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Virgin Islanders continue to lose property in COVID-19 era – Skelton-Cline

- Urges Gov’t to let banks give customers time to recover from pandemic
Outspoken local radio host, Claude O. Skelton-Cline says it remains concerning that Virgin Islanders are losing property as a result of financial difficulties in the COVID-19 era. Photo: Internet Source
According to Pastor Skelton-Cline, commercial buildings and homes continue to go up for sale and at the same time, small businesses are suffering as a result of some of the foreclosures. Photo: Facebook/File
According to Pastor Skelton-Cline, commercial buildings and homes continue to go up for sale and at the same time, small businesses are suffering as a result of some of the foreclosures. Photo: Facebook/File
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI – Commentator Claude O. Skelton-Cline says it remains concerning that Virgin Islanders are losing property as a result of financial difficulties in the COVID-19 era.

Too many buildings for sale – Skelton-Cline

“I continue to notice that there are far too many of our homes in this day and hour that continue to go up for sale,” he said on the Thursday, October 1, 2020, edition of the radio show.

According to Pastor Cline, commercial buildings and homes continue to go up for sale and, at the same time, small businesses are suffering as a result of some of the foreclosures.

“We are continuing to allow our people in the hardest time to lose their property,” he further said.

“The government needs to use its bully pulpit and its behind the scenes diplomacy to say to these banks, we appreciate all that it and you have done so far, but we need to go the extra mile,” he said.

Gov’t urged to step in

He said through that approach, citizens will get an opportunity to recover from the perils of the COVID-19 pandemic and the loss of income and revenues.

“We cannot afford for our people to be losing their property, not in these hard, challenging times,” he said.

Premier Fahie, in the past, has urged banks to do more to assist persons affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

43 Responses to “Virgin Islanders continue to lose property in COVID-19 era – Skelton-Cline”

  • fun (02/10/2020, 19:50) Like (41) Dislike (2) Reply
    People been selling their land for years, its greed, they want a shiny new car to show off or a flash holiday. Or the other side is greed building houses, flats to LET and not live in but don't have the funds to pay the mortgage as they over borrowed and want too high a price for a 2 bedroom unit instead of lowering the rates and filling the empty units.
    • win win (03/10/2020, 16:53) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply

      The Government owns NBVI. They can have all the other banks' mortgage loans transferred to them at better interest rates and at better repayment terms for the people. It will be a win win for the people and the country. Start with the 'good' loans. Leave the bad ones with the foreign banks for a time, until an advantageous way of re-financing can take place for all involved. Then they (foreign banks) will begin to act ... The other part of this equation is the strict enforecment of the terms of the loans once taken over and the cut-out of favoritism - this though can only work where there is no corruption ...

      If the Government truly wants to help ... this can be a way ... instead of creating $hi! with UK, Queen & her representatives.

  • tretretrete (02/10/2020, 20:24) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    U think covid 19 isn't plan !! Shifting of wealth back up the rich lane ...for there build theres out us struggling
  • Queen (02/10/2020, 21:36) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
    That's what happens when greed and no sympathy for your fellow neighbors. Karma
  • TORTOLIAN (02/10/2020, 21:47) Like (33) Dislike (1) Reply
    PEOPLE MUST STOP BUILD HOUSES THAT THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY.FOR.IN OTHER STOP RUN RACE WITH OTHER PEOPLE.

    • So true (03/10/2020, 09:16) Like (18) Dislike (1) Reply
      They build big houses to out do each other. And the thing is, most of the big houses they are building is UGLY, no charm nothing . Just a big shapeless monster sitting on the hill.
  • HMMM (02/10/2020, 22:26) Like (6) Dislike (7) Reply
    and if foy encourage people to pay their rents things will be good
    • The reality Govt 2b blame (03/10/2020, 03:45) Like (11) Dislike (13) Reply
      The little work going on is the whites getting to stay on while nationals and belongers are asked to stay home...it's time we investigate these employers seriously and Stop trying to be friends with them... I work for a company, I do 3 days A week. The boss or manager is a white man on permit that makes the schedule, He and who he likes get the most days and hours while some staff can't even get a day to buy food ,. These managers on permit have something personal against citizens and belongers. I know what I am talking about. It's citizens and belongers that they sending home....So how can the government be blameless for what is going..When the whites who messing up locals in the work place getting a free pass..I'm not picking on anyone but this is reality I see it going on. My friend who is a belonger woks with me and can't even get a day, to buy food to eat or gas in the vehicle,,. While the white work permit Boss schedule himself and other work permit workers to 5 days a week. This can't be right......
    • hihi (04/10/2020, 10:13) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      Who does be saying send them home?
  • TamTam (02/10/2020, 22:38) Like (33) Dislike (0) Reply
    In an atmosphere of global uncertainty such as these current times and an ongoing atmosphere of manufactured hostility between the current local Gov and the UK, now won't be a good time for banks to be considering and extending and overlooking and waiting. The future of the VI not looking stable. The bigger concern in my opinion is the raiding of Social Security.




  • Banker (02/10/2020, 23:22) Like (42) Dislike (0) Reply
    And who is going to bail out the banks when they begin to go under? Depositors be very watchful!!! Bullying the banks is not a good idea, trust me.
    • hello (03/10/2020, 02:34) Like (14) Dislike (2) Reply
      Haha you told the people them to leave.
      so what they can't take there houses with them don't cry now you ain't see nothing yet. many more going up you too bright ooooo
      • reese (04/10/2020, 07:46) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
        Well they still here.
        Still here looking free housing.
        Still here ghettorizing.
        Still here lookjng free housing and free food and free money
        We need folks who can afford to live in the VI.
    • wondering (03/10/2020, 07:32) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
      Usury is the practice of lending money and charging the borrower interest, especially at an exorbitant or illegally high rate. The Government of the BVI set up the banking system in the BVI, forbidding the banks to sell off the mortgage notes to companies who sell the notes to individual investors, as is done in USA. Because of this, the banks are allowed to charge rates that are always higher then the USA. It is widely believed that in the past at least one bank had sold off it's mortgages, anyway. Banks like any business are there to make money, they are not you best friend, mom or dad.
  • Ask Fahie (03/10/2020, 04:20) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    Why the country still shut down..... Why there.is no economical activities and where is the plan for economical activities.... So many locals get laid off when the company they working for is operating and others are working..... What's his plans to keep financial services floating..... What's his plans for tourism and to get the most from it...... Who are selling these properties and Why,, are they been repossessed by the bank, ..... Who are buying These properties.... Ask Your Premier... Now I hope you All believe us when we
    are saying things really rough.....
  • Interesting (03/10/2020, 05:55) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
    What a breath of fresh air to see you are focusing on something substantial instead of constant negativity. Use your time to address issues affecting the masses.
  • @fun (03/10/2020, 06:41) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Its u ..I pray great destruction of ur or u intent in the will of the highest justice under the truth.....remember time
  • @fun (03/10/2020, 06:43) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Ur kind is the deceitful of the order of god
  • VG (03/10/2020, 06:47) Like (14) Dislike (3) Reply
    You are a two sided tape you want to send home the people who paying the landlords so that’s what to expect or all the millions you getting from the government help them pay the banks
  • W*F (03/10/2020, 07:21) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    How’s that approach doing for the Government? Where is the renegotiated UK Lon Guarantee Money? Where are the renegotiated CDB loans for the economic stimulus to construction? The BVI has repeatedly shown itself to have poor financial management through previous administrations and this one. We aren’t exactly a shining example of great investment which banks are willing to take a chance on. Bully away. Diplomat your heart out. We will go nowhere but backwards.
  • karma (03/10/2020, 08:06) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mr Cline you can bully yourself to help the poor and needy. The time you there bullying the governor and everyone else try and find the people that are selling and have a talk and help out. You rich people who keep grabbing for yourself try give a helping hand since you ate so concern. Talk to the big contractor that is buying every building and the same one government giving all the jobs to come in and help out a brother instead of being so selfish.
  • DAFFY (03/10/2020, 08:17) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Don't we have a national bank that is paying the CEO a lot of money? Ask this bank to take over the problem loans and let the government give assistance through the bank. Stop begging the foreign banks to do something you know they will not do.

    You can wipe out these foreign banks just by having the local bank [for a small subsidized fee] insure the savings of residents.
    • @DAFFY (03/10/2020, 13:11) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      What are you thinking? Should the local bank take over the problem loans from the foreign banks it would be the local bank ( and perhaps current government administration) that will go under rather quickly. Do you know how happy a bank ( foreign or not) would be if another bank took over its problem loans?
  • Oh Well (03/10/2020, 08:33) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Please check the real estate company selling most of the property and who owns it’s and it would all make sense
  • Eagle Eye (03/10/2020, 10:31) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    I ain't see no covid yet, must be an agenda trust me. Saw real flu walk through this place already that mash up people. Deadly virus what, stop fooling the people.
  • The problem (03/10/2020, 10:51) Like (17) Dislike (1) Reply
    You know what the real problem is? It's not the government. It's not the banks. It is us. We built mansions and
    for the most part of it you over charge your tenants to gain. Sometimes not even $50.00 you put to make up your own mortgage. Caus you want the same expatriates and the white man to pay all.

    Then you blame the bosses that they don't like citizens, belongers they racist and they robbing us. Give me a break. We don't even like our own people. We are prejudice about expatriates, we prejudice about BVI Islanders..we prejudice about our families. We prejudice about anything that threatens us. We have a BIG problem!

    Now the rubber hit the road with the pandemic, the same expatriates who inhabit out big houses and apartments are leaving our country and going back home. Why? we chase them. They see no use to continue building our country cause we hate them with a passion. Things bad for the white man too but guess what? he locking up shop and leaving too. It must have hardship. People must leave. And guess what? Most of our local people on minimum wage so they can't afford your big rental fees. You cant self afford to pay it. So that's why so much foreclosure on house and land. We do that ourself. We are now the BIG PROBLEM

    sigh...
  • VG (03/10/2020, 12:10) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Open the place so people could work so they can pay their bills
  • WEW (03/10/2020, 12:18) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Now if we could loose you ! that would be great
  • Really (03/10/2020, 13:01) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Where are these properties for sale I don’t see them. When ask the banks for a list of foreclosed properties they never have. Seems like they don’t only have them reserved for certain people.
  • Tax Payer (03/10/2020, 14:00) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ok ,so u planned to pay in the name of stimulus to them land lords from taxpayers monies, and get some cuts out of it, go ahead
  • facts (03/10/2020, 15:01) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Most Belongers cant get access to owning their own home in the bvi waay overpriced for young ppl but is not over priced for uncle tom when we go elsewhere them vex so i see it i shouldnt have a place of rest i see whats going on is just greed and bad mind !!!
  • Heckler (03/10/2020, 15:24) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Not even pottage for the peasants
  • from buckingham palace (03/10/2020, 16:09) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Covid 19 is the new round of slavery coming to be abolished.all the greedy slave masters will lose their wealth.
  • wow (03/10/2020, 16:57) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    And in another news report there is the government demanding that 2020 property taxes be paid now to the inland revenue dept. So wht should the bank be lenient.
  • bystander (03/10/2020, 17:32) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    The stamp duty break can only be designed to help rich Belongers buy up real estate more cheaply. This will concentrate wealth even more into the hands of the Oligarchy that rule without effective scrutiny. That’s why nothing improves. It will go on and on until we are like Haiti. Home of a rich elite that went too far to come back from.
  • Tourists (03/10/2020, 22:52) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Its the BVI lander's turn to suffer, get rid of the expats, now no one to rent the houses.
    • @Tourist (04/10/2020, 16:23) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      Stop hoping and wishing. You are causing yourself bad luck The VI is a blessed
      place. The Universe shuffles things and drains the swamps when necessary.
  • Hi hi (04/10/2020, 10:11) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    We see now how importance expat is now once they start leaving who will pay the rent ...no tourists no work no worker's no need for acomerdation....the one them who does quick to talks about send home u all dont like u all island .this is the reason why...
    • @hi (04/10/2020, 16:13) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
      The VI is not at a loss for expats...as fast as they go, more come and many more wanting and waiting to come. Salaries are good hood and crime is low and before expats from certain places, crime was practically nonexistent.. But you know this....One of the biggest mistake is to convince yourself that you are irreplaceable. No matter who, you can be replaced in any situation faster than you think. Life is like that...a cycle, replacements and always temporary . Goodbyes and hellos.
      • @hi (05/10/2020, 10:28) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        Everyone is replaceable but the issue we have nowadays is people, relationships and businesses moving away to where they are treated better and can get business done efficiently. All of our industries have declined significantly over the last ten years.
  • y (04/10/2020, 12:44) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    If we cant buy building an he can let he be


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