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'VI divisiveness' helped keep the Governor in place - Claude O. Skelton-Cline

- calls on Territory & leaders to hold common ground & move forward together
Honestly Speaking radio moderator, Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline has that division created in territory amongst the people and leaders, is part of the reason why the Governor's seat is still a part of the Virgin Islands (VI) Cabinet even when an opportunity was presented to remove it. Photo: VINO/File
Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline said a realisation of change for the territory must start now coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, and beginning with agreeing on self-identity and a common goal to move forward together. Photo: VINO/File
Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline said a realisation of change for the territory must start now coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, and beginning with agreeing on self-identity and a common goal to move forward together. Photo: VINO/File
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI - Honestly Speaking radio moderator, Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline has remarked that division created in the Territory amongst the people and leaders is part of the reason the Governor's seat is still a part of the Virgin Islands (VI) Cabinet even when an opportunity was presented to remove it.

"We agreed here as one people, one spirit, one mindset and got there and division erupted amongst us," Mr Skelton-Cline said on the Monday, May 11, 2020, special edition of his 'Honestly Speaking' show on ZBVI 780 AM.

Continued division 

He said part of the reason the Territory is not further along as it could and should be is not because of what somebody else did, rather, it is due to continued division amongst the people of the Territory.

According to the 'man of the cloth', "The division is about jealousy, it's about who has the power at the time, and then we missed the principle that should be the guiding force for the decisions we make."

Over the years, Mr Skelton-Cline has pointed to the removal of the Governor, referred to as the 'Queen's representative', as the starting point of the VI charting its own course and building a nation on self-determination and independence.

"Because we could not agree among ourselves, even though we agreed before we left here, is why the Governor still sits in Cabinet today," he said regarding the 2007 Constitutional Reform.

Changing for the future 

Mr Skelton-Cline said a realisation of change for the Territory must start now, coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, beginning with agreeing on self-identity and a common goal to move forward together.

"If we do not do that we will continue to lag behind even our regional neighbours who have outflanked us on this matter of self-determination and independence," he said.

"We got to stop tearing down each other, we got to stop pulling down each other, we got to start building and bracing each other," Mr Skelton-Cline underscored.

36 Responses to “'VI divisiveness' helped keep the Governor in place - Claude O. Skelton-Cline”

  • Commentator (12/05/2020, 11:47) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    I guess Claude was present at the meetings
  • Fantasy island (12/05/2020, 12:03) Like (33) Dislike (4) Reply
    Why doesn't the good reverend just quit fooling around and tell us about his independence fantasies? And explain the economic feasibility of it all while he's at it. Maybe he's gunning for a cushy ambassadorial role for himself in London, Paris, or New York?
  • Old skool bishop (12/05/2020, 12:29) Like (23) Dislike (1) Reply
    will get involved in everything under the BVI sun, running a church, businesses and the country! don't worry, he is benefiting in all areas...
  • voter (12/05/2020, 12:39) Like (7) Dislike (29) Reply
    The governor is not for we
  • Interesting (12/05/2020, 13:00) Like (15) Dislike (15) Reply
    It is about time someone drill a hole in what you think is a brain from those who have the I from here mentality. Not sure whether the powers that be will allow this post to go through but here is the facts. I will do this is two parts.

    Some years ago on my way to Tortola after receiving a job offer I decided to visit the island before I accept the position. A friend of mine saw me at the airport and enquire as to where I was off to. When I mentioned Tortola he smile and said have you ever been there before. I answered in the negative. He proceeded first to tell me that they have the ugliest women in the world. Having visited Papua new Guinea I said to myself very unlikely. On my arrival I said huh ok this guy probably never left the airport he base his assumption on what he saw at the airport. Then I had some issues at the airport with you know who immigration. I wondered what precious possessions are these folks hiding from the outside world.

    On my way then to my hotel I quickly realised what they were hiding. On reaching east end I saw it in living color it wasnt anything precious it was what I saw on the road way. Sewage running the length and breath of the island hmmm.

