CoI is a theatre to ‘shame & humiliate’ persons in public- Skelton-Cline
“I have seen, and I have observed it and I want to say it again… what this amount to is theatre, it's a shaming in and a humiliating of persons elected and those who have statutory boards and other fiduciary responsibilities,” he told Commissioner Gary R. Hickinbottom during his second appearance before the Inquiry on October 4, 2021.
The local clergyman’s statements came after a verbal protest against answering questions he said were meant for persons in the Government and the public service.
He said as a private citizen he is being made to answer questions outside of his scope, such as questions on governance that should otherwise be directed to elected officials, public or civil servants.
Unwilling to answer questions on Governance - Skelton-Cline
“I Claude Skelton-Cline, I am and not willing to participate in that, what I am prepared to do is to respond to any query you have in regards to the Pier Park, to its development, and all while I was the Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority that's what I'm prepared to do,” Skelton-Cline reiterated.
Local commentators, including Skelton-Cline, have accused the CoI of being a fishing expedition with a fixed agenda to carry out an alleged mandate of the UK to take control of the VI Government and financial services sector.
Despite the verbal protest, Commissioner Hickinbottom indicated that his questioning through Counsel Bilal M. Rawat will fall within the scope of his terms of reference, with the aim of collecting evidence from Skelton-Cline on whether there has been corruption, abuse of office or other serious dishonesty that has taken place in public office.
Immediately following the verbal protest about the CoI’s line of questioning, Counsel to the Commissioner Mr Rawat's first question to Skelton-Cline was, “Is it right that since 2008 you have held from time to time a number of contracts with Government.”
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28 Responses to “CoI is a theatre to ‘shame & humiliate’ persons in public- Skelton-Cline”
That cost every person in the BVI $6 and a typical family $25. That in these hard times.
If you are happy to pay $25 for what Cline produced so be it.
I am certain the majority of families are not.
Let us all think about the big picture and not be closed minded as to what is going on. Government waste and irresponsibility of the public purse as well as corruption and victimization have been going on in the VI for a very long time as far back as in the 80s.
On another note, not everyone dress up in a jacket and tie and white are bright and well versed. We know better than that and we should be objective. The questions that are put to CSC, he has to be careful how he answer because they can be very well traps set for him. I am neither on CSC or the COI sides.
But the right questions properly phrased must be put to the right persons. Do we not already know if we cannot get information from the 1st man, we then go to the next he was partnering with to get the answers from the 2nd man that we wanted from the 1st?
It is clear that you, and others of the same mindset are the actors that perform daily in the theatre that has brought great shame and humiliation disgrace in our own eyes, and in the eyes of people elsewhere that read, and listen to the CoI ongoing probing of mismanagement of our finances by political leaders, their supporters, and others that benefit unjustly.
The day of Reckoning fastly approaching.
There is a true saying that "Every dog has its day