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VI needs ‘think tank’ void of politics to explore growth– Bishop John I. Cline

- points to weaknesses in major economic pillars as path to new opportunities
Outspoken clergyman and Pastor of the New Life Baptist Church, Bishop John I. Cline believes that a think tank void of politics is the best way forward for the VI to ultimately find success in an era of crisis where there are new opportunities to be explored. Photo: VINO/File
According to Mr Cline, the realities of today such as the COVID-19 pandemic is forcing economies like the Virgin Islands to not be comfortable with just two economic pillars. Photo: VINO/File
According to Mr Cline, the realities of today such as the COVID-19 pandemic is forcing economies like the Virgin Islands to not be comfortable with just two economic pillars. Photo: VINO/File
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI – Outspoken clergyman and Pastor of the New Life Baptist Church (NLBC), Bishop John I. Cline believes a think tank void of politics is the best way forward for the Virgin Islands (VI) to ultimately find success in an era of crisis where there are new opportunities to be explored.

The Bishop was at the time speaking during a Monday, October 21, 2020, edition of the Umoja show with host Cromwell Smith aka ‘Edju Enka’ on ZBVI 780AM where he said the VI’s major economic pillars have weaknesses; however, those weaknesses present growth opportunities.

Opportunities in crisis  

“If you know how to take advantage and recognise the opportunities in crisis you have success,” Bishop Cline said, referencing China’s plan for economic development.

“Ours is moving and shifting because we have identified some weaknesses in our economic pillars, where the tourism product is subject to nature, now to disease and pandemics.”

He said in the case of the tourism industry, a pandemic now has the possibility to become commonplace which presents more weaknesses.

“We know that financial services always had some threats we should be able to survive, and it's proven itself resilient in spite of beneficial ownership register, economic substance, being blacklisted and whatever else… it has proven itself resistant or resilient,” Bishop Cline said.

Need for Think Tank – Bishop Cline

“However, now is the time I believe for that think tank piece to come in, that economic advisory group that is void of politics, to [be] put together and look for the opportunities, foreign investments, internal local investments and development, how we can now look for opportunities that will help now to make us more resilient and diversified in our economic products,” he said.

According to Mr Cline, the realities of today, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, are forcing economies like the Virgin Islands to not be comfortable with just two economic pillars.

“What else can we do as a people, as a growing nation, as we wrestle with this new reality? What can we pull out of our creative minds, our thinking minds, to ensure we leave a legacy of hope and prosperity behind for generations to come, provide meaningful employment and all the rest of that good stuff?” Bishop Cline asked.

24 Responses to “VI needs ‘think tank’ void of politics to explore growth– Bishop John I. Cline”

  • Yes (20/10/2020, 11:18) Like (17) Dislike (2) Reply
    and void of religion
  • FEO GOMEZ (20/10/2020, 11:27) Like (4) Dislike (10) Reply
    Translation........we need to bring in some WHITE PEOPLE to tell us how we as Black people should move forward governing ourselves. People love politricks you can't avoid that.
  • Jahh (20/10/2020, 11:31) Like (15) Dislike (6) Reply
    These pastors trying be in politics too is not good
  • boy (20/10/2020, 12:07) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    He and skeleton cline love the spot life mehson, birds of a feather flock together
  • Facts not Fiction (20/10/2020, 12:17) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    I TOTALLY AGREE 150% WITH WHAT THIS GUY IS SAYING, WE DO NEED TO DIVERSIFY OUR ECONOMIC PRODUCT, THE ONES THAT ARE THERE AS OF PRESENT HAVE SHOWN VULNERABILITY, SO WE MUST ADD ON TO WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY IN ORDER TO KEEP THE COUNTRY MOVING UPWARDS.
    • Too true (21/10/2020, 11:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      @Facts not Fiction
      True enough. Our repressive taxation system (HM Customs) keeps anybody interested in any kind of manufacturing thinking twice about starting up here.
  • Poly-Ticks (20/10/2020, 13:05) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    many blood sucking parasites.
  • Apostle (20/10/2020, 13:10) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Got to be a consultant pay he looking now
    • @apostle (22/10/2020, 17:13) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      He doesn't need consultant pay. He is a concerned bvi islander looking out for the BVI...What are you doing but being a hater. How many of the clergy you see speaking up on the best interest of the BVI. HE is the only one. So go sit the F#@% down
  • Dancing in the sunshine (20/10/2020, 13:16) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    I read in one of Shakespeare's play where a character MALVOLIO was referred to as "Playing with words". Bishop Cline reminds me of the MALVOLIO. There are many so-called experts in economics who profess to have a magic wand to fix the Virgin Islands economy. I want those persons to reflect on the state of the economy when it was blooming and the government did not cater for the uncertain times. Bearing in mind that the two fragile economic pillars were flourishing.

