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Governor & Opposition 'collaborating' to undermine Gov’t– Skelton-Cline opines

- says Opposition continues to cry fire to make itself relevant
Commentator Claude O. Skelton-Cline has accused the Virgin Islands (VI) Governor John J. Rankin, CMG and the Opposition headed by Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) of collaborating to undermine the Government of Premier Andrew A. Fahie (R1). Photo: VINO/File
Governor John J. Rankin, CMG has been accused of injecting himself into local politics by making pronouncements on matters that should be for politicians and elected officials. Photo: GIS
Governor John J. Rankin, CMG has been accused of injecting himself into local politics by making pronouncements on matters that should be for politicians and elected officials. Photo: GIS
Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has had more than the challenges of the global pandemic and a Commission of Inquiry to deal with during his first stint as Premier. Photo: Facebook
Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has had more than the challenges of the global pandemic and a Commission of Inquiry to deal with during his first stint as Premier. Photo: Facebook
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI- Commentator and consultant Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline has accused the Virgin Islands (VI) Governor John J. Rankin, CMG and the Opposition headed by Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) of collaborating to undermine the Government of Premier Andrew A. Fahie (R1).

“I take note on the matter of the Governor and the matter of the Opposition, and they are singing the same song and dancing to the same tune as far as I can tell,” Skelton-Cline said on the April 26, 2022, edition of his Honestly Speaking radio show on ZBVI 780 am.

“And it raises the question to the extent that they seem to be collaborating in doing everything they can to undermine the sitting government from the task that’s ahead,” he added.

Gov injecting self in local politics - Skelton-Cline 

Skelton-Cline added that the governor continues to inject themselves into local politics by making pronouncements on matters for local politicians.

"First of all, the governor has no business in local politics... None. He is bent on injecting himself in the local politics.

"We did not elect the governor, the governor is here on selection representing Her Majesty's interest. We elected 13 people to the House of Assembly and it is those persons we expect to come before us with whatever concerns, deliberations, debates that they would have," he added.

Gov statement undermines Gov't - Skelton-Cline 

Skelton-Cline said; however, when the governor continues to make statements that undermine the government, it raises a red flag and pronounced that it is the people who should praise or reprehend elected officials and not the governor.  

The man of the cloth said the Governor's Office is therefore being used as a tool to cause confusion and retard the work of the elected government. 

Meanwhile, he called out the Opposition for what he says was a collaboration with the governor on undermining the local government. 

"I am not angry at the person who is the governor, it is the office and the way in which the office and this governor is using the office to be a hindrance to our recovery, to our development and it's not just now," he said.

Opposition crying fire where there is none - Skelton-Cline 

Skelton-Cline added that the Opposition headed by Hon Penn sounds just like the Governor in crying fire where there is none to make themselves relevant. 

Skelton-Cline called out the Opposition parties for what he said is a pursuit of power by any means to unseat the recently elected government.

28 Responses to “Governor & Opposition 'collaborating' to undermine Gov’t– Skelton-Cline opines”

  • Concerned (27/04/2022, 12:13) Like (32) Dislike (0) Reply
    You just love fake news!!!!!
  • asura (27/04/2022, 12:18) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
    well sah you hear ting!
  • Citizen (27/04/2022, 12:34) Like (37) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well CSC, you obviously can’t tell much. Stop talking all this fake news and concentrate on the real issues!
  • Citizen (27/04/2022, 12:35) Like (34) Dislike (0) Reply
    i guess he had a good teacher in the likes of Andrew fahie who kept calling on the former governor to launch a COI.
  • Undermine (27/04/2022, 13:12) Like (98) Dislike (1) Reply
    For heaven sake you are a man of the cloth. GOD over mind here stop the propergana. Push faith over fear it's no undermining here. Only undermining is this statement governor and opposition have their job to do . let's focus on the positive we don't have time for petty things. All you just don't want to be patient so go ahead building unstable nest. You may get what you ask for. We are sitting on the other side of the fence so we can't see clearly we need to go over the fence to get a better view and understanding. Jumping to every wind that blows is not the right direction forward.

