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Former Ports MD Vincent V. O'Neal suing BVIPA for 'wrongful dismissal'

Attorneys for Former Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority Vincent V. O’Neal on February 3, 2016 filed a number of applications in the Supreme Court Registry regarding his claim for monies owed as he continues to seek redress against his former employer. Photo: VINO/File
The claim form filed by the attorney for Vincent V. O'Neal back in 2013. Photo: VINO
The claim form filed by the attorney for Vincent V. O'Neal back in 2013. Photo: VINO
From left: Claude O. Skelton-Cline and Attorney General Baba Aziz. Former Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA) Claude O. Skelton-Cline, through his attorneys, has filed a lawsuit against the Attorney General of the Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO/GIS
From left: Claude O. Skelton-Cline and Attorney General Baba Aziz. Former Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA) Claude O. Skelton-Cline, through his attorneys, has filed a lawsuit against the Attorney General of the Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO/GIS
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Attorneys for Former Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority Vincent V. O’Neal on February 3, 2016 filed a number of legal applications in the Supreme Court regarding his claim for monies owed as he continues to seek redress against his former employer.

A search for documents at the database of the Registry on Friday March 11, 2016 revealed that on the date mentioned above, O'Neal filed a Notice of Application, an Affidavit in support of Application and a Witness Statement.

O'Neal, who was terminated from his contract as Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority in 2012, is seeking damages for wrongful dismissal.

He is seeking an Order that the Defendant pays him the sum of $12,535.62 representing monies due to the Claimant by the Defendant for accumulated vacation leave and allowances upon the termination of his contract for employment with the Defendant.

In addition, the Claimant is seeking accumulated interest and court costs and such further and all other relief as the court deems just.

O'Neal is represented by Attorney at Law Richard G. Rowe.

When this news site made contact with O'Neal he advised that we speak to his lawyer. However, up to post time his lawyer could not be reached for comment. 

Mr O'Neal was appointed Managing Director on August 1, 2006 for a two-year period. However, his contract came to an end in July 2012 and he reapplied for the job but was not successful. He was eventually succeeded by Claude O. Skelton-Cline.

Other lawsuits against Gov't

Virgin Islands News Online first and accurately reported on February 25, 2016 that former Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority (BVIPA) Claude O. Skelton-Cline had filed legal papers to sue the Government of the Virgin Islands.

The case filed via the law firm Hunte & Co, in Claude O. Skelton-Cline vs The Attorney General, seeks in the first instance a Judicial Review.

While the details of the case have not been made public at the time of publication, it is a part of the fallout from the non-renewal of Mr Skelton-Cline’s contract by the National Democratic Party (NDP).

In 2013 Mr Skelton-Cline was appointed Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority on a three-year contract that ended last year December 2015. According to an NDP source, he requested a renewal before the June 8, 2015 general elections after the BVIPA Board had already advanced an early recommendation for such a renewal.

However, he was reportedly told by Communications and Works Minister Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) and reportedly other Cabinet Ministers to wait until after the 2015 elections.

To date, his contract has not been renewed and he is now unemployed, even after his NDP party won the elections in a landslide.

Meanwhile, another former Managing Director of the BVIPA had sued and won over her unfair dismissal.