    No one catered for the rainy days. Bishop Cline would know very well of the seven years of plenty and the seven years of drought. Unfortunately we are caught in a pandemic where we would have to decide whether we want to save lives or have economic growth. With an infection rate of approximately over fifty thousand persons daily in the United States, should we risk lives or save saves. I would like Bishop Cline to answer this question. It is like Pharaoh army behind the Israelites and the Red Sea in front. We are caught in the middle. We need to ask God for deliverance form this situation. We are depending heavily on foreign tourists to come and spend in the territory.

    One immediate suggestion to reduce the economic impact is the invite a company to establish a water distillation and bottling plant here to produce ALL the water that we are importing currently, and secondly start production of other bottled beverages for sale locally as well as to expor.t. Expansion of the poultry industry is another aspect of economic development. Less talking and more work. Lets wait and see.
    • Resident Status by Investment (20/10/2020, 14:05) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      This is a passion of the speaker. This was his major platform when he was campaigning...Get investors in, reach out to investors offer Resident status for investment in excess of a million dollars with at lease 10 employees... Honestly I like this move....
    • VG Resident (20/10/2020, 14:40) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
      Re the chickens. It is cheaper to bring in dead chickens than to pay for all the feed and transportation costs for the BVI live chickens. there is a company that takes city water, puts it thru desalination and sells it in machines on VG,
  • Mr. Goodfellow (20/10/2020, 13:26) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yes, the BVI need out of the box thinkers. Opportunities for locals to benefit in doing business in the international markets, we are to much in the box and think that politicians alone can help us. We need our local banks to help us which they are not doing. So Bishop Cline have a point. BVI depending on Marijuana to bring us out that aint gon help. I find we stooping to low thinking about marijuana gon be our saviour. We must improve our tourism, financial services and agriculture sectors along with modern technology and public transportation.
  • narrow road (20/10/2020, 13:50) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Pastor clyne the think tank it needs is JESUS you said you were to preach yje word og the lord go and do that abd if your preaching is true the BVI should get better stop dipping in what does not concern you all you looking at is money Jesus did not do the things you are doing as a preacher he brought persons to the kingdom of God. Tou need to do the work of the Lord and stop your pretensive show the Lord does not like that. Remember that you will be judged by GOD pastor Cline check your motives and movement the Lord is watching you Lets hope that you are clear and you donot sleep with a heavy chest and a croweded heart GOD IS SEEING ALL THAT YOU DO and HEARING ALLL YOU SAY SO BE CAREFULL BLACK HEART MAN
  • Solution VS Confusion.. (20/10/2020, 13:58) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    B Clyne comes with solutins. C Clyne comes with problems and confusion..... As For China, their econmy are booming exellent u hardly see people wearing masks there...Why this is so, They Focus on delivering messages that would boost consumer and business confidence,,...They are not delivering messages of fear......We need to learn....
  • FAT MAN BOAZ (20/10/2020, 14:11) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Speak the truth forever. Lots in the Virgin Islands dont like to hear the darn truth
  • church goer (20/10/2020, 14:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mr cline are you reall a man of God or you are a man of the Cloth with a Jesus design Besure your sins will find you out
  • E. Leonard (20/10/2020, 15:56) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Former UK PM Sir Winston Churchill is credited with, “Never let a good crisis go to waste. And Rahm Emmanuel, President Obama Chief of Staff and mayor of Chicago is credited with, “You never want a serious crisis to go to waste.“ In essence, they indicate finding the silver lining in a dark cloud. Further, they also indicate finding improvement opportunities coming out a crisis. Undoubtedly, Covid-19 has impacted lives and livelihoods, impacting the economy, employment, jobs, social disruption ......etc. Following the advice of both Churchill and Emmanuel, the VI must explore opportunities in the wake of Covid-19. Indeed, a think tank can provide strong advice on a myriad of issues, e.g., health care, education, economy, social services, infrastructure, economy, environment.........etc.