    Just let them people do their jobs. If they were not doing it the next headline would say. Two lazy servants both governor and opposition collecting free money monthly and the story will not end there. You know it and I know it. just stop this thing and focus on the positive.
  • Well Sah (27/04/2022, 13:18) Like (49) Dislike (1) Reply
    Wa wrong wid this man mehson ?
    You is who causes all that fire to fall on we just ship up nah stuppeeessss
  • lol (27/04/2022, 13:29) Like (32) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why is this man given so much air time, who cares about his ramblings. Stop reporting all the foolish things out of his mouth
  • Don't panic (27/04/2022, 13:50) Like (4) Dislike (23) Reply
    This government will be at the helm for another 4 years. They may miss a one or two in the re election but let it be known they will stand. People with country at heart will look through these 4 years of hardship and realize there are more positives than the negatives. Government took office at a very challenging time which they did not foresee but it was God who helped them to sail these rough seas. The storms blew but they are still standing and they will continue to stand. So you better focus on the positive and leave all these chit chats alone. Get on our knees and pray country above self.

    I don't see eye to eye on everything they do for they made some blondes.but truth be told I have to give credit where credit is due. The good is they tried their best under some serious pressure and don't take that for granted. The County is still standing.
  • sorry (27/04/2022, 14:15) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    I think CSC was in on it with Randy Andy to call the COI. We all know Randy Andy stuck his hand in PANDORAS BOX. With this talk every day, someone is afraid what the people is going to find out once the report and findings is released to the people.
    • @sorry (27/04/2022, 17:04) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Believe me, those thoughts have entered a lot of peoples minds including my own. Those two were in co hoots on that one. CSC, the more you open your mouth, the more it is looking like you got something to hide that you don’t want the public which will find out soon. You have no control over this, It is what it is. That saying a MAN FEARS WHAT HE CANNOT SEE, HEAR OR CONTROL IS A TRUE SAYING.
  • eye (27/04/2022, 14:16) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    None of y’all can be trusted anymore going forward.Y’all played the people of the BVI.We all know it’s one system here in the BVI run by the UK.Why do you think the queen always send down a white governor!
    • @eye (27/04/2022, 16:46) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      They played us back, front, left right and center because we were asleep, slow and ignorant to what was going on in our faces. We are now wideeeee awake. We peeped all of your cards past and present politicians.
  • Y’all need to stop (27/04/2022, 14:56) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Blaming the sitting Governor, all of you all that is up in a tizzy, get your A..es up and go to Government house and demand what you are asking of the Governor. Just wait, have you ever consider the reason for the hold up is because the same Governor is trying to save your A..es?
  • Road Town (27/04/2022, 15:19) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    The opposition always think they have to be negative always….the 13 of them were sent into the house of assembly for the development of our territory for our benefit, not they personal Recognition

