Pastor and radio talk show host Claude O. Skelton-Cline during his radio show Honestly Speaking on ZBVI 780 AM on December 23, 2025. Photo: Facebook

Hon Stacy R. Mather (AL) left the opposition and The Alliance to join the Virgin Islands Party administration on December 23, 2025. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands

During Honestly Speaking on December 23, 2025, on ZBVI 780 AM, Skelton-Cline said the problem, as he understands it, is in part due to being unable to get things moving “effectively and efficiently” where development of the VI is concerned. 

The government, he sought to explain, is “bogged down by demoralised public officers who are being demoralised from the heels of the CoI into fear and trembling, coupled with the honorous procurement processes and other pieces of policy that they have put in place that are clearly not working for the empowerment of the people of the Virgin Islands”. 

Mather doesn’t add value to gov’t

The public service, he continued, has refused to catalogue the instances where these policies are not working and present them to the minister, who should then present that evidence to the Governor and the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office. 

“For one reason or the other, whether it’s a gun to our head by force or pressure under duress, we’ve had to put these things in place that does not fit what is needed to advance this country in this 21st century, so they are bogged down.”

Skelton-Cline went a step further and said the newest member of the VIP administration, Hon Stacy R. Mather (AL), does not add any value to the government. 

“Adding someone to your government looks good aesthetically in terms of numbers, but numbers ain’t your problem; moving the country and development is the challenge.”

Hon Mather crossed the floor, joining the VIP government on December 22, 2025. 

Skelton-Cline opined that the government has yet to “clearly and concretely” relay to the people of the Virgin Islands why that issue exists and what will be done about it. 

“The At-Large member doesn’t add any value to the government, and the government doesn’t need the At-Large member, but it has happened, and maybe there is some benefit to be gotten outside of him trying to salvage his political career…that’s left to be seen.”