‘VI leaders listen only to themselves; forgotten God’ - Bishop Cline
And current leaders, who are in essence the legislators over the British Overseas Territory of the Virgin Islands, continue to get a public verbal whipping from a cross section of society, to the extent of being labelled 'Pseudo Dictators."
This most recent branding came from the man who was kicked out as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) for daring to publicly agree with staunch NDP supporter Eileene L. Parsons OBE that Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) should give up the portfolio of Minister of Finance and entrust it to Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Ronnie W. Skelton (AL).
Pseudo Dictators
In a national address televised on JTV CH 55 on August 18, 2017, the spiritual leader of the New Life Baptist Church in Duff's Bottom, Bishop John I. Cline said that in many ways the territory's leaders have become “pseudo dictators” since they listen only to themselves.
He said Government leaders were elected and swore to represent the interests of the people of the Territory; however, their personal agendas and interests of favouring family members, friends and themselves seem to be a priority for them.
"What should be prominent and at the forefront of our politicians’ minds is that God has been gracious to promote them to this honourable position of service to our territory and people. It is God who puts up and by His power, He sets down; however, they seem to have worked God out of the equation and have forgotten Him."
Who is really leading our Territory?
He further said that the current leaders march to the beat of their own drums, and every man does what is right in his own eyes, while also stressing that the quest for power has raised up a spirit of pride and greed.
"Government at its highest calling, is government of the people, by the people and for the people; and this is the model we must return to."
"From this vantage point, it is crystal clear to see that there is an obvious void of true leadership and sometimes we have to ask ourselves, “Who is leading our Territory”? We are in desperate need of strong, decisive and visionary leadership."
In the words of Bishop Cline, the spirit of pride has seduced many of the leaders, "and by God’s Grace there is a need for our leaders to humble themselves. If they do not humble themselves soon, then we the people will be made to suffer for their prideful stance. Simply put, we need a change in our leadership."
‘I will not be silent, too much at stake’
The clergyman also said that it’s troubling and baffling, why intelligent men and women who are given three hundred and fifty million dollars a year, cannot run a small country with a population of thirty-five thousand people more effectively and efficiently.
"I will speak and not be silent! There is too much at stake. I cannot be silent when it seems that we have turned our backs on God. Not when crime and violence are on the increase. Not when our Emancipation has been high-jacked and turned into a carnival (a wuk-up and a bacchanal). Not when the holiest day of the calendar year (Easter) is met with ungodly and unholy carnival in Virgin Gorda. We will not be silent when our men and women have become paralysed because of fear and intimidation from our political leaders. Last I checked we live in the BVI – a Free and Democratic country – not under a dictatorship."
Bishop Cline said it is time for all people of the VI to wake up, know their identity and take responsibility for helping to build the nation. “Let us arise and build and restore our land in value and virtue; in righteousness, morality, integrity, dignity, honesty, and in purity."
.png)
.png)
.png)
Follow Us On
26 Responses to “‘VI leaders listen only to themselves; forgotten God’ - Bishop Cline”
..
Boom boom bam bam all inside de Jam Band!
Legal legal that is how they want de bacchanal.
Kill de rabbit, kill de rabbit, kill de rabbit!!!!
Kill NDP, Kill NDP, Dead NDP!!!!!!!!!!!
Why Where and please tell me why they must Be entitled to become residents in this small lil lil place for what and Why???
Mr. first take out the mote out of your own eyes then you will see clearly to take out the mote out of your own eyes. The church needs to move on but it cannot until you humble your self and let the church roll on.
Virgin Islanders must blame themselves, not politicians, for politicians behaviour and performance. Virgin Islanders have the power to hold politicians transparent, responsible and accountable but they ceded the power to politicians for crumbs. Virgin Islanders know wrong when they sense it, when they see it, when they experience it......etc but overlook for political patronage. Political patronage is a modern day dependency. Our foreparents depended on the plantation and on slave owners. If the VI is to progress farther, Virgin Islanders must peacefully take back the power; it can be done.
The VI constitution was suspended in 1901. However, the massive, peaceful "March" of November 1949 led by Dolph Faulkner (Anegada), Glanville Fonseca, Carlton Decastro and others resulted in the constitution being restored in 1950 with direct election for some representatives. The VI is at a crossroad and urgently needs a new direction. Without it, it will careen off the cliff. The compass must be reset.
Father help us all.
Look at the behaviour of the Premier and the other members in the House of Assembly, when questions are being asked of them pertaining to issues that are affecting the country, they sometimes do not give any proper answer to the questions asked. The Hon. Speaker sits there without explaining to the members that their answers are incomplete. Help is on the way when the new governor arrive.
Thank God Almighty we have a governor that will help us. Let us wait and see.
Thank you, John, for starting the conversation. Calling all Virgin Islanders who knew how these islands were built and whose foreparents sailed the ocean blue to make these islands a better place to stand up, be counted and join John in the fight to save our Virgin Islands. "John, I am a Virgin Islander, and I am coming." Can I see another hand? Yeah, I see that hand; and another hand? Yeah, I see that coming. Okay, all who raised their hands, please boldly come to the front and meet with John and let us join forces to save our Virgin Islands. " Amen.