    To my surprise on my visit to road town and the years I spent there I was so anxious to see my friend again and let him know that he was as accurate as the algebraic equations in algebra. Then I look at the educational system . I shook my head.hmm. you have heads of departments at your high school. Young girls with an associate degree interesting. No wonder all the top positions in the private sector are loaded with expats
    No wonder the government is loaded with locals hence it is so dysfunctional.

    99 percent of the English speaking Caribbean that was under British rule now self governed and you smart rats still holding on to mother's panties singing God bless the queen. The reason why you don't like us is because you jealous of us. We have brains and smarts. You are British dependency using US dollar. Driving on the left with left hand vehicles. You are odd just like your warp mentality.

    You had a hurricane the governor had to take over a steer the ship from sinking. And you all talking dog droppings. Everything you need you have to run to England and you all from here. You need a loan England have to co sign and you all from here.

    Prison chief police chief up until recent hospital chief not from here. Mark my word if you all want Tortola to be a second world second class instead of third world put an expat in charge. Third world airport can't accommodate a large aircraft and you put international after the name. That is high fraud if there ever was one. Stay tune for part two coming soon. My advice is for the expats to get the hell out of this third world illiterate small island and crush the island. Then beg us to come back under one condition. That we show you how to manage the affairs of an island. Who best to manage an island than those who know about self rule. Go sit your tail down with you tail between your legs. Stay tune for the real facts. Truth and nothing but the truth part 2.
    • Strange (12/05/2020, 13:15) Like (11) Dislike (2) Reply
      I have been to some Caribbean countries that used to have a Governor let me tell you if you think they are doing well then you check the mirror.

      Also if the place is so bad and your country so good why did you take a job in this lowly under the thumb country?

      Expat asking the question
    • @Interesting (12/05/2020, 14:43) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
      Ok, you had me. After reading some of the blogs on this site over the past weeks, it was so refreshing reading the first few lines of your blog until I realized it was just an illusion...it was just as poisonous as some [blogs] I read. My experience with your blog reminds of purchasing a book after the first few pages [flyleaf] with the end result being a disappointing epilogue. What actually caused a seemingly intelligent person as yourself to spew out some much hatred? What did you experience in the British Virgin Islands that is still a fester in the innard function of the mind?
    • Online Now (12/05/2020, 15:35) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
      @Interesting - I'm not sure of what you are trying to achieve but you clearly aren't from the UK as you pretend to be. Just stirring things up? Who knows?
    • @Intresting (12/05/2020, 15:44) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
      Wonderful and transparent comment. 1,000% agreed. 1,000%.
    • So them (12/05/2020, 16:59) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
      You are hitting the dislike button at Interesting’s comment because you cannot handle the truth and the outside see you for who you truly are. Funny how people would rather kneel before the firing squad before they admit to the truth.
    • at interesting (12/05/2020, 20:10) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
      That's the best piece of writing that I have read about the bvi that is true,i want to see part 2,everything you said is so true..
    • warning (12/05/2020, 20:23) Like (4) Dislike (7) Reply
      I was warned about this post before I got here, and so I was prepared for the sense of outrage I would experience at the assault.


      You know not all attention is good attention or good for you. Clearly you do not know the difference. This will be my only response to your attention seeking behavior. I am not interested in part 2 of your version of the truth since it is only based on your perception which is only your reality. So you can keep it to yourself or post it but it has no bearing on my life.