    play the tape
    most of the opposition keeps running to the former slave masters(history…the fahie & fraser matter a very classic example(the black brothers could not settle without the queen employed(so shameful
  • Fear of the unknown.. (27/04/2022, 15:59) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    When one does wrong and hear police on the outside looking for them. They start thinking who could have Rat them out..and all kind of crazy thoughts start crossing their minds, Let's understand CSC fears..
  • Lb (27/04/2022, 16:42) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well CSC we did not elect you either nor the wig wearer. So perhaps birth of you should stfu and stop injecting yourselves in local politics too???
  • Snakes and Sambos (27/04/2022, 17:42) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    I don’t know much but snakes are snakes and it does matter one iota how much they are pampered eventually they will turn and suffocate you. Snakes have not changed their deception since the Garden of Eden. Snakes and sambos are 6 of one half a dozen of the same. Sambos behavior are a countervailing force to Black progress. Sambos behaviour make you want to puke, is unpatriotic, race traitorous and a mechanism directly out the slave error play book (Wille Lynch) to sustain slavery. It is self-hatred. Sambos conspire with others to blow up their race, the black race, while others collaborate to build their’s. Sambos contribute immensely to negative to blacks social, political, economic and cultural growth. How do these snakes face other villagers ? A snake will cuddle up, grin and smile with you and then connive to drag you through the mud and then throw you over board. The truth hurts and this will perhaps will be difficult for them to read so they will just hit dislike. However, pretending a problem does not exist does not make it go away. Sambos have been around for over 400 years.
    • S&S (28/04/2022, 11:08) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Who are the snakes and sambos? Unmask them for inquiring minds want to know. Look melee. Ah yu ain’t easy.
  • ⏳⏳⏳ (28/04/2022, 05:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    "Skeleton-Cline called out the Opposition parties for what he said is a pursuit of power by any means to unseat the RECENTLY elected government ." Going on 4 years, is that still ( RECENT . ? )
  • Machiavellian Politics (28/04/2022, 06:08) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    The opposition playbook is to in a wholesale manner oppose, just say NO, to any and all things government proposes or does. It employs the verb oppose literally. The opposition party in politics holds a position that may be ideologically different from the government’s. Generally, government and opposition aim to attain the same outcomes but in different ways, ie, they have different modes to get across the river. The opposition’s main role is to question government and hold it accountable, but the opposition also is equally responsible for working with government in the interest of the people, achieving the best outcomes.

    Nevertheless, the multi-party (NDP, Progressive United, and PVIM) opposition in the BVI seems to have adopted a Machiavellian (Niccolo Machiavelli) approach, ie, by any means necessary to arrest power from government. Like the Republican Party in the US, it lacks an agenda; its agenda seems to just say No. At least, that seems to be the word of choice for Marlon Penn, the opposition leader (The current government leader Andrew Fahie was also an active opposition leader). If attaining power the Machiavellian way, ie, by any means necessary, involves conspiring, conniving, and behaving like a Sambo with the UK-appointed Governor against your own people that is sickening behavior, self hatred, and self-reinforcing discrimination. This is the same shamefuland egregious behavior that prolonged and sustained slavery. The slave conditioning has resulted in too many of us internalizing the inferiority complex, embracing that white is right and black is wack. We must be proud of who we are whether we came from the Caucasoid Mountain or Mount Kilimanjaro.

    Moreover, elected members are sent to the HOA to represent the people ‘s interest, not self interest or self promotion, and must be statesmen/women in representing the people.
  • Native Senior Citizen of the British Virgin Island (28/04/2022, 11:42) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    It is well in order to suggest and offer correction to Governor John J. Rankin when credible proof shows that he is wrong, but on the issue of him not as yet releasing crucial information of the CoI report recommendations to the politicians and the circular at this time is a good, an wise choice, especially to those person's are devious for causing further
    troublemaking hypocritical confusion, and to
    confusion, and to stir people of ignorance passion to speak, and act, unwise to the further demised of our country best interest.
    Wise decision made by any person or persons is, and are highly valuable to citi
    zens that helps improves situations for the good of others and self on all countries in this world.
    Evidence still shows that, though not all, especially in the 21st Century, elderly people, though not as technical as smart ones are better advisors than most younger ones.This is a fact. This is true fact, because before one can becomes good leader, whether he, or she that person must be willing to first listen, secondly they read with an open mind, if they are able to do so, thirdly, they should properly examine its content fairly, if able to properly, have credible knowledge of their decision before condemning others actions as unfair
    one should examine carefully before decisions why. Goveror John K.Haskin is a good listener, a good reader, a and good examiner. His good judgment ifof not allowing slick minded politicians, and suchlike prove true sensitivity of good character of better governance.for the people
    of the British Virgin Islands, at this point and time


















  • Sick ah dis (28/04/2022, 17:24) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    How is anything Claude says ever “news”? Stop giving this man an audience please. Smh
  • REAZON (30/04/2022, 11:29) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I hope Skelton-Cline likes egg because he has plenty of it on his face! Why was he so protective of the not so honorable Premier Fahie? It kind of makes one wonder!


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