‘UK believes VI's wealth comes from corruption’ – Skelton-Cline
“They believe that the wealth of this nation has come from corruption, from monies that's been corrupted or trafficked in the drug cartel. That's what they believe,” he said on the November 11, 2020, edition of JTV’s The Big Story.
‘Fundamental Misrepresentation’ – Skelton-Cline
“It’s the fundamental misrepresentation of the tenacity, of the hard work, of the genius of the people of this Virgin Islands, our ancestors, our parents and grandparents who owned the land to develop a business model,” he said.
Skelton-Cline’s comment came on the heels of a statement made by Governor Augustus J.U. Jaspert at a Tuesday, November 10, 2020, press conference on the recent historic $250M drug bust, where he said the VI has pockets of corruption facilitating crime.
According to the man of the cloth, “They come in here, see these homes in the hills and ask the question, well who owned these homes? Well, the locals own these homes. How can the local own these homes working at the government or working on their job?” he asked rhetorically.
He said often, VI homeowners use about three different jobs and would own businesses on the side to finance their properties.
“They don't know that that homeowner has land handed down to him or her from their parents, they don't know that it was the genius of elected officials at the fall of Panama and then see financial services come in here that we were able to build a business model,” he further said.
Rental properties to finance homeownership – Skelton-Cline
That business model, Skelton-Cline explained, is built on real estate and property rental where homes are built with apartment dwellings to pay for mortgages.
“That has been the financial model, the business model, that we have used on the heels of financial services...that's how we get where we have gotten”
He called on the people of the VI to reject the notion that the territory is corrupt and built on monies from nefarious activities.
“This notion that somehow this is a corrupt island nation and we are corrupt people and what we have gotten has been gathered by ill gain, we must reject that argument, we must reject it at every turn,” he said.
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63 Responses to “‘UK believes VI's wealth comes from corruption’ – Skelton-Cline”
Oh shut up Skelton... I know loads of people here that have made their money on the back on drugs!
example: 2.5 acres worth $800,000 in 2006. same piece of land now worth $4.5 million no drugs involved just hard work.
The government politicises everything now bloggers "islandising" everything.
Let him wear it.
Said ah throw mi corn
Me no call no fowl
All this is coming from a man that was ready to organize the first "Gangsta Summit" Claude you are so funny.
Even the religious people in the BVI are corrupt. ALL of them! ALL of them! But they think all people stupid.
Moreover, in my view, Virgin Islanders work extremely hard to acquire real estate and other assets, the VI having been abandoned as a poverty stricken place with the only value was as a bird sanctuary in the 19th Century. Abandoned, the hardy people of the VI toiled hard through subsistence agriculture, sailing, fishing, migration.......etc to eek out a living. In the mid 60’s, the VI’s economic fortunes began to change; tourism busted on the scene. And in the 80’s, financial services busted on the scene. These two sectors provided more jobs, job skills and opportunities, projecting the VI as having one of the highest per capita income in the region(~$34K). Further, Virgin Islanders leverage the land acquired by their. foreparents through their blood, sweat and tears and the lash and who passed it on to them.
Racial supremacy, racial hierarchy institutionalized slavery, slave trade, colonialism..........etc creating poverty in the colonies. These institutions were extractive and violent and left Virgin Islanders at a severe disadvantage. Slave labour, Black capitalism.........etc built the UK’s economy, improving the quality of life and standard of living in the UK. Slave labour capitalized the Industrial Revolution. Nonetheless, though slave labour built the UK, they didn’t and couldn’t benefit from the economy. For example, they could not own property or engage in trade. Their labour and value as chattel property just built wealth for slave owners. The majority of Virgin Islanders worked hard to acquire and accumulate assets and should be recognized for their efforts, not derided. Is there a tinge of jealousy?
Yes, there is corruption in all countries. Yes, in some places it is part of the fabric of society and it barely even qualifies as corruption, and in others it is well hidden. But the complaint being made is that the 'UK Gov believes VI wealth comes from corruption'.
Local corruption is rife and has been for many years. The UK Gov has not intervened directly. This is not the main source of concern.
What is now different is that the cocaine market in which the VI has always played a significant part is now not capable of effective counter-measures now the Royal Navy patrol ship is here, and so the complicit people - the criminals - be they in pastors', politicians' or policemans' clothes, are getting caught out.
Cocaine is illegal in BVI, UK, Peru and Colombia (the main manufacturing sites), and USA - that's the entire supply, distribution and consumption network. It is a drug that has been agreed upon as illegal. Enforcing drug controls costs a fortune and this drug destroys lives, which also costs society a fortune. So any person or institution that makes their money on the back of this industry is going to become a target for law enforcement and governance agencies, whether its by direct involvement or by looking the other way.