      That being said I have some of the same questions as some of the other bloggers:
      - why did you come? - Was it to earn some of the almighty US dollar that you are scorning? What did it allow you to do? Did it better your economic circumstances? Which brings us to:
      - why did you stay? - was it because you thought that you would become a god to us? We would embrace your godlike qualities and you would live like a king here? Were you disappointed when you were treated just like everyone else and had to earn the respect that you thought was your due? - so you learned we don't play like that, if anything we are equal opportunity haters and lovers. You have to earn what you want from us. You came here with someone else's bias and you looked for the negative and so that's what you expected and sought and you were still mad about finding it. Has it not occurred to you that if your attitude has been different your experience might have been different? So
      - why don't you leave? ( if you are still here) - is that you don't have such a great life to go home too, so you are afraid to go? It is an amazing thing to me that when people of your like (notice I said like and not kind - all non-nationals are immigrants but not all immigrants are like your like) come to another man's country, tell them how bad it is, how your home country is better but yet here you stay, reaping from this bad country, taking and taking, leaving your ingratitude and bad behaviors behind you when you do decide to leave. And we are here. Left. With our bad country made a little bit worse because of people like you.

      Good BVIslander Bad BVIslander this is our country and in the populace here we are the only Group who are told we are not allowed to be proud of what is ours, of our ways and our culture because yours are so much better, so you tear down the very country and the very people who you are using to upgrade your way of life and circumstances.

      Sir, ingratitude is a sin. If you don't like us so much, we certainly aren't begging you to stay, so feel free to leave as quickly as you like.
  • Well (12/05/2020, 13:34) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    @Interesting you got part 1 up. We'll see if you get Part 2 up. Why not tell us who you are as we probably know you an owing to the years you worked here. You are clearly not British, so I guess you are an American, your grammar exposes your poor education. So it is easy to conclude that you worked in some American's business. Your facts are flat wrong. Anyway, carry on, let's see the responses to your ridiculous post. Why are you keeping up with the BVI, that you so distain? Past tenses are beyond your education, unless you still live among us. I can hardly wait for the coming comments.
  • Diaspora (12/05/2020, 14:59) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Divide and rule has been part of the VI fabric for ages. Some credited Willie Lunch with engineering divide and rule. In my opinion, that may be an urban legend. Nonetheless, on the Plantation, there were three categories of slaves 1)house slaves, 2)yard slaves and 3) field slaves. There was no love among the groups for one another. Creating this hatred was that house slaves was treated a little better than yard slaves with yard treated a little better than field slaves. This hatred and division worked to the plantation owners advantage to control slaves. Each group protecting its few privileges resulted in there being few successful revolts. Someone always cut the revolt leaders feet off at the knees always alerted the plantation owners of any planned revolts. Rats or traitors they are called today.

    The divide and rule didn’t end with Emancipation on 01 August 1834. Social stratification resulted ie, 1)Whites, 2)Down Street folks (wavy hair, light skin), 2)Up Street folks (nappy hair, dark skin), 3)Country folks, 4) Larger Outlying Islands folks(VG, Anegada, JV), 5) Key folks (Peter, Salt, Cooper), and 6) Island People folks (expats). Within each of these main groups, there are subgroups. Fast forwarding, today the VI has the “crab in bucket syndrome.” Just as no crab in a bucket stays at the top for long so too does Virgin Islanders hate to see one another progress. Everyone wants to be the only King or Queen of the heap though there may be opportunities for many Kings and Queens. Many prefer to see opportunities go to outsiders than to qualified Virgin Islanders. Self hatred at its worst.

    Consequently, the VI is rife with hate, greed, selfishness.........etc. These qualities are millstones around the VI neck, hindering its growth and development. Until Virgin Islanders change their views towards one another, it will not attain its true and full potential.

