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Legislators past & present must unite on 'singular voice' against CoI – Skelton-Cline

- Gov't asked to lead the charge on protecting VI's future
Past and current legislators in the Virgin Islands (VI) House of Assembly (HoA) have been called upon to unite and formulate a strategy and singular voice against the UK Commission of Inquiry in the Virgin Islands (VI). Photo: VINO/File
Further, Mr Skelton-Cline said for generations unborn, legislators have an obligation and must be able to set aside ego and personal feelings to put the VI ahead of everything on the matter of the ongoing UK CoI. Photo: HoA/File
Further, Mr Skelton-Cline said for generations unborn, legislators have an obligation and must be able to set aside ego and personal feelings to put the VI ahead of everything on the matter of the ongoing UK CoI. Photo: HoA/File
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI – Past and current legislators in the Virgin Islands (VI) House of Assembly (HoA) have been called upon to unite and formulate a strategy against the United Kingdom's Commission of Inquiry in the Virgin Islands (VI).

These calls were made by the host of the Honestly Speaking radio show, Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline, on ZBVI 780 AM on Tuesday, March 23, 2021.

Room for political leaders to unite 

“I’m calling on this Government to lead the way, in bringing together all of these former legislators. Y'all are not going to agree on everything and you don't have to, but I do think that there is a window and there's room and there is need... I think we have a moral and ethical obligation on behalf of our foreparents,” he said.

Further, Mr Skelton-Cline said for generations unborn, legislators have an obligation and must be able to set aside ego and personal feelings to put the VI ahead of everything on the matter of the ongoing United Kingdom (UK) CoI.  

“I’m asking this Government to lead the charge of putting all of you in a room. And the goal of putting you in that room is to come out with a singular voice on one thing: That we cannot afford to allow the United Kingdom to come into these Virgin Islands and take over,” he said.

Clear signal of unity needed 

Skelton-Cline said now is not the time for party politics, as the unity of VI leaders will send a clear signal to followers, given the end results of the UK CoI could be the suspension of the constitution and the HoA ceasing to exist among other ramifications.

“This is far bigger than the current sitting government, this is far bigger than the current sitting Premier. This is about our country, the land of our birth, the place we call home.

“After that meeting is held behind closed doors, that group needs to call a press conference where the former Premier Dr D Orlando Smith and Andrew A. Fahie are standing together with men and women, current and former legislators,” Skelton-Cline noted.

'VI aginst CoI message must be clear' - Skelton-Cline 

He said legislators need to send a clear sign and signal to the local population and the international community, the VI is not in favour of the CoI given the territory has a system to hold its own people accountable.

“We have the systems, we have the structures in place to hold accountable whomever and or whatever needs to be held accountable,” he said.

