who had as his guest on the show the outspoken man of the cloth Bishop John I. Cline, pleaded.

9 Responses to “‘Don’t lose sense of pride, restore HoA right away’- Claude O. Skelton-Cline”

  • Correction (22/11/2017, 11:20) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    As a matter of historic fact the building was always the court house. It was used by the House of Assembly when the territory's legislature was restored, but prior to that it was always the court house. The House of Assembly has never had its own building and it is no longer possible for the two to be sharing the same space. In a strong democracy with separation of powers, the courts are independent and separate from the legislature and neither takes precedence over the other. However, when the HOA is sitting the courts are displaced and this does not speak well for our democracy. It is time for both arms of government to be separated. The restoration of our democratic institutions should have happened before the state of emergency was lifted as without a functioning court we are still in a de facto state of emergency situation. It needs to be fixed.
    • Jack Schitt (23/11/2017, 06:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      You need to research a little harder. Your information about the ownership of the building is somewhat incorrect.
  • one eye (22/11/2017, 11:45) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Boss ndp listens to no one
  • long look me come from (22/11/2017, 11:50) Like (6) Dislike (6) Reply
    Just take a look the two people with the influence nowadays on hoa matters murun and ingrid are not real virgin islanders both their parents not from here

    So they not grounded in our pride and history now thats the big issue
  • circus (22/11/2017, 12:22) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    Noone cares about the HOUSE of assembly anyway!
  • one eye (22/11/2017, 15:19) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Good thing john kick them out of his energy center in duffs bottom
  • wow (23/11/2017, 02:41) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well the lady said that the HOA was HER house. What happen, she didnt insure it? She can't use her own money to fix it? She didn't want to welcome the UK Governor in HER house but now UK money must repair her house? Go sit down, let her take her blows and let God deal with her. If a tent is good enough for a school, a darn tent is good enough for dem to have as their house...better yet, under a mango tree...smh...get outta here!
  • Concerned (23/11/2017, 09:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    They need to start rebuilding the school behind of it! They need to get their priorities in order.


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