Commentator and advocate for change, Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline says coming out of the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) Report on the Virgin Islands should be a recommendation on a date for a referendum on independence. Photo: Facebook/File

Speaking on the February 15, 2022, edition of his show, Skelton-Cline noted, “A part of that report should be a recommendation for a specific date set in time for our referendum on the matter of political advancement and independence

He added, “One of the things that should come about as a result of that constitutional review is to set a particular date for a referendum on the matter of the political status of this country.”

This, he said, will become an important negotiation tool in the hands of the VI when the Constitutional Review Committee goes in to negotiate in good faith with the UK on the way forward for the VI.

Meanwhile, Skelton-Cline added that negotiating a way forward for the VI is now more important than ever, since he suspects that British Prime Minister Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson aka ‘Boris” may not be in power by the end of the year.

Better to negotiate with Conservative Gov't - Skelton-Cline 

He said this paves the way for a candidate from the Labour Party to take the reins from Conservative Johnson, at the helm of the British Government.

“When a Labour government in the UK goes to power, it is worse for us in the Virgin Islands, especially as it relates to financial services,” Skelton-Cline said.

He also said the Virgin Islands still has the issue of Public Registers "looming" over its head.

Skelton-Cline said both the prospects of a new UK Government and the looming beneficial ownership issue is more reasons why the Constitutional Review Commission should come.

“Because we are better positioned to negotiate with the Conservatives than Labour, who don't like us at all.”

He added the British Labour Party has been the one who has been spearheading for the complete dismantling of local financial services, “which is an immoral move because it's a direct missile, torpedo attack on our livelihood.”