25 Responses to “Legislators past & present must unite on 'singular voice' against CoI – Skelton-Cline”

  • Bio look a thing here (24/03/2021, 12:16) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
    It a good move but why conveniently ..why only now it about the people ehh... how long we hungry for the lack of nessarities of needs ..hope for our children children futher ete etc ....stop put us on front line and put us first we are the majority..u think u all would of been up here now begging unity hell no .. it u all who divide us with promise of gains
  • fscts (24/03/2021, 12:34) Like (3) Dislike (15) Reply
    Don’t hold your head as the ndp and their cockroaches think it’s their ticket to power
  • House of exile (24/03/2021, 12:36) Like (35) Dislike (0) Reply
    A drowning man will hold on to a straw, anything that he thinks will save him... not surprise.. this is expected.
    • Deh Watcha (24/03/2021, 15:31) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      " a day of feasting and a day of famine,
      a day of sadness and a day of joy,
      you couldn't see in the day of feasting,
      life isn't just a little play like toy"
  • Lucifer (24/03/2021, 12:44) Like (73) Dislike (1) Reply
    If nothing wrong has been done then why would the UK takeover? Sounds like someone really doesn't want any digging to be done into the government's dealings. If anyone has been taking taxpayers money then we deserve to know who and why, trying to hide behind allegations of racism or colonialism without addressing whether or not there has been corruption just makes you look suspicious. Saying that the VI needs to hold its own people accountable is correct but realistically is never going to happen. If its the same people in power that are the ones engaging in the corruption then how will they ever be brought to account?
  • @ Lucifer (24/03/2021, 13:46) Like (23) Dislike (2) Reply
    YOU GOT IT RIGHT
  • @ fscts (24/03/2021, 13:57) Like (22) Dislike (0) Reply
    It's about corruption / and the perpetrators being brought to justice / those with clean hands has nothing to fear perhaps YOU can take a look at ( Lucifer 's) comments you might learn something
  • wow (24/03/2021, 13:59) Like (22) Dislike (0) Reply
    This .....again! Man STFU!
  • Greg (24/03/2021, 13:59) Like (7) Dislike (7) Reply
    And yet you won't even start paper work for our independence. The UK can do anything right now to us because we are owned by them, so a takeover of these small islands is easy. If you won't apply for your independence, then you are wasting everyone's time. The UK owns everything here, you cannot stop them from coming down and putting all of their people in place, as they do with the governors.
  • Guest (24/03/2021, 14:27) Like (41) Dislike (1) Reply
    Why this man like he peeing he pants over this subject? Every couple days it’s like he got something to say about it. And the funny thing is nothing hasn’t even start yet, yet it seems he standing in a pool of yellow. Messun relax yourself nah deman., cool out. If everything on the up and up what you worrying for?? You need some Huggies????
  • YOU (24/03/2021, 14:43) Like (39) Dislike (0) Reply
    Does he have a reason for not wanting the COI??? Hmmmm....popcorn time.
    • @you (24/03/2021, 17:01) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
      Seems that way to me. Every time one of them open their mouth, they look like they have something to hide or is worried about something. YOU SAY POPCORN TIME, I SAY WINE TIME FOR ME.
  • Yes (24/03/2021, 14:56) Like (46) Dislike (1) Reply
    For the sake of our children, we must sing with our best voice, like a Canary to those in charge of the COI. This is our best chance to get rid of corrupt politicians.
  • Rubber Duck (24/03/2021, 15:30) Like (21) Dislike (0) Reply
    What is he so worried about?
  • lol (24/03/2021, 15:30) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    ..and who must unite in one singular voice against them?
  • UNITED (24/03/2021, 15:57) Like (41) Dislike (0) Reply
    We need a united front against corruption, not a united front against the COI
    • @ UNITED (24/03/2021, 16:32) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
      THANK YOU!!!!!!!

      When we were pleading with them to handle corrupt situations that affected young and old, they COMPLETELY IGNORED US AND UNITED AS A SINGLE VOICE AGAINST US!!
  • Shaft (24/03/2021, 16:10) Like (19) Dislike (1) Reply
    HE FORGOT ALL ABOUT THE BIBLE WHICH HE IS SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT - THIS GUY IS A PLAYER ( BUT EVERY DOG HAS ITS DAY ) THAT SAME MOUTH OF YOURS WILL COME BACK TO HAUNT YOU - O THOU HOLY ONE
  • Interested (24/03/2021, 16:35) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    Isn’t he a bit late ? COI is already underway
  • My Goodness (24/03/2021, 16:53) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    People is still running scared around these parts.
  • WHAT!!!! (24/03/2021, 16:57) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
    Running scared ? read the comments, if you have done nothing wrong then nothing to fear. Everyone unite to help the investigation and finish corruption in oue country.
  • Really? (24/03/2021, 20:17) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    You all treat some past politicians so badly, now you want to hear their views. Wow!
  • chosen (24/03/2021, 21:44) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Man if you are clean there is nothing to worry about like you have something to hide from what i am seeing
  • Promise (24/03/2021, 21:55) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    You mean goverment have to protect you csc


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