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‘NDP Gov’t on reality TV fight while Territory hangs in balance’- Skelton-Cline

- said VI now like the Prodigal Son
According to commentator Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline, while on his show Honestly Speaking on ZBVI 780 AM on March 6, 2018, while the National Democratic Party (NDP) Government is so busy with infighting, the people’s business is not being taken care of. Photo: Facebook
There is a division currently engulfing the National Democratic Party (NDP), where Backbenchers have become disgruntled for being excluded on important matters affecting the Territory and where Members of the NDP are in a power struggle as some seek to get rid of the old guards, including founding member and president of the party, Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL), right. Photo: VINO/File
There is a division currently engulfing the National Democratic Party (NDP), where Backbenchers have become disgruntled for being excluded on important matters affecting the Territory and where Members of the NDP are in a power struggle as some seek to get rid of the old guards, including founding member and president of the party, Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL), right. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Positing that anyone paying attention would see it is absolutely clear that Premier and Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) has lost complete control of his government, commentator and former Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline has said the infighting is costing the Territory gravely during the hurricanes recovery phase.

This news site has on many occasions reported on the division currently engulfing the National Democratic Party (NDP), where Backbenchers have become disgruntled for being excluded on important matters affecting the Territory and where Members of the NDP are in a power struggle as some seek to get rid of the old guards, including founding member and president of the party, Dr Smith.

And according to Mr Skelton-Cline, while on his show Honestly Speaking on ZBVI 780 AM on March 6, 2018, while the NDP Government is so busy with infighting the people’s business is not being taken care of.

“For example, we should have had House of Assembly today and we don’t even know why. Except to have some perfunctory remarks about some matter that has come up. It is absolutely unacceptable.

There have been unconfirmed reports that legislators of the NDP Government were set to roast Dr Smith under ‘Any other Business’ during the continuation of the First Sitting of the Third Session of the Third House of Assembly (HoA) which was scheduled for March 6, 2018, prompting a postponement of the sitting, which was subsequently rescheduled to Thursday, March 8, 2018.

“And so while the National Democratic Party Government is on some reality TV fight, pursuing power, the country hangs in the balance,” Mr Skelton-Cline stated.

He added that if the fight that the NDP Members were in were not impacting the Territory so much then the people would get out their popcorns, but too much is at stake. “We would pull up and sit in our chairs and watch the show, but this is not a show, this is our lives, our future. These are our children and our grandchildren, they deserve better than what they have been getting with the government that we have elected,”

VI like the Prodigal Son!

Meanwhile, there has been much discussion about the ‘UK Framework for BVI recovery’ and opposition to some of the stipulations, including the formation of a mandatory Agency to oversee the spending of the loan funds being backed by the United Kingdom.

According to Mr Skelton-Cline, he noted there is a big “pushback” against the Agency but it is needed because the Territory needs the money.

“We don’t have the monies because we have squandered our resources in our best years. It is like the Prodigal Son who has taken all of daddy’s stuff and has wasted it and he got to come back home, but the only difference is this daddy is saying and this mother is saying no sir it is not going to be like that. There is a cost for what has just happened.”

He said such is the position that the UK Government has taken and they have a right to do so, earlier adding that Government had failed to be good stewards of the Territory’s finances, even failing to produce financial statements to the House of Assembly for the past 7 years.

“They [UK] have a right to protect their interest, and we had a responsibility to ensure that we were executing appropriately our fiduciary responsibilities. So we have behaved ourselves into this now we have to behave ourselves out of this.”

