Commentator and clergyman Claude O. Skelton-Cline has claimed there are dark spirits presiding over the Virgin Islands and its people. Photo: VINO/File

Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline during his Honestly Speaking show on ZBVI 780 AM on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. Photo: Facebook

These were the words of clergyman and commentator Claude O. Skelton-Cline during his Honestly Speaking show on ZBVI 780 AM on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.

Skelton-Cline was at the time elaborating on his statement that there are people who “practice transgression, people who go to the dark side” to gain and to maintain powers.

The clergyman said it is time the Virgin Islands call it for what it is and deal with it, adding that “prophets” who have visited the Virgin Islands have talked about it, and have said the Virgin Islands people are a people of almost, “always looked like and seemed like we’re getting there but never get there, can’t seem to breakthrough, and break out of”.

‘We all are responsible’

He said it is not about wrestling against flesh and blood, even though these spirits manifest themselves in flesh and blood, but we are up against some supernatural powers from the dark side.

“And it didn’t just start 20 years ago or 25 years ago. It has been, and we all may not be guilty, but we all are responsible, and we are going to have to find a way, we are going to have to invite, to usher in, to call upon those persons with the grace and the oil, who operate at different jurisdictions, to help us to deal, to confront, and to break, and to pull down, and to tear up the covenants and the contract that have been broken over the lives and the people of this place.”

It was at this point that Mr Skelton-Cline suggested that the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) being able to keep the Opposition fractured is “not natural”.

The National Democratic Party (NDP), led by interim President John I. Cline, a relative of Mr Skelton-Cline, and the Alliance, headed by Hon Myron V. Walwyn (R6), have been unable to unite as Opposition members and parties, while the VIP continues to gain strength by attracting members of the Opposition.