'Do we really actually have a real democracy in these Virgin Islands?'- Claude O. Skelton-Cline
According to Governor Daniel Pruce, by way of a statement on November 7, 2025, Ms Vanterpool was to report to work at the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) back to her substantive position as Deputy Commissioner of Police effective yesterday, November 18, 2025.
Reports, which have surfaced, revealed the Police Service Commission (PoSC) was against removing Ms Vanterpool as Acting CoP; however, Governor Pruce, using colonial powers granted to him under the 2007 Constitution of the Virgin Islands, went ahead with his decision.
He nominated the former Gibraltar Commissioner of Police, Richard Ullger, to be interim Acting CoP. Governor Pruce had said that if confirmed, Ullger's appointment would be temporary, as he was not nominated for the position of CoP permanently.
The bigger picture is democracy
During his radio show, Honestly Speaking on BVI 780 AM on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, titled ’National Labour Pains’, Skelton-Cline said last week’s protest action and activities were in relation to the democracy of the VI.
“Acting Commissioner Vanterpool’s situation just gave an occasion for us to deal with the bigger picture, which is democracy. If in fact, do we really actually have a real democracy in these Virgin Islands, or is it indeed an infact and in law that colonisation is still ruling the day, despite our 2007 Constitution, which I hold up here before you.”
He added that these are real and legitimate questions.
Did Hon Walwyn take much-needed publicity away?
Skelton-Cline also noted Opposition Leader Hon Myron V. Walwyn’s criticism of the government of the day last week.
“My only concern with that was that it was being done on the same day of the march, when all of our energies and efforts should have been expended towards addressing this matter with the UK relative to our democracy.”
He said if someone is in disagreement with the government of the day, there is a time and place for everything.
“There will be a time and place, then the ballot box at least by July, June of 2027, where you can weigh in, and I trust you will weigh in with some finality as to whether or not you go forward with this current group, or is there another?”
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16 Responses to “'Do we really actually have a real democracy in these Virgin Islands?'- Claude O. Skelton-Cline”
Rule by the people
Elected representatives
Majority rule and individual rights
Compromise
Supremacy of law
Types of democracy:-
Direct democracy
Representative democracy
Personally I would not criticize The Royal Family, The UK/British Government and the UK Prime Minister and the UK Parliament. I would like to keep my British Passport for the rest of my life and maybe one day I may have to live in the UK.
Under the Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007, the Governor retains reserved powers over:
Internal security
Policing
Public service appointments
Certain aspects of finance
External affairs (except in areas specifically delegated)
These are the core levers of statehood and nation-building. By keeping them under a UK-appointed Governor, the Constitution effectively preserves the colonial hierarchy.
This means that the local elected government exercises authority within limits defined by the UK, rather than as a fully sovereign entity.
From a self-determination perspective, this is a contradiction:
At the next Constitution Review, demand that all of the colonial reserved powers be vested in the Government. No devolved powers should ever be re-delegated.
In the VI, the democracy that exists functions only for Virgin Islanders and Belongers; others are ruled but not represented.
Independence would not impove this situation for the ruled masses of the VI.
It would actually make matters worse.
Currently at least if the rulers were to terribly abuse their powers over this powerless majority in the VI the UK step in and save them.
This would not happen with Independence.
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???? Breaking it down
- Population size: The BVI has an estimated population of 31,000–32,000 people.
- Registered voters (2023): 16,131 individuals were on the official voters’ list.
- Eligibility rules:
- You must be a Belonger (a legal status tied to BVI citizenship or descent) or a resident meeting strict criteria.
- Age requirement: 18 years and older.
- Many expatriates and temporary residents are excluded from voting.
- Proportion:
- Registered voters make up ~50% of the population.
- But since a large share of the population are non-Belongers (who cannot vote), the effective proportion of the public at large who can vote is closer to 33%.
- The BVI’s electoral system is designed to protect the rights of Belongers, which means that citizenship status is the key determinant of voting eligibility.
- This is quite different from larger democracies where nearly all adult residents are citizens and therefore eligible.
- In practice, the BVI has a relatively small electorate compared to its total population, which shapes its politics and representation.
So the short answer is no, but not for the reasons you suggest.