'I cannot support Hon Walwyn for Premier based on principle'- Claude O. Skelton-Cline
During "Honestly Speaking" on ZBVI 780 AM on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, Pastor Skelton-Cline stated that this view has been shared with Honourable Walwyn, the Opposition Leader.
Premier should be reserved for Virgin Islanders by blood & not soil only
“I believe there are some offices, the Premiership is chief amongst them, that should be designated constitutionally to be held by Virgin Islanders into perpetuity. And that comes out of a principle for me that Virgin Islanders first, reservation, preparation, preservation and perpetuation of a people who are connected to the soil by blood and not by the soil alone.”
He reiterated that his position is one based on principle and therefore, he cannot support Honourable Walwyn in the role of Premier of the VI.
“It has nothing to do with who the person is, as the time and in this case it has nothing to do with his competency, his work ethic, that’s without question, but I’m taking a principled position.”
Hon Walwyn’s legitimacy has always been in question
Hon Walwyn’s legitimacy for the office of Premier has always been a topic of discussion and has been questioned over the years.
Before the 2011 general elections, Hon Walwyn’s eligibility to contest was questioned because, although he was born in the VI, neither his parents nor his grandparents were born in the VI.
These questions were based on varying legal interpretations of the VI Constitutional Order of 2007.
This debate continues today on whether Walwyn, born in the VI, is truly a Virgin Islander eligible to run for public office.
History of putting his foot in his mouth
While his legitimacy as a true Virgin Islander continues to follow him, Hon Walwyn also has a history of making statements that sometimes question where his allegiance lies.
In the VI Constitutional Order of 2007, no provision was made for children born in the VI to parents who were not Virgin Islanders or had Belonger status to be Belongers or citizens themselves.
The Opposition Leader has made his position on this portