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‘It’s not only about the apology’- Skelton-Cline

- Said he will continue to call for apology from Governor Jaspert on his behalf & fore parents
Commentator Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline, right, has called for an apology from Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert, left, over his unartful comments on reparations and has been counting the days that no apology is made. Photo: VINO/File
The Queen’s representative H.E. Augustus J.U. Jaspert, right, was at the time speaking on a live Facebook interview on Monday, September 7, 2020, with 284 Media, when he made his insensitive comments about reparations and preservation of names of landmarks in the Virgin Islands. Photo: Facebook
The Queen’s representative H.E. Augustus J.U. Jaspert, right, was at the time speaking on a live Facebook interview on Monday, September 7, 2020, with 284 Media, when he made his insensitive comments about reparations and preservation of names of landmarks in the Virgin Islands. Photo: Facebook
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- It has been over a month since Governor Augustus J.U. Jaspert irked some descendants of slaves in the Virgin Islands when he unartfully said the Virgin Islands can expect no reparations for slavery from the United Kingdom and that the Territory should not necessarily get rid of names of landmarks named after slave owners and perpetrators of slavery and brutal acts against humanity.

The Queen’s representative was at the time speaking on a live Facebook interview on Monday, September 7, 2020, with 284 Media.

Several commentators and members of the public openly condemned the insensitive remarks.

No apologies from Governor

One commentator, Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline, called for an apology from the Governor and has been counting the days no apology is made.

“I want to make a note. This is day 30 of no apology from Governor Jaspert in regards to some statements made some 30 days ago,” Skelton Cline said on his Honestly Speaking show on ZBVI 780 AM on Thursday, October 7, 2020.

According to the outspoken Virgin Islander, he will continue to register the issue publicly, not because he is expecting an apology. “But on behalf of my fore parents, on behalf of the fore parents of this country, who gave their lives and sacrificed for their birthright, what they should have had at birth and what we should have had at birth.”

Apology is beside the point

Skelton-Cline added that he has a moral and ethical obligation “to document and put it on the record and so though he [Governor] may never verbally apologise, that is beside the point.

“The point is there needs to be some voices on behalf of our fore bearers, our fore parents who sacrificed and without whose sacrifice we could not be where we are today. So I make no apologies for the sensitivities and the sensibilities in which I give voice to on this matter raised and the protection of our rich history and heritage and the sojourn of our people in these Virgin Islands,” Mr Skelton-Cline said.

Meanwhile, the UK, through its Foreign and Commonwealth Office, recently said the comments of Mr Jaspert reflected the position of the UK.

37 Responses to “‘It’s not only about the apology’- Skelton-Cline”

  • HMMM (13/10/2020, 12:03) Like (44) Dislike (2) Reply
    Skelton Cline please go have a seat
    • To CSC (13/10/2020, 16:59) Like (18) Dislike (1) Reply

      Mr. Claude, the Israelites still await an apology from Egypt in Africa.

      Should we also insist that apologies be made by the African continent descendants who captured their own who became our forefathers and were sold to the whites who brought them to the West?
      • Mandingo (14/10/2020, 09:08) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
        Good point Mr. White man. Really never thought of it that way before. However, two wrongs don't make a right. If you offend you must apologise and where you profit from your offensive position...you must pay back. D'ont get smart with me now... I smarter.
    • Heckler (14/10/2020, 10:17) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      he needs to come off the nipple first.
  • joke (13/10/2020, 12:05) Like (29) Dislike (1) Reply
    Why he always trying to be relevant
  • Smith (13/10/2020, 12:05) Like (28) Dislike (1) Reply
    It’s obvious now that he’s jealous of the Governor
  • VG Resident (13/10/2020, 12:27) Like (35) Dislike (0) Reply
    I would like Cline to prove his lineage to slaves in the BVI. Doubt he can do it. So he is talking BS
  • Admirer (13/10/2020, 12:42) Like (6) Dislike (5) Reply
    The lady in white looks nice
  • cane garden bay (13/10/2020, 12:44) Like (31) Dislike (3) Reply
    mr. clyne what is the problem with you do you go to sleep with the Governor as the devil on your back, you better go and sit down and let jaspert live in peace from causing unnecessary trouble one of these days you might reget your doings . leave the governor alone let him enjoy his last days on the rock. Claude enough is enough and there is a place and time for every thing you better stop your nonsense because the nonsence wil deal with you. The Governor is nobody to play with every one is saying leave the governor alone because one day or some day you might regret the ship has enough cells so do you want a body cell a battery cell blood cell or a real cell claide leave the Governor .ALONE
  • All blog (13/10/2020, 13:28) Like (2) Dislike (57) Reply
    To all of you who are making foolish comments about clause , you all need to go sit down. 400 years of being enslaved and yes I say 400 plus years cause it hasn't stopped and here we have a man of the soil defending us and our ancestors and you all come on here blogging stupidness about him. People with mentally like yours is why we stayed so long in slavery.
    • HMMM (14/10/2020, 05:52) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
      Shut your Ass up.
      We are being treated no differently by our own negro race, so please you go sit down and tell the man to pratice what he preach. God is love and a forgiving God. Claude go sit your skunt down.
  • price drop (13/10/2020, 14:19) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
    claude you donot understand stop it go and sit down you do not have no land to get while you are doing this you may get a landing LEAVE THE GOVERNOR ALONE PEOPLE IS BEGGING YOU TO LEAVE THE GOVERNOR ALONE DO NOT PLAY WITH POWER THAT IS ABOVE YOU THE MONARCH you is going to until you bring up
  • We RISE (13/10/2020, 14:44) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    Mr. Cline the UK would not issue an apology for so call atrocities committed against African people whom they sold as slaves in the West Indies since such apology would be an admittance of wrong, which would then lead to the opening of a flood gate of claims for reparation from descendants of slaves in the entire Caribbean and every other country that was colonized by them. This would lead to economic and financial collapse in that country. I do not have the space to say more on that. Mr. Cline the wrong that were committed against African slave is much bigger that you and Governor Jaspert. If you want an apology why not seek it against the UK? The Governor whether he wants to or not cannot issue one you know that. Furthermore when slavery was abolished here, some of the Slaves here accepted and were compensated by their Owners (see the plague erected at the Stickette at Long Look) There are other instances of other compensation in the Territory. Ok what are the names of your fore fathers? Which Estate did they worked on? What is the name of the person(s) who owned the Estate? State some of the acts that were personally committed against your fore fathers and by whom. Mr. Cline the extremely wicked and cruel acts that were committed against African slaves including those brought to these Islands should never have happened. We cannot place a price on any thing on earth that would serve as compensation for it. An apology from the UK nor no amount of monetary or other act will not soothe the pains that is still being felt by African descendants of the slave trade today.
  • jj (13/10/2020, 14:51) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
    The same sh.. again.
  • Nobody Taking You On Claude (13/10/2020, 14:51) Like (9) Dislike (2) Reply
    Mehson GUH SIDDUNG
  • Bunk (13/10/2020, 14:57) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Cline needs to get off the soapbox and go find a chair. There are plenty of real issues affecting the BVI. To be so fixated on this makes it obvious that its either personal or there an agenda he's trying to push.
  • next (13/10/2020, 15:14) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    well boy you need healing of the heart mind and soul you lost
  • NB (13/10/2020, 15:58) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    Somebody please, please, please buy my uncle Cline a goldfish, or a Bothrops Atrox. Either will keep him occupied
    • @NB (13/10/2020, 18:16) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
      I will be willing to by him a fish tank full of gold fish, fish tanks with fish keeps a person calm.
  • Crop (13/10/2020, 15:58) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Go Bring your fore parents so the governor can apologise to them.
  • Sweet peace (13/10/2020, 17:32) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply
    I have one question for Mr. Cline. What if the Governor or the UK never apologize? Will you continue to walk around with unforgiveness in your heart? Remember sin is sin......do some serious introspection Brother Claude Cline.
  • my (13/10/2020, 17:49) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mr Cline I think by now you back slide no if or but about that because no pastor sopose to act in that manner
  • Enough already (13/10/2020, 18:20) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
    Mr. Pastor, please leave the Governor alone.
  • Hmmmdon (13/10/2020, 18:25) Like (0) Dislike (8) Reply

    Dont mind them claude ...none will come in ur face and say wat there blog like I do it and say wat u got to in the face of the evil w**** go***

  • Eric Wallace (13/10/2020, 19:00) Like (3) Dislike (16) Reply
    It is incredulous to read all the negative comments against Mr. Cline. It is an overt demonstration that mental shackles are much more insidious than are physical shackles.

    That slavery was a reality is undisputed.
    That it was FORCED upon those least able or equipped to defend themselves is unchallenged.
    That it was CRUEL & INHUMANE is a reality.
    Were NEGROES (us) indigenous to these islands or were they forcebly subjugated?
    Are we in today's society offspring of such persons? Of course we are.
    Upon the abolishment of said CRUELTY were slave owners/masters compensated? Yes.
    Were the INDENTURED, BLEEDING, BROKEN, WHIPPED, TORTURED NEGROES compensated for their labor, sweat BLOOD and PAINS? No.
    To whom and for whom was the practice of slavery MOST BENEFICIAL? GREAT BRITAIN.....
    And for whom and upon whom was the abolishment of said practices most agregious and the loss most negatively experienced? Of course? BRITAIN.....
    Now the irony: slave owners were compensated for their loss of their revenue producing slavery machines.
    Were slaves and their heirs rewarded for having been KIDNAPPED, TORTURED and left destitute? (Does the name Arthur William Hodge mean anything to you?)
    Mr. Cline's insistence upon an apology from the Governor is in fact a demand upon the mother country for acknowledgement of the criminality perpetrated upon an entire people as well as ancillary compensation for such EVILS. We ought therefore to boldly stand in support of CSC. Remember, others have lost their lives for similar stances. This should be viewed as a national imperative free of negative and personal attacks.
    • TanIAm (13/10/2020, 19:24) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
      An apology to the Governor from the VI is what is needed. The Gov has been poorly treated and disrespected from the first day of his arrival in the VI.
      May he find deserving peace and relief when he departs.
      the shores of the VI.
    • OK Then (14/10/2020, 06:00) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Lets also give thanks to the white masters because some of you light skin blacks who feel they are better than the dark skin blacks. Ok ! so now we are even with whites get the hell out of here talking crap. We blacks are our biggest enemy and the most racist of the whole, so, sidung
  • from buckingham palace (13/10/2020, 19:14) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    I have said it before, the Governor was appointed by the Queen, and sent to the BVI, to watch all the illegal crookidNISS in Government. We did not vote for a Governor. We voted for district candidates who become ministers of Government and representatives. Never have you call on our elected representatives to answer many unanswered question, still lingering in our minds. Man leave the Governor alone, he is one of us, even he en't born here, leave the UK Governor and tell your parlreps to Gway.
  • mental slavery (13/10/2020, 20:23) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Slave descendants have been largely left like an bird with a broken wing. They are unable to think beyond a certain level. This is the limitation of a colonized mind. There is no historical evidence of a people called Israelites having been enslaved in Egypt. Free Thinkers search out what is real and what is not. We need to find the COURAGE to take a sledge hammer to the mental chains that still bind the people. This is the greatest most valuable reparation that can be had and it is free for those who have the GUTS to take it.
  • plain and simple (13/10/2020, 22:33) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    CLAUDE IS OBSESSED WITH THE GOVERNOR JUST LIKE TRUMP IS OBSESSED WITH OBAMA. CLAUDE, JUST LEAVE THE GOVERNOR ALONE. ALL THE JABBING TOWARDS THE GOVERNOR IS NOT GOING TO GET YOU ANYWHERE.
  • How come? (13/10/2020, 23:46) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    "Meanwhile, the UK, through its Foreign and Commonwealth Office, recently said the comments of Mr Jaspert reflected the position of the UK."

    So how come the talk show host ain't asking the UK to apologize?

    Surprised ( embarrassed actually) that we still knocking the governor after providing the most honest answer to the specific question he was asked. What is the UK 's position? He told you exactly the position and the UK confirmed. Why we want and waiting for an apology? Well wait!!!
  • sinner (14/10/2020, 06:13) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
    Claude Cline go repent. You full of yourself. For a pastor you have no forgiveness in your heart. How do you preach to your church?
  • Well (14/10/2020, 08:22) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    As a pastor this man need to spend time with God instead of setting fire to furey
  • Awful governor (15/10/2020, 07:40) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    Worst governor in history

    Ignorant insulting buffoon
  • Health (15/10/2020, 08:13) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
    CLAUDE YOU HAVE TWO HEARTS WHICH ONE YOU SERVE GOD WITH
  • Focus on Reopening (15/10/2020, 11:55) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    CSC, Please help the Premier to plan the reopenning of the BVI through Ferry Terminals. You are currently wasting your very expensive time.


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