    Moreover, the VI is a small(59 square miles spread over 36 islands, islets and rocks), resource-poor, disaster-prone territory that is vulnerable to external economic shocks, along with environmental shocks. On the VI long march towards self-determination (independence?), it must develop stable and sustainable economic resiliency so as to recover/rebound quickly from disruption, i.e., hurricanes, earthquakes, economic down turns.......etc. The transitioned from subsistence agriculture to tourism in the 60’s and financial services in the 80’s. Today, tourism and financial services are the twin-pillars of the economy. However, the economic twin-pillars are fragile and highly vulnerable to external shocks. Covid-19 has exposed the structural weaknesses in the economy. The VI must strengthen and deepen its current economic sectors, along with finding and developing additional sectors to diversify its economy. Occurring simultaneously with the foregoing, it needs to settle its political status, institute governing reform, develop a national development plan, invest heavily on its human capital, and build modern infrastructure(electricity, water, wastewater, ports, telecommunications, gas, drainage) system.
    • Eagle and Buffalo (20/10/2020, 21:03) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Good read. It was encouraging to see that you touch the alchemy of effective growth and development——strategic planning. Strategic planning is important and critical in charting and plotting the way forward. No planning or weak and ineffective planning result in an underperforming government, agency, department, division, programme.........etc. It is time for action to move the BVI off of top dead center. The BVI has wasted precious time and opportunity and the window is closing fast. Nuff talk on think tank; let’s get moving.

      [Lets lead like eagles, not careen off the cliff like buffaloes]
  • Diaspora 3-D/360 (21/10/2020, 08:07) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Think tanks are not a panacea for the BVI’s problem. Think tanks are advisory and don’t directly create policy.
    Nonetheless, they can be influential and are catalyst for mobilizing ideas and actions for helping policy makers formulate and enact policy. Think tanks are but one source for acquiring evidence-based information to make policy. How are think tanks funded?

    It takes money to conduct quality and reliable evidence-based research. For the most part, think tanks are funded by donations. They also get funding from research and consultations. Money can corrupt institutions. Think tanks in the VI should be non-partisan, independent..........etc and must be above board in their operation.
  • money (21/10/2020, 10:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Follow the money. Some of us often times always project our motives.
  • Real (21/10/2020, 12:05) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    you all bvi landers are so small minded im a belonger who travelled and the think tank makes sense....you all took this a whole different direction...sickenening
  • Blinkers off (21/10/2020, 13:01) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Forget the narrow thoughts of relying on govt to try and make it difficult for expats in order to shoehorn your future into a trust company or tourism job that you have no passion for. Keep your eye on initiatives globally. Get into conversations. “Protecting” BVI folk from “outsiders” coming in is the wrong framework for thought given the wide variety for tech-enabled business, entrepreneurship. Sure we can’t very well build much here to export but what stops our people getting into https://blackentrepreneursday.com/, being the next Marques Brownlee, gaming entrepreneur, Evan Spiegel? Tinkering around putting restrictions on what economies we have is not the future - the old cartels we suffer under hold us back, what has the investment club ever really invested in? - the future is enabling BVI people to grasp real opportunities in innovating and doing something great ourselves.


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