VI should seek stronger alliances, full CARICOM membership- Skelton-Cline
“I believe that given the current conditions in our world, given the new world order, given the smallness of the world, I believe that each country, including ours, needs to have strategic partnership and alliances throughout the world,” he said.
Skelton-Cline was speaking alongside former legislator Kedrick D. Pickering on the radio show 'Eye On the Future of the Nation' on ZBVI 780 AM on April 30, 2024.
The discussion at the time was on whether the VI should seek full CARICOM membership.
“We're going to need it in a myriad of ways and for a myriad of reasons," Mr Skelton-Cline stated, adding that CARICOM are our regional neighbours and that the VI is not joining CARICOM. "We are already members of CARICOM, as an Associate Membership in CARICOM,” he added.
VI must take its place @ negotiating table
Mr Skelton-Cline said moving forward the VI needs to position itself to be able to sit at the negotiating table and participate in policy decisions on the strategic direction of the region as a whole.
“And so, what we are really discussing is enhancing, is upgrading our status, Why? Because the truth of the matter is that you need a full voice at the table of discussion. We need to be able to sit at the table and participate in the policies and the visionary and the strategic direction of the region and not simply be on the sidelines in silence.”
Free movement of people
Mr Skelton-Cline added; however, that the elephant in the room for the VI is the principle of the free movement of people in the region.
“So the free movement of people is the big elephant in the room and what we fear, but the truth of the matter is, as Virgin Islanders, no one is more familiar with the free movement of people than us.”
The VI is said to be home to more than a hundred nationalities.
He said that fear could be addressed in a similar way the Bahamas, Haiti and Montserrat have carved out positions where they do not participate in the free movement of people.
Mr Skelton-Cline added that it remains important for the VI to have many strategic partnerships and alliances across this globe, given foundational shifts in the new world, and that the VI must have a voice that helps to make and inform the decisions regarding the region.
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