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Lawsuit heats up! Gov't served!

- Ex Ports MD Claude O. Skelton-Cline seeking Judicial Review over non-renewal of contract
According to our newsroom’s National Democratic Party (NDP) senior sources close to the situation, Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline in his Judicial Review is seeking an answer on the process and decision by the NDP Cabinet to deny him a contract resumption after the BVI Ports Authority Board via a resolution had approved his contract renewal to continue at the Ports as its Managing Director. Photo: VINO/File
A few days ago Attorney General Mr Baba Aziz, the Government’s Chief Legal Advisor, was served with the legal papers on behalf of the Government of the Virgin Islands over the case. Photo: GIS/File
A few days ago Attorney General Mr Baba Aziz, the Government’s Chief Legal Advisor, was served with the legal papers on behalf of the Government of the Virgin Islands over the case. Photo: GIS/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- It was our newsroom that first and accurately reported on February 25, 2016 that the former Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA) Claude O. Skelton-Cline had filed legal papers against the Government of the Virgin Islands.

The case, filed a few weeks ago via the Law firm Hunte & Co in Claude O. Skelton-Cline vs The Attorney General, seeks in the first instance a Judicial Review.

A few days ago the Attorney General, the Government’s Chief Legal Advisor, was served with the legal papers on behalf of the Government of the Virgin Islands over the case.

According to our newsroom’s National Democratic Party (NDP) senior sources close to the situation, Mr Skelton-Cline in his Judicial Review is seeking an answer on the process and decision by the NDP Cabinet to deny him a contract resumption after the BVI Ports Authority Board via a resolution had approved his contract renewal to continue at the Ports as its Managing Director.

As of March 1, 2016 the details of the case had not been uploaded at the High Court Registry where cases are made public once they do not involve minors or highly sensitive national security matters.

When we broke the story a few weeks ago on this case, the same NDP source told our newsroom that a few members of the NDP tried to reach out to Mr Skelton-Cline to see how the matter could have been resolved, but it is reported that the Communications and Works Minister Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4), who was away at the time, allegedly had no interest in the matter.

A date for the case is expected to be announced tomorrow, as the Ports Development Project corruption scandal saga continues.

The Ports Project, on which both Mr Skelton-Cline  and Minister Vanterpool presided over, started off costing $35M, however, the Minister for Communications and Works told the public that the cost as of January 2016 was some $82.9M USD and still incomplete- an almost $50M overrun.

Background

Mr Skelton-Cline contested the 2011 general elections with the National Democratic Party (NDP) in District Two. He lost to former Legislator J. Alvin Christopher in a four-way race. Mr Christopher earned 423 votes to Skelton-Cline’s 339.

Following his election defeat, he was hired on a close to $100,000 a year contract as a consultant with the Ministry of Communications and Works where he had special over-sight of the NDP Administration’s plan to expand the cruise ship pier project.

In 2013 he was appointed as Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority on a three-year contract that ended last year December 2015. According to an NDP source, he requested a renewal before the June 8, 2015 general elections after the Ports Board had already advanced an early recommendation for such a renewal.

However, he was reportedly told by Communications and Works Minister Hon. Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) and reportedly by other Cabinet Ministers also to wait until after the 2015 elections.

To date, his contract has not been renewed and he is now unemployed, even after his NDP party won the elections in a landslide.

Recently, the subject Minister Vanterpool said Mr Skelton-Cline did a good job in executing the Tortola Pier Project but “his assignment is over…time to move on.”

This is not the first time a former Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority will be engaged in a legal battle with the Government of the Virgin Islands. Another former Managing Director had sued and won over her unfair dismissal. Our newsroom will be the first to bring you more details once the legal papers become available.

52 Responses to “Lawsuit heats up! Gov't served!”

  • ta ta (02/03/2016, 10:44) Like (17) Dislike (1) Reply
    wel sah NDP vs NDP
  • just asking.... (02/03/2016, 10:50) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    where is huge Darley?
  • Agreed BUT (02/03/2016, 10:52) Like (17) Dislike (1) Reply
    "The Ports Project, on which both Mr Skelton-Cline and Minister Vanterpool presided over, started off costing $35M, however, the Minister for Communications and Works told the public that the cost as of January 2016 was some $82.9M USD and still incomplete- an almost $50M overrun" deep deep
  • Well Sah (02/03/2016, 11:10) Like (17) Dislike (9) Reply
    The demons of money. Power and greed was foretold and is now coming to past. Tek dat for trying to slander the prophet! More to come because wickedness can not prosper. Do not believe me but believe God because he said so!
  • leh sleeping dog sleep (02/03/2016, 11:12) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    At times teeth and tongue do fall out.
  • ... (02/03/2016, 11:13) Like (4) Dislike (11) Reply
    This again strupps
  • Hmm (02/03/2016, 11:14) Like (20) Dislike (1) Reply
    Maybe Mr Skelton-Crime should re-familiarise himself with the Seven Deadly Sins
  • Yes (02/03/2016, 11:16) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    A NDP civil war.
  • The TRUTH (02/03/2016, 11:28) Like (25) Dislike (0) Reply
    Boss, If they don't want to renew you, they don't gave to.
  • Clearly (02/03/2016, 11:34) Like (42) Dislike (1) Reply
    MARK needs to be removed from being the Minister until a thorough investigation of this project is completed.
  • Soft costs (02/03/2016, 11:37) Like (19) Dislike (0) Reply
    If those so called soft costs expenses of $9million in the Cruise Pier project are looked into then is when we will hear & see thing. Too much corruption.
  • chad (02/03/2016, 11:45) Like (37) Dislike (0) Reply
    Excellent & needed project but it isn't worth $83 million. Somebody should be in jail for this abuse of government funds.
  • Teacher (02/03/2016, 12:10) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply

    The law states, the Port Board with CLaude Skeiton cronies can approve his contract and that's final.. If that was the case he will have his job today,so the Lawyers is just as stupid as him because the bucks don't stop with the port cor***t board..Sue That..We will find out who is suing Claude Skelton Cline soon, stay tune people..