    Moreover, the VI is not self governing. At best, it is partially self governing. Falling under the Governor’s purview include a)external affairs, National defence, internal security, civil servants, RVIPF, Jail(shared responsibility with local government) and Courts. Local government is responsible for the rest, including finance, though the Governor has tremendous reserved powers. It is like the UK give the VI some autonomy but on then other side of coin said it wants control, for it does not trust the VI to manage itself, for you those........ The whole thing is a royal, jumbled, dysfunctional,hot mess. It is an embarrassment to the VI people. A serious constitutional review is needed urgently.
    • freedom (12/05/2020, 19:51) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
      @Diaspora, lawd, all this slave talk. Almost 200 years since slaves were freed. When you going smell the coffee and catch that free train. No one alive today know anything and owe nobody anything related to slavery. The UK has already provided reparation with schools, roads and other infrastructure, hospitals, grant-in-aid, land, training, immigration ........etc provided when it left.
    • RealPol (12/05/2020, 21:05) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
      @Diaspora, real talk. Talking truth to power. Virgin Islanders have to get that unity is strength; their disunity, greed, badmindness, self hatred......etc have hamstrung progress. Let’s stop the crap fellow Virgin Islanders. Fighting among ourselves only benefit others, not us. Our fighting among ourselves meaning others don’t have to do anything; we are in essence siding with others to our detriment. Our behaviour is akin to Black on Black crime in the US that means that the KKK just have to kick back. Blacks are executing their desires. Love thyself before others.
  • @Well (12/05/2020, 14:59) Like (8) Dislike (3) Reply
    He/she is educated alright but it is apparent that they had a traumatic experience here in the Territory. Let's wait for # 2. Asking for the identification of the person is not fair though since you and I are blogging anonymously.
  • Just saying (12/05/2020, 16:32) Like (1) Dislike (11) Reply

    Bvi people need to work together to get the w*** man out

  • @Just Saying (12/05/2020, 18:28) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    No problem man, you guys are doing great without expat dollars (insert eye roll)
  • Challenger (12/05/2020, 19:31) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
    thats avout the most sensible thing this man has said in my view. i respectfully disagree with most things he "airs".....but this....hit the nail on the head. self governance begins at home.......he is very astute to have picked through the emotional " skin" wgich most of the controvertial discussions about the govenor end up becoming. he has hit the nuts and bolts of the issue..well done.
  • R (12/05/2020, 19:38) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    @@@ voter he has a right u all to wicked and siilfish
  • higgass (12/05/2020, 20:34) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    lets bring in boxers and wrestlers around the world to help us fight with each,bcuz we cannot help ourself.
    God create all men in his own image,and we say we love god,but cursing his creation and his image every day.
    we cannot see god,but we going to church topray to, god I fraid you,so don't want you tocast me out,so all I will say I love you but I cant love my own brother and sister who I see every day,so all we can do is fight and curse.
    higgass higgass higgasss.
  • Down with hate (12/05/2020, 23:56) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply

    These w***** are so racist they hate the l***(s

  • @interesting.....funny (13/05/2020, 01:06) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Haha after visiting papau new Guinea you said very unlikely. Oh my. Anyway it is never wise to generalise everyone and put them in the same category. Not everyone is the same in any country. You had a bad experience in the country obviously. Consider those who have gone to other countries and had bad experiences too. Maybe this is when they changed their general opinion on those countries as well. Again, this is a mistake. Everyone should be judged based on their character and not anything else. By the way, your friend who said many of the women are ugly, perhaps it was because there was none interested in him. Who knows. Take everything with a grain of salt. If you are not happy, you be the change. Stay positive.
  • Interesting (13/05/2020, 01:41) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Part 2. The real issue why Tortola is so backwards and will remain so in the fore seeable
    future is your sense of entitlement. Many jobs that you can't handle, not qualified for I born here so I must have the position. The only thing that qualifies you for a position is your birth certificate.

    It didn't take me long to realize that you really can not be blamed for your warp sense of thinking. It is impossible for tolans to like expats because they don't even like their own people. But the issue is with the politician who created and encourage that environment just to get votes. So if a person is totally clueless they have to give them the position to get the votes.

    Let's face facts how many mothers don't like or trust their children. Your mother country neither trust or like her children tolans. But she knows and know quiet well that of all the children she had the weak and feeble are the only ones that would remain in the nest go figure.

    Yet you love tola so much that most of you run to St Thomas and have your babies. How well that speaks for your love for country. Your hospital is in chaos. Hardly any local nurses. Something that is as simple as a nursing profession you can't handle. If you can't get your own nurses how can you get your own doctors. Yet if anyone says anything to you you run to the Minister and of course again votes have to be respected. So no discipline in the work place.