25 Responses to “Former Ports MD Vincent V. O'Neal suing BVIPA for 'wrongful dismissal'”

  • foxy (12/03/2016, 10:43) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    Well sah
  • wize up (12/03/2016, 10:55) Like (12) Dislike (2) Reply
    I see a good political party: O'Neal and Cline with Darley as campaign manager: I was reading and one of the blogs mentioned BVI Civil War and I see that now: everyone else enters the BVI collect their payment but somehow the VI people have hell to collect; how in God's name can such this conduct be right..
    by the way it has nothing to do with entitlement as belongers!!!!
    • james (12/03/2016, 13:27) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      Never Cline
    • Local (12/03/2016, 15:29) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
      There is a lot of things I know that is under the rug that is why I spoke about a civil war .You all better start to take stock of what is going on in this place because the /////// are working for them selves and when it all come down they are secure and some people will only left with a shell and we even would not have our freedom . This //////////is treating some people with respect and others as if they from another planet you have to be on their side to make it in this place. This is just the tip of the iceberg more to come. If they had keep MR ONEAL at the port things would run better but they kick him out because he is on the other side now everyone have to pay for their over spend and you know what they do not care and they have no shame.
    • @wise up. half wrong (12/03/2016, 20:27) Like (9) Dislike (6) Reply
      O'Neal Maybe. Cline no. He only speak out against wrong when he stop making gov.money and can't get his way.. What I see is Dr. Carl Dawson as the future leader of this Country.
      • wize up (13/03/2016, 09:30) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
        @ half wrong: Dr Dawson will make a good leader BUT he needs 14 others along side him to accomplish that goal...
  • Cookie Monster (12/03/2016, 12:48) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    everybody looking something and the NDP left the country broke!
    • wize up (12/03/2016, 20:49) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ cookie monster: are you serious; the same NDP just gave that airline 500.000.00 of your tax money; with a promise to give 7 million of your tax money to them and you here talk about broke: the NDP have their circle of friends that shares that pie....by the way what became of Hugh E Darley(he just fell off the scene)... did he get paid off...
  • cay (12/03/2016, 14:39) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    Sue them backside yes
  • Cookie Monster (12/03/2016, 17:48) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    NDP and VIP suing NDP what is this? NDP wickedness will catch up with them
  • My boy (12/03/2016, 20:06) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
    Let me get this straight, Old Father was hire in 2006 on a two year contract, which
    should have end in 2008 but he was fired in 2012 ? Can this be explained? Now is
    sueing for dismissal in 2012. For a former chief immigration officer it looks like he over stay LMAO

    • wize up (13/03/2016, 09:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ My Boy: it is all the benjamins maybe he has inside info about money management at the port(try ah ting)
  • be thankful. (12/03/2016, 20:17) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
    Strupes. Go sit down. You shouldn't have gotten the position in the first place. Be thankful you get a job after been such a failure at immigration.
  • too much drama (12/03/2016, 20:31) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    Time to higher the right talent and not friends. Family and associates...we won't have all these issues and dramas.
    • Whatt (13/03/2016, 08:27) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Please go back to school to learn to spell!
    • wize up (13/03/2016, 16:26) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
      @ to much drama: like you want to see a white face in that post because almost everyone in this territory is either family or good friends.......just curious
  • Need a lawyer (13/03/2016, 07:53) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Everybody Suing. Why can't we musician who still ain get pay from August sue. Our case is stronger than those port people who suing. I'm sure they going to get millions. We will win our case plus additional for our suffering.
  • cgb (13/03/2016, 08:52) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    Al is not the right man for the ports
    • wize up (13/03/2016, 16:30) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ cgb: funny man backing him..funny is the Power broker in the NDP(he got the most votes)
    • @ cgb (13/03/2016, 16:38) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
      ok then bring back Claude or Old father....NOT!
  • Precedent (13/03/2016, 20:50) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Read the court precedents on wrongful dismissal. Right here in BVI there are about four or five and one as recently as 2013.
  • notes (13/03/2016, 22:54) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    seems like NDP is a cartoon government ???.
  • Political Observer (14/03/2016, 11:48) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Olde Father, former Managing Director of BVIPA, is suing the BVIPA for $12,535.62 +interest+court cost. If there is merit to the claim, could not the BVIPA and V. Victor Oneal settle this out of court. The sum seem reasonable , for he is not seeking a much larger sum. There is still time to resolve this issue amicably out of court. Two questions for Olde Father. Why did you wait so long? And secondly, why did you apply for the position after they refused to extend your contract? Did you have high hopes of being the finalist or you were just being a fly in the ointment?
  • Girls mama (14/03/2016, 20:55) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I thought when one's contract ends, it is the up to the employer to renew( if they still want you) or not.
    How is it unlawful dismissal? Maybe I don't get it because I'm not a lawyer.
  • The Auditor (14/03/2016, 21:09) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    I have examined the records and I must conclude that not unlike the Crabs and the Lobsters, these two men have been on the nipple far too long and obviously have no intention or desire to move on and earn an honest living.


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