  • otuifhjkgvb,mj (02/03/2016, 12:17) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply

    As usual NDP M***ters gone with the money in the millions but the people are happy because they can feel & touch what piece of the $83 million has done. If they want to feel the rest of the millions they have to feel the NDP'S fat pockets. What a shame!

  • wize up (02/03/2016, 12:58) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    just another inside job
    • think it is fair? (02/03/2016, 23:08) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Poor boy, he get set up with being the fall guy and living to regret it! The NDP real dutty!
  • foxy (02/03/2016, 13:24) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    big set up
  • See Sure (02/03/2016, 13:49) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Unless he was forced to do so by a third party, why is Cline running a game that he cannot win?
    Is he being blackmailed?
    Darling, it is Huge,of course!
    Poor fella..he is toast on the political scene forever,in these parts.
    Maybe a position in China is anticipated.
  • Myo (02/03/2016, 13:50) Like (2) Dislike (38) Reply
    Say what you all want, we have a beautiful port worth all the money spent.
    • wize up (02/03/2016, 14:35) Like (2) Dislike (64) Reply
      @ Myo: I second the motion.... at the end of the day the old talk will stop but the project will be there for years to come: good project(let them continue talking)
    • @Myo (02/03/2016, 15:22) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
      since it so beautiful you march in de street for Cline to get he contract signed.
    • valley massive (03/03/2016, 15:48) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      You can't eat it and you can't drink it and right now we have a port but we can't get water.
  • nonesense. (02/03/2016, 14:13) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    if i was him, i would of just let go and move on....wait till them investigate.....all who was hired while he was there with out qualification....soon go fire..watch and see.
  • WHY? (02/03/2016, 14:25) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why would he want his old job back? So, he can become accountable for the $ 50 million over runs? Or, maybe to explain the missing $ 9 million in soft costs? In the real world (except banking), most people who could not explain missing monies would be fired if not also criminally indicted. Whatever...it's the BVIs
  • Wendy (02/03/2016, 14:38) Like (25) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is just a set up for an out of court settlement so he can cash in yet again! SMH
  • rio (02/03/2016, 14:39) Like (32) Dislike (1) Reply
    Unsustainable entitlements growth have led the BVI to the brink of national bankruptcy- inflated bids for services and HNI are all consequences of an environment in which Ministers know they will never be held to account for the debts they incur in "The People's" names. This represents a very serious long term threat to the Virgin Islands. Hate me now.
  • who is fooling who? (02/03/2016, 15:14) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    mark said and i quote "claude did a magnificent job at the ports" but still cant get his contract renewed.
  • DON Q (02/03/2016, 15:51) Like (47) Dislike (0) Reply
    Vanterpool is just as shameless as Claude
  • Violence (02/03/2016, 16:16) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    Why can't musicians come together and sue the chair lady and the minister for their pay.. Plus pain and suffering.?.Thats what courts are there for. To settle dispute fairly and avoid violence.
  • Atomic Bumb (02/03/2016, 16:21) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    I will be in court when this case going on. Can't miss it. I'm sure Claude has a bumb in his arsenals. Lol. An atomic bumb. Wait until he drops it.
  • kmt (02/03/2016, 17:44) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    i don't kno why my government higher him in first place for, I could of see he as no good just by the way he champagne
    • My Goodness (04/03/2016, 14:21) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
      Translation: I don't know why my government hired him in the first place. I could have seen that he was no good just by the way he ran his campaign.
  • tretretrete (02/03/2016, 18:34) Like (21) Dislike (0) Reply
    For such a small country this place have sooooooo much corruption!!!!!
    The elected government and some of the people they put in place cannot be trusted. When you don't move like government's puppets then you are useless, and they want to get rid of you. I say it's time to clean up the government...
    NDP back in and they will continue to do what they want to do..No thoughts of the people and how they will suffer because of their actions. They are all about filling their pockets .....sad so sad
  • SB (02/03/2016, 19:30) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Starting to respect his moxy.
  • empty kerosene pan (02/03/2016, 21:04) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    See now? Every dog has his day......LOL
  • IBM (02/03/2016, 22:29) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    yes CSC press on, something is smelly with this NDP action and they feel they can hoodwink the population
  • Carli (02/03/2016, 22:45) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    All I have to say is what goes around comes around. The world is round
  • school children (02/03/2016, 22:58) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    School children say a lot of weekend overtime made a house rise fast
  • Money stain names. (03/03/2016, 02:08) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Money turn good people into bad people. Its all over. In every business. Why? People need to understand that anytime their names are mix up with money in a bad way its a scar for life.
  • wize up (03/03/2016, 07:43) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    hush money; by the way where Hugh E Darley, he just drop off the map ( Darley and home-boy should compare notes; 2 heads better than one....more hush money can be collected)
  • W*F (03/03/2016, 09:06) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply

    Why Claude thinks he is special, and that his contract had to be renewed is beyond me. Many civil servants were sent home without reason or explanation. Claude wants more, he did not get enough. This lawsuit is shameful. I don't know why his uncle don't tell him to go sit down.

  • wow (03/03/2016, 09:52) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    they didn't pay him his cut so now he suing


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