    If a tolan opened a business, invested their hard earned money. Tell me which one will put a tolan in a position to manage their investment if they are not qualify just to say tolans first. Not one of them. Yet you expect to take the tax payers money and give it to tolans to manage departments of which they are clueless.

    Until the governments decide to put the interest of the country above votes. Put the best qualify available person to do a credible job Tortola will remain in the backward stupor for years to come. I heard a lady once said she had to apologize to her uncle's wife for having a child with her own uncle. Is that not dirty. If that was an isolated case it could be excused. But was that not a way of life for your people even in the not to distant past.

    When you have in breeding you didn't expect to have a messed up people. People who are unable to function at really high levels. Keep importing labor it will always be your way of life. My final advice to you. Your greatest natural resource must always be your people. Not tourism not agriculture and surely not the financial industry. When you invest in your people not waiting until they leave school with just the birth certificate they born with but put systems and programs in place. Allocate a sizable chunk of you national budget to education. Forget those who you have already lost. Concentrate of those who are coming on stream. Let them know that their true entitlement is to be the best they can be and that that is achievable with a quality education. I might do a part 3 on the politics of the territory. And you wonder who I am. Let me tell you. I am someone who would not encourage any professional to come to your shores unless you get your sorry excuse for a people in order.
  • Charley Rose (13/05/2020, 05:43) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    I have read the commentaries in this article and exposed the great mental and political divide in population in the territory. This article reminds me of the Willy Lynch strategy that was used to divide the black slaves from achieving their freedom from the inhumane treatment that they were experiencing under the White slave master. The caption of the article was about the divisiveness of the residents in the territory that allows the Governor to have so much latitude.

    It is rather unfortunate that some persons have forgotten their history or are not aware of the colonization of the world by the so call explorers who came to assist to develop countries around the world. From Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. What was described in the article was a call for political unity among the population in order to advance the territory's political status. However, there are some prerequisites that must be implemented. That is to educate the population about political advancement and the steps to follow.


    The call for independence cannot be achieved overnight. After the concept is brought to the population, it has to be put to a referendum and if that is successful then there be Full Internal Self Government for eighteen months. Then the next step is independence. So Claude Skelton Cline call for political advancement is noted, however is like blowing his trumpet without any rhythm for some one to march or dance to a proper beat.

