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‘Get the airport going now’ or risk being voted out- Skelton-Cline to VIP Gov’t

- said tourism is the one thing that can’t go anywhere unless the infrastructure is lacking
The Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government has been urged to get on with the expansion of Terrence B. Lettsome Airport before the elections of 2027. Photo: VINO/File
Commentator Claude O. Skelton-Cline argued has urged the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) government to not make the mistake of the former National Democratic Party (NDP) government regarding the expansion of Terrance B. Lettsome Airport on Beef Island, including extending the runway. Photo: Facebook
Commentator Claude O. Skelton-Cline argued has urged the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) government to not make the mistake of the former National Democratic Party (NDP) government regarding the expansion of Terrance B. Lettsome Airport on Beef Island, including extending the runway. Photo: Facebook
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI- “Tourism is the one thing that can’t go anywhere unless we don’t have the infrastructure in which to accommodate it, to enhance, and to expand it, and to offer a better experience for our guests,” Commentator Claude O. Skelton-Cline argued, as he urged the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) government to not make the mistake of the former National Democratic Party (NDP) government regarding the expansion of Terrance B. Lettsome Airport on Beef Island, including extending the runway.

Addressing the subject on Honestly Speaking on ZBVI 780 AM on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, Mr Skelton-Cline said the VIP administration's re-election hopes may hinge on how they handle the airport expansion issue.

“I want to encourage his government to do a hard full-court press in getting this airport going before the next election, because you monkey around and don't get this airport going, approved, then we’re going to decide or not [whether] we keep you in office.”

NDP Gov’t should have expanded the airport- Skelton-Cline

The commentator and clergyman reasoned that every time the territory changes governments, national plans get thrown back eight more years.

“The National Democratic Party (NDP) should have built this airport at the end of their first term. We would have been flying high now for real, but no, they monkey around internally with all the politics and all the personalities, and nothing happened. You cannot allow for 2027 to come and not have the airport going.”

Skelton-Cline argued that financial services continues to be bombarded and scrutinised, including recently with the visit of Baroness Margaret Hodge of the United Kingdom, and that it makes sense to invest more heavily in tourism, which includes expanding the airport.

Baroness Hodge had even agreed that the VI should place more emphasis on its tourism potential.

In fact, Baroness Hodge said the UK is willing to assist the VI in sourcing funding for the runway project at Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport.

According to Skelton-Cline, “I don’t know how you can live in 2025 and not be in favour of the improvement, the expansion of our airlift.”

3 Responses to “‘Get the airport going now’ or risk being voted out- Skelton-Cline to VIP Gov’t”

  • voted out (01/10/2025, 09:34) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    You just increased your own salaries by 200% , DO YOU REALLT THINK YOU ARE GOING TO STAY IN POWER?

    YOU ARE OUT!
  • Voice of Reason (01/10/2025, 10:02) Like (19) Dislike (0) Reply
    This country is too small to be playing party politics. It is time to stop this nonsense and look after the development of the country and not point scoring for a party. It shouldn't matter what party is in power. Their job should ALWAYS be to achieve the objectives of the NATIONAL PLAN, not a party plan. The national plan is the yard stick by which the party is measured on how they are able to facilitate the mandates of the national plan. If whatever party is in power are unable to get the job done, fire them. Then hire a new set of representatives to COMPLETE the existing plan. Not scrap the old plan to try to figure out a new plan while setting the country back by years until you try to figure something out! We have been doing this for the past 30+!!! If you have an employee as a mechanic and he can't fix an engine and you fire him, when you hire a new mechanic are you not going to have him fix the same engine the previous mechanic couldn't fix?? You shouldn't have to buy a new engine or a new car because the tech doesn't have the skill to fix it. Let's get on with the building of the country please and stop playing political tag!
  • Macky (01/10/2025, 11:00) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    CSC who was never elected isn't the determiner of who gets voted in or out. We do need the airport but who invites people over to a dirty house...fix the place up make it presentable. The airport project will take a couple years so in the meantime get the place to look like somewhere people will want to go to. We need to expand the airport with a facility that will be adequate for 2045. Build it bigger than we need today so that there is room for growth without having to go thru the same process again in 8yrs. Also have a strong maintenance plan for it. Reclaim some land and give us a proper runway, and let the UK send the engineers and architects with airport building experience to work with our engineers, architects & project mgrs. Now concerning the global economy, I'm not sure.about the short term success for tourism but the industry will survive so let's get going.


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