18 Responses to “‘NDP Gov’t on reality TV fight while Territory hangs in balance’- Skelton-Cline”

  • Yes (13/03/2018, 10:57) Like (11) Dislike (13) Reply
    This man has so much jokes!!!! Your time coming soon claude boy, keep it up.
  • Well, wa a ting (13/03/2018, 11:22) Like (21) Dislike (8) Reply
    Don’t kill the messenger, because it seems like he finally realize the errors of his ways and now speaking truth to power. If he continues on this new path, I for one can forgive his past ways. Hope he running again next election with a new or renewed party spirit.
  • egg face (13/03/2018, 11:23) Like (16) Dislike (10) Reply
    Keep the pressure on Claude
    • VICKIE (13/03/2018, 12:43) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
      He is speaking good but when he were in there with them you should have speak out then now that it is all gone from you . When you with them all their wrong was going on so I think you should keep quiet until we get an audit about the PIER PORT.
  • Revelations (13/03/2018, 11:37) Like (26) Dislike (4) Reply
    Must be the end times. Everyone now seeing the light.
    • Street reporter (13/03/2018, 12:31) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
      Some put there business and their business friends first.. Some put the poor everyday pay check to pay check and no check suffering people first..Those who fight for the poor and suffering is doing a Nobel and Godly Job.... The suffering is real..Laid off is real... No work. No check. No money is real..
  • Well (13/03/2018, 11:37) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    My opinion is the fight come as a result of some members not caring bout country and only the 2% while others do and condemn the behaviour. So in considering what NDP used to be to what the opposing forces in it now trying to accomplish. I would think fighting is a good thing.
  • Theopholus (13/03/2018, 11:45) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    The round head no face party going down. Take a good look at the symbol for the party. I will never vote for that symbol, no face tells the whole story.
  • Skelton (13/03/2018, 11:49) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
    Not a handsome Skelton
  • Lord 0 (13/03/2018, 12:22) Like (7) Dislike (5) Reply
    Its not a fight. NDP has no in-fighting. Its big, mature , intelligent, independent people who have the right to disagree and the right to express their views and suggestions.. I personally like Marlon and Alvera I think they are good hearted people that passionate about the masses and grass roots.. The way employers and Labour knock about workers using the Storm as excuse to hurt people and make their families difficult. Im sure confident that if either Marlon or Alvera was the Minister of labour. There would have been action on workers behalf. There wouldnt be this much suffering..
    • @lord o (13/03/2018, 13:41) Like (3) Dislike (4) Reply

      They are all horrible sn****s. Just that the ministers taking all the heat while they sheltered. Be careful what you ask for.

  • 123 (13/03/2018, 13:50) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    good show Skelton
  • pete (13/03/2018, 17:51) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    Every political person knows what has been going on for years and stood silently by because whether small or big, they were getting paid. This is true all over the world when politics are involved. The big dogs in charge get the most and the little dogs get just enough to keep quiet. The little ones are now seeing a way to become big dogs now.....and the saga continues over and over. VIP and NDP are the same, just keep taking terns that’s all.
  • good man (13/03/2018, 17:56) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
    Thank God for claude
  • Observer (13/03/2018, 19:25) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    The story of BVI politics is just so familiar. I've read and heard of a very similar path with similar issues over in Anguilla and even in St. Maarten (who by the way have had snap elections in 2014, 2016 and 2018 as a result of the people not being happy with the leadership) but I digress. With good leadership, there will be progress. Every country has its issues but I've seen progress for example in St. Kitts. The government at least makes everyone feel and see that they are for the people and if they are hiding some sinister plot, they're doing a damn good job at it. Progress...we need leaders that can see 5 years ahead and plan accordingly. What a waste of the past 4 years in my opinion. Infrastructure is poor, telecommunications is HORRIBLE, and jobs for locals are not promising. Rent is bankrupting people and the general cost of living is making many suffer especially now after the hurricanes of September 2017. I hope and pray for good decisions and good leadership going forward.
  • Sue (14/03/2018, 14:15) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Cline you need to stop and keep on preaching that is what his called you to do and leave NDP alone go sit down
    • Voice of the voiceless (14/03/2018, 16:11) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
      Shut that hole in your pig face! Speak up Claude for the people who need a voice. We listening carefully. NDP is causing their own destruction.


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