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VI ‘seems to be a country @ war with itself’ – Skelton-Cline

- calls out deep social divisions in VI society
Honestly Speaking radio host Claude O. Skelton-Cline has called on Virgin Islands (VI) to unite against deep social divides in the territory, else see the country fall at the hands of enemies. Photo: VINO/File
The man of the cloth called on political and other leaders in the territory to come together and address the deep divisions in the territory which he said is in need of healing. Photo: HoA/File
The man of the cloth called on political and other leaders in the territory to come together and address the deep divisions in the territory which he said is in need of healing. Photo: HoA/File
The Virgin Islands is being called to unite or risk losing the country to 'enemies'. Photo: VINO/File
The Virgin Islands is being called to unite or risk losing the country to 'enemies'. Photo: VINO/File
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI – Local commentator Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline has called on Virgin Islanders (VI) to unite against deep social divides in the territory, else see the country fall at the hands of enemies.

Pushing the mantra unity based on several shared factors such as culture and ancestry, Mr Skelton-Cline on the February 18, 2021, edition of his radio show, Honestly Speaking on ZBVI 780 AM, said unless the people of the territory unite, they will inevitably die divided.

People @ war with each other - Skelton-Cline 

“We seem to be a people, a country at war with ourselves… whether its black or white, expats or belongers, indigenous or belongers… regional neighbours that often too have been described in disparagingly ways like island person and island man, as if we are not from an island,” he said.

Further divisions, he said include male/female divisions, classism and divisions on the basis of surnames to name a few. He said those flaws have eroded the very foundations of the territory and the ties that bind Virgin Islanders together as a people.  

“When you study world history and when you study even empires, you will notice that empires don't fall because they were necessarily attacked militarily with war from the outside, they fall because they implode from the inside because the people turn on themselves,” he said.

He said the attacks have descended into such high levels of filth and low degrees of character, regarding how Virgin Islanders conduct themselves, that people no longer know what is right and what is wrong.

Leaders urged to unite & address division 

“They weaponise each other with their tongue, with their mistrust and distrust, they weaponise each other with the naming and the labelling,” he said.

The man of the cloth called on political, religious and other local leaders to come together and address the deep divisions in the territory, which he said is in need of healing.

“Either we change course or we are headed for an inevitable end that is not in our favour,” Mr Skelton-Cline warned.

22 Responses to “VI ‘seems to be a country @ war with itself’ – Skelton-Cline”

  • good morning (22/02/2021, 11:08) Like (32) Dislike (0) Reply
    So who set off the division?
    • Crazy stupidness and foolishness (22/02/2021, 11:45) Like (39) Dislike (1) Reply
      I don't want to come together - I want us to report every case of suspected corruption, every piece of inept mis-management causing $30m over runs, every over inflated consultancy contract, and every other bit of wrong doing. i want prosecutions, and I want convictions with orders preventing anybody that has abused the system from ever having the opportunity to do so again.
      I don't want to permit or forgive the sort of 'filth and low degrees of character' that has caused the Commission of Inquiry to be called. I don't want to have any association with the wrong doers, and i don't want any of them asking for my support.
    • Like Wise as Well (22/02/2021, 13:55) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
      SIR, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO NOW WHO SET THE DIVISION ANOUNG US AND WHY? CAN YOU PLEASE GIVE ME A HONEST FROM THE HEART TRANSPARENT ANSWER?
  • trevor (22/02/2021, 11:10) Like (19) Dislike (2) Reply
    We have enemies?
    The pot calling the kettle....
  • Hmmm (22/02/2021, 11:10) Like (7) Dislike (9) Reply
    At last he's now talking sense. Am with you on this one 1,000% . BVI wake up and stop the hate. The Bible clearly states. He who hateth his brother is a murderer.
  • Soooooo (22/02/2021, 11:13) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
    WE ARE OUR OWN WORST ENEMY. WE ARE GOING TO BE OUR OWN SELF DISTRUCTION.
  • I disagree (22/02/2021, 11:52) Like (0) Dislike (13) Reply
    A few TARGETED attacks does not speak for the majority. Stop behaving as though we are like some of those other Caribbean islands where they’re averaging from 5-8 murders DAILY. We don’t live our lives here running in fear day and night so stop blowing things out of proportion.
  • WHAT!!! (22/02/2021, 12:03) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
    There are no “indigenous “ people of these islands alive. Look up the meaning of the word.
  • Deh Watcha (22/02/2021, 12:28) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I wonder what was found after the swamp was drained?
  • island man (22/02/2021, 13:01) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
    stop thinking you all better than people. we all d same.. if u cut us we don't all bleed? when we die we don't all go back to the soil. Because you "barn" on this rock and I "born" on that rock don't make any of us better than the other.
  • chosen (22/02/2021, 13:15) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    False prophet antichrist repent and be baptise
  • wd (22/02/2021, 13:19) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
    @Crazy stupidness and foolishness, I couldn't have said it better. So many people are against this investigation maybe they have something to hide.
  • Mr.Hodge (22/02/2021, 13:35) Like (52) Dislike (1) Reply
    If BVIslanders did what was RIGHT and ETHICAL and not do things according to who their friends and family are, we wouldn't be in the mess we are in now. Years of abuse of power was accepted as the norm and now there is push back against the "system" and now we should come together? Miss me with that
  • Lucifer (22/02/2021, 13:54) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply

    Is this some kind of joke? If BVI suddenly became a land of peace and harmony, Claude would have to find somewhere else to peddle his nonsense

  • chosen (22/02/2021, 14:19) Like (18) Dislike (1) Reply
    If i recall when you were runnig as a candidate on the ndp ticket during your some of your spech on exparts and the VIP you started it false prophet you are
  • Talk about... (22/02/2021, 18:36) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Let’s hear you talk about the fact that the BVI law prohibits business franchises and yet a certain individual (who the cap fits) opened a New York pizza franchise. Total disrespect for our laws. Guess our government will now change the laws to allow franchises. Talk about that!
  • @ WHAT!!!!! (22/02/2021, 19:23) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    What happened to the indigenous people how come there are none alive.
  • hypocrite (22/02/2021, 21:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Fall at the hands of enemies? Who are the enemies CSC?
  • hgfhfghfg (22/02/2021, 22:16) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
  • NB (22/02/2021, 23:01) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    Comedy Central ain’t got nothing on my uncle Claude. Y’all want jokes, well my uncle got jokes. Everytime he get featured in the news, I does pee myself with laughter.
  • CSK (23/02/2021, 06:05) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    There speaks the division bell.
  • from buckingham palace (24/02/2021, 19:44) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I agree,we are our own enemy.we are all british,under the same british flag,with the uk white and we black,but we fighting with governors over who should control the bvi money etc..uk and bvi must unite


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