Skelton-Cline berates NDP over UK pressure to legalise same-sex unions
During an episode of Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Radio on Thursday, February 21, 2019, with guests At-Large Candidates, Shereen D. Flax-Charles & Carvin Malone along with Mr Vincent O. Wheatley—who is contenting the Ninth District—Mr Skelton-Cline berated the NDP for their poor management of the Territory which according to him, is ultimately responsible for the UK wanting to encroach on the constitution of the Virgin Islands (VI).
Push back against it – Skelton-Cline
“For you to now say by imperial legislation to mandate same-sex marriage, that’s not a part of our value, that’s not a part of our culture, that’s not a part of our system… that’s not a part of our standards and we have to push back against this by all and every means,” the man of the cloth urged his listening audience.
According to Mr Skelton-Cline, “When they [UK] were determining that they wanted their Brexit from the EU, they didn’t invite us to vote on that, we are partners in that by our existing constitutional relationship with them, we didn’t have a say with that,” he uttered.
Further, the ZBVI radio host pointed out that although the people of the VI hold UK passports, they do not get to make important decisions in UK policy issues, “and now here they say in a small footprint of some 30 thousand people, that they the great UK want now to legislate same-sex marriage [and] have belongership status removed,” he said.
Neo-colonialism – Flax Charles
Speaking on the issue, VIP’s Flax-Charles said now more than ever the people of the VI need to come together and vote for a government who will fight in the ‘war’ that is akin to colonialism.
“Right now we are in a war as if they are taking us back into colonialism and one of the things that the Virgin Islands Party as the next government will need to do is to call to the table all of the Overseas Territories… and move up to London and say to them that we will not stand for this,” she said.
Mr Skelton-Cline further implored, “People of the Virgin Islands… this is why we need to change this National Democratic Party government now, we do not know what Dr Smith and his gang have agreed to already in principle and we will never know until and unless this government changes.”
He said one of the reasons why Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) exists today as a shadow government, “is because of the poor stewardship of this National Democratic Party Government,” led formerly by Dr D. Orlando Smith (AL) and now Hon Myron V. Walwyn (AL).
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22 Responses to “Skelton-Cline berates NDP over UK pressure to legalise same-sex unions”
Skelton you are a stupid a**, I’m sick and tired of your foolishness, can’t wait for election so I can stop hearing and reading about you
Overspend and Esteemed talk too much.
The British are back fiscally and Occupationally: my jaw dropped when the student read the publication in my hearing: one set done here to overview the spending while the other crew gearing up to vote and establish political alliances in road harbour.....What a calamity
It is time now, more than ever, for ALL the members of UKOTA to meet and to go forward with a united front and voice to petition not Westminster (these recommendations from Westminster are simply pandering to the UK electorate, so they will NOT hear) but the monarchy itself. Everything is couched as though it is a choice of swallowing wholesale what Westminster wants to push, or else going independent.
There is a third way; OTs need to petition for an arrangement and status similar to the Crown Dependencies (Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man). See here: https://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/about/moj/our-responsibilities/crown-dependencies-factsheet.pdf. In Jersey, for example, the Lieutenant Governor is still appointed by Her Majesty and administers in HM's stead, but ONLY after recommendation by a local panel; they are thus known by the local population BEFORE they take up the post AND they have some familiarity with the locale. Again, in Jersey, who can own property is determined by Residential Status as seen here: https://www.gaudin.je/sales/buying.
Westminster has made it abundantly clear that they will go through the motions of a democratic exercise in soliciting feedback the OTs but as the Falklands minister pointed out upon reading the report's recommendations, it seems like they choose to ignore at will. Westminster gave not a thought to the OTs during the UK 2015 general election when the idea of a European Union referendum was first floated; only afterthoughts are happening now, and those about the OTs are not a priority because the UK parliament can't even agree what they want for the mainland. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) admitted in this report that the OTs have been underfunded in recent years; funding allocations are made by Westminster as they are for all devolved parliaments. It is quite likely that most ministers in Westminster couldn't point out 5 OTs on a map if they were asked to on the spot. Westminster simply does not know and does not care to know.
The ONE committee member in this report who has extensive knowledge of the OTs was repeatedly voted down when he tried to suggest gentler language in several paragraphs; the other members cared not at all how the message would be received as long as a strong message was sent to the 'colonies'. Given the outright disdain shown in print, it behooves all OTs now to approach those who will hear. Petition the monarchy itself and let all the OTs become Crown Dependencies instead and bring in registers of beneficial ownership at the same time that they do or else when it becomes a global standard.
Sure did not know that Dr. Smith has/ had a gang. Hope this can be substantiated as the "People of the Virgin Islands" are being advised.
The BVI as we know does not belong to the NDP, rather it belongs to all the residents of the territory. When I heard to NDP leader attacked Wade Smith for saying that the allowance that the Representatives received should be discontinued. Well, I want to let the NDP leader know that I am one who supported the comment made by Wade Smith. The allowance was supposed to be for all the residents of the district and not for the party supporters as is done presently.
With a change of government I hope that they will address the needs of all the residents and not for party supporters who will vote for them. The NDP is practicing party paramountcy and that is why I want to urge the voters to VOTE THEM OUT.