    In response to the comments by Interesting, I am so disappointed in the article because I have traveled to many countries, and I have and I do have a fair understanding of economic and social development in other countries. The territory has come a long way. From recommendation to removes the people and leave it to be a bird sanctuary and became one of the leading Financial Service capital around the world. In addition to have one of the leading surgeons in the United States of America who attend school here in the territory speaks volume of the same education system that was mentioned in such deplorable manner. Anyone who don't like the system here is free to say goodbye.
  • True V Islander (13/05/2020, 06:32) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    How is any Governor in the territory any major issue than other areas that should be of interest? There is a shared responsibility of between the territorial government and the UK Govt representative locally. They both manage the territory administrative affairs in order for it to function ae efficient as possible.
    There was Finacial Protocols in place to follow before the latest ones were agreed upon in 2010 and they were breached: funds were mismanaged many projects. A few projects since the 2010 Financial Protocols were mismanaged. Do people who love the territory wish to see them remove and then mismanagement of the territory's finanaces plunge it into a reccession? That will surely happen if some of y'all sit there and think going independent into being your own country and for some reason someone sold out to thw UK Govt in some way..Every financial system have Fiscal Financial Systems in place to keep things in check and to foster good practices.
    There's a bad record of mismanagement for a long time so it's best to be happy that protocols are in place.
    Bashing the Governor is being silly when the way I see it, the BVI and sister territories are way better off being part of the United Kingdom.
    In my opinion many of the benefits that GB residents receive are not extended to the territories because of the current constitutional arrangements in place. You are an external part of the UK and don't have elected representatives in the National Parliament who can negociate on a daily basis on behalf of the people and businesses of the British Virgin Islands.
    There are so many benefits of being a British Citizen but you won't think or feel that way while living in any of the territories because of the current constitution that's in place..Many of those benefits can be introduce to the territory without any major disruption or nagative changes as the territory will still have it's devolved powers to function as it's doing currently.
    Thinking about being an independent stand alone country in the way the world is in the 21st century isn't safe and it will damage your travelling abilities, doplomatic abilities, the economy, properties, Defence in case of conflict, pandemics, disaster management and even from a legal stand point.
    I don't blame some residents at times for their opinions because being in the territory at times you'll think you're all alone and not together within a bigger network of territories or with the British Govt anyway..
    There's no dedicated media services that give news and views for all of the territories and the UK govt; the latest happenings, proposed changes,etc.
    I also think that some of the territorial border rules are abit outdated also e.g requiring other citizens with the same passports to need permits to work in any territory.The currentl rules are somewhat colonial in practise.Why would I need to stamp my passport to enter any British port or to pay for a working permit? It's not like i'm there to purchase land that locals veing trying to get previously.
    Some of those laws been having us isolated in each territory for decades that we can't seem to see those as hindances to even our business revenue forcasts.It's not like you'll see a carnival of people moving to any territory in a hurry. Where are the housing to accomodate such large numbers of new residents? There's none available so things wouldn't change drastically and it's expensive to relocate to any territory anyway.
    There are clauses that can be put in place to protect the local population from any disadvages that may come because of such changes...the benefits? More territory- territory business activities, home rentals demand going up, training, college attendance going up,healthcare(territory to territory or Territory to UK mainland) tourism numbers going up especially from GB as there are approx 68 Million residents that will love a sunshine vacation spot during winter and all year long really.
    Tourism will be huge from Great Britain after the pandemic if territories were to tap into this market properly as they travel at a rate that many other countries don't.( at any time 1 million residents are travelling) tap into this market to reap the benefits.They like package deals like they already get in Canary Islands, Barbados,etc
    There are many things that can be improved for and within the territories if there is abit more autonomy granted to the territories and also a closer working relationship with the British Government.
    One of those benefits also will be the UK common market.
    Internet bills are high and service is slow but being apart of a wider market like the UK common market with the other territories included, you might only have to pay about $30 to $40 monthly for everything unlimited. Proberly lower.
    Many costs will go down eventually and having access to better healthcare will be more readily available, if you're unemployed for any period of time, you will be able to apply for assistance,single parents and elderly assistance, etc..
    UK have hiccups like other countries but it's way better than many contries..even better than in France, healthcare wise..never mind the weather.
    Stay up fellow VI people..we'll see way better days.
  • Just saying (13/05/2020, 07:23) Like (17) Dislike (3) Reply
    Any governor who disrespects a local premier must Be recalled
  • secrets (13/05/2020, 07:52) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    You are not suppose to mix blood, that is why Tortola have so many messed up and funny looking people, if you have relations with a family member and give birth to a child from the relation, the child will come out messed up.
    • @secret (13/05/2020, 12:19) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      I wasn't "born here" but I have lived here all my adult life. I am quite aware of the many issues here and will not bury my head in the sand and pretend everything is ok. However, comments like yours will do nothing than to pour gasoline in the fire. I can see why BVIslanders will continue to hate us.
  • Rubber Duck (13/05/2020, 08:37) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Skeleton Brain probably thinks his head should be on the coins.
  • Don’t be fooled (13/05/2020, 09:35) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    When the radio talk Finnish Cline and Gov are pals as a matter of fact both guys are very well paid while some of us on here picking sides....stop falling for political strategy black man stop being so gullible, stop falling for everything and stand up for something because at the end of the day the Gov makes a reservation and department while you and me have to battle on in our country
  • pat (13/05/2020, 10:22) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    just study the history of racism and white supremacy and it will explain everything
  • ReX FeRal (13/05/2020, 11:08) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    @Interesting... you are an ingrate flush amongst the "Ignorant Lot:


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