'UK assistance was woefully inadequate' - Claude O. Skelton-Cline
He was at the time speaking as a guest on the radio talk show ‘Stay Woke’ on ZBVI 780 AM on Saturday, March 17, 2018, voicing his concerns about the development of the Recovery and Development Agency. The host of the show was Zoe J. Walcott-McMillan, Mrs BVI 2017/18.
“I do not believe that the meaningful assistance that the United Kingdom has given is adequate from the onset. Much of the assistance if you recall came from the heels of the debacle and the fumbling with the security, which was already under the responsibility of the Governor. So most of the work that they did on the heels of hurricanes Irma and Maria was based upon that. We saw the breakdown of the prison, police department and the tremendous looting. So we had a security breach of the country and that’s where I think they gave most of their efforts, but in terms of post, I think it has been woefully inadequate,” expressed Mr Skelton-Cline.
He believes that the UK, being the mother country responsible for the overseas territories, “could and should have done more” instead of putting the territory in debt, describing it as “economic enslavement”.
He said, “What do we know about debt? It is economical enslavement, it doesn’t matter how you spin it and it doesn’t matter how fancy it is. You go and mortgage a house like my spouse and I, we are in debt. We owe that thing every month. The UK could have been a more faithful partner with us in this endeavour.”
“I am for the protection, preservation & preparation of Virgin Islanders”
Meanwhile, the social commentator emphasised that he is “for the protection, preservation and preparation of Virgin Islanders” but noted that his issues lie with an Agency or Board that does not give Virgin Islanders first preference.
He also indicated that he does not like to hear the words “international best practices and globalisation” because often times there is a conflict with locals when a tender and procurement process is open to anybody and VIslanders do not get first preference.
He explained, “Let’s be clear, I am for the protection, preservation and the preparation of Virgin Islanders first. My only conflict with any agency or board would be to the extent that is not consistent or commissary with protecting, preserving BVIslanders in terms of being able to participate fully in the economic development of their own territory and that is why I give caution when I hear words like international best practices and globalisation, because those are often times in conflict with local participation in any meaningful way, because it opens tender processes and procurement process and anybody can feed in.”
In addition, Mr Skelton-Cline urged that there should be strict measures in place in the procurement or legislation document that protects Virgin Islanders and give them “first refusal and to not become employees” in their own country.
“I applaud these guys behind the scenes”
The former Managing Director applauded Mr Brodrick Penn, Chairman of the Disaster Recovery Coordination Committee (DRCC), and his team for the work that they have been doing thus far during the recovery process, noting that their jobs are not an easy undertaking.
He commented, “I applaud these guys that work behind the scenes, doing a tremendous job. I’ve been where they are and they are the ones that do the heavy lifting, are the ones who have more information really than the ministers themselves. They spend hours away from their families in meetings after meetings and they travel the world trying to make things better for the BVI. So I want to let them know publicly, from me personally having been in some of those same situations, how grateful I am for the work that they are doing no matter the criticism that they hear from the outside.”
The DRCC Chairman continued, “While this is a rush to make the April 1, 2018, deadline so that we can meet the budgetary timeline of the UK to see whether this thing is going to be a part of their stuff. Let’s be real. There is going to be a long period of time before you see the next move because this thing is not easy. This thing is a beast. This is heavy lifting. This thing ain’t no joke. Seven hundred and twenty-one million dollars by whatever means, that is a serious undertaking. This is going to be a long haul and we need to ready our public for what’s about to take place and ensure that they can fully participate in the entire process from commencement to completion. This is a big deal.”
18 Responses to “'UK assistance was woefully inadequate' - Claude O. Skelton-Cline”
He is free to talk of course, that is his right. But he is showing the world that either he is a fool or that he takes us the BVI readers for fools.
into play transparency and accountability, a blessing the honest but a curse to those who are hell bent of vonducting shady business. This also means like it or not, our people must now compete for positions in their own country. International bodies could now set up businesses in the territory, once they meet the legal requirements. They are not longer "force" to employ any person based solely on who your parents are or where you were born, it is now those who are qualified for any post are the ones who gets it.. The commentators should tell you the truth. It is OK to bring issues to us but what is the solution?
Woe be unto you...