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Bulk of constitutional negotiations should take place in VI- Claude O. Skelton-Cline

- said the UK should ‘eat some of the cost’ for negotiations
A Virgin Islands delegation led by Premier Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) will negotiate a new constitution with the United Kingdom later this year. Photo: Internet Source
Social commentator and radio talk show host, Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline, has suggested that the majority of constitutional negotiations for the Virgin Islands (VI) with the United Kingdom (UK) should take place on home soil. Photo: Facebook
Social commentator and radio talk show host, Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline, has suggested that the majority of constitutional negotiations for the Virgin Islands (VI) with the United Kingdom (UK) should take place on home soil. Photo: Facebook
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI- Social commentator and radio talk show host, Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline, has suggested that the majority of constitutional negotiations for the Virgin Islands (VI) with the United Kingdom (UK) should take place on home soil.

During his show, Honestly Speaking, on ZBVI 780 AM, on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, Skelton-Cline said events of the past few years have placed the VI in a position where these negotiations with the UK will take place “under duress” and the “most difficult of circumstances” in VI history. 

“I think you should invite the UK personnel to come to the Virgin Islands for that negotiation,” he advised Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), who will lead the VI’s negotiating team. 

UK should eat some of the cost

Admitting that he does not know how much it is going to cost the VI to send the team to the UK for the talks, Skelton-Cline opined that the UK should “be eating some of the cost by inviting them here for 70, 80 per cent of that negotiation”. 

He added that if the VI’s delegation has to go to the UK, it should be for the last round of negotiations to sum up.

Skelton-Cline claimed that more than half of the 2007 constitution negotiations took place before that team left the VI. He said personnel from the UK may have even come to the VI back then as well. 

“You and I, we got to learn how to move outside the narrow constrictions and boxes that we place ourselves in and begin to reimagine how we are best, efficiently [and] effectively to conduct ourselves in this new environment and going forward.”

This, he said, is why “leadership matters”, adding “we have to forge our way forward”.

7 Responses to “Bulk of constitutional negotiations should take place in VI- Claude O. Skelton-Cline”

  • Channel 11 (07/05/2026, 10:06) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    I cannot disagree with CSC on this one.
  • asking for a friend (07/05/2026, 10:42) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    So what is he saying?
  • My Input. (07/05/2026, 15:36) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    The HOA Speaker should be elected and not selected. Put the potential wants the job persons and a national voting ballet, every 4 yrs, but split the election 4 yrs. Example is general election is 2027, the Speaker of the house election be 2029, & 2031' so it falls in The middle of the general election. Time for fairness, lawfulness and the people first.
  • ' CHANNEL 11 (07/05/2026, 15:47) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    AND HOW ABOUT LORD * CLAUDIA * FOR OUR PREMIER ? ???? ¹ WE GOT TO LET THIS SON OF THE SOIL SHOW HOW US HOW TO OUTSMART THEM WHITE COLONIALIST SLAVE MASTERS , BEFORE HE TAKE US INTO INDEPENDENCE , THEN WE WILL BE FREE AT LAST• & - @ ASKING FOR A FRIEND , HEY WIGGIE THAT WAS FUNNY ???? / TRY IT MORE OFTEN INSTEAD , OF YOUR RACIST LYRICS
  • Stupes (07/05/2026, 16:51) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    If CSC had tune in to the YouTube live the other night he would have heard that a meeting will be in the BVI
  • Josiahsbay (07/05/2026, 19:28) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    When will we realize that there is no genuine negotiation with the UK? The UK has determined certain issues that will not be open for discussion. As a result, regardless of the negotiators' skills, we cannot achieve those points. There are other objectives that proficient negotiators might help us secure; however, under no circumstances will the UK concede anything they consider detrimental to their interests, although it would benefit us.


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