‘Leave Claude Skelton-Cline alone’ - Hon Mark H. Vanterpool
There have been several allegations levelled against Mr Skelton-Cline during his helm at BVIPA, although the former Managing Director sought to dismiss those allegations during a press conference he called on April 12, 2016 and which was broadcast live on CBN Channel 51 and 90.9FM.
Mr Skelton-Cline is currently suing the members of Cabinet, along with the Attorney General Baba Aziz and the Governor John S. Duncan OBE, since his contract was not renewed although he was reportedly given the assurance it would be renewed following the June 2015 elections.
Speaking in the House of Assembly today, April 18, 2016, Hon Vanterpool said he himself has been subject to his name being smeared in the public and he understands Mr Skelton-Cline’s desire to protect his name.
As the subject Minister responsible for the Ports, people need to leave Claude Skelton-Cline alone. Stop blaming him and stop calling the man names that he shouldn’t be called.”
According to Hon Vanterpool, who has been accused of bringing wrong information to the House of Assembly regarding the estimated cost of the controversial Ports Project, Mr Skelton-Cline has a family and people should not say things they can’t back up with facts.
“Because I feel the same way when the people talk about me being corrupt,” said Hon Vanterpool, while noting that it is wrong for people to be saying things they don’t know about.
“And I want to defend the name of Pastor Claude Cline. He has a name and he wants to maintain it. He is a man of the cloth. I may not be down by his church regularly but he is still my pastor. Leave him alone. I am the Minister responsible for ports.”
The Minister then said it was in October 2015 that he told Mr Cline “you have done a wonderful job here at the ports. I want you to come back…”
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition and Third District Representative Hon Julian Fraser (RA) said it was not appropriate for Hon Vanterpool to be calling Mr Skelton-Cline’s name with certain statements as there is an ongoing court case regarding the contract renewal.
In what is rarely seen also, Speaker of the House Hon Ingrid A. Moses agreed with Hon Fraser and asked the Minister to tread carefully as “it’s a fine line.”
Hon Vanterpool responded that he knows the case and would not infringe on anything, however, he would take her advice.
The Minister also blasted the Opposition, accusing them of always being against the Ports Development Project. He said the motion currently being debated about the $8M loaned to the BVIPA without coming to the House of Assembly was not about transparency but about the Opposition trying to further discredit the project.
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24 Responses to “‘Leave Claude Skelton-Cline alone’ - Hon Mark H. Vanterpool”
Cr********s flocking together...no surprise there. When are we going to hold them both responsible?
How come he was not saying that in Cabinet ?
I still have my doubts about the sincerity of this all and this maybe all part of an elaborate scheme to set up Cline for a good settlement. I really do not believe the cocky Mark will be worried about the lawsuit so much that he would be so ignorant of the implications of his sincerity. This could be the plan, Claude sues, then press conference threatening 91% and Mark squealing in his favor and then bingo: Settlement? Maybe I am just too much of a conspiracy theorist.
Maybe?
To voiceofthevoiceless- your reasoning is valid. What started under shady clouds, should expect possible rain; and in the end, it could possibly turn out to be catastrophic for the entire Virgin Islands- one that can possibly shake the entire fabric for lack of political transparency and accountability, moving forward. I said it here.
Now what really get me vex is Hon Frazer. Man I love you but why you had to stop him. If the speaker don't know her job then chill out and bask in your time to get the information we looking for. Let the fool hang himself. The ball was in our court and the Minister was so stupid, he would have given us the rest.
Question: Why is this man still the Minister of Communications and Works? with all of these clouds hanging over and questions and concerns by the PEOPLE, why has he not been moved? The Governor who they send here seem to be in a comfort zone and he need to leave. Yes there are allegations, yes we are hearing too many different angles, yes we do not know the full truth, yes something went grossly wrong-and still you put a man to investigate himself. What the heck? We have a system where there are no functioning watchdog committees like the U.S. The Ministers are judge and jury for themselves and this is wrong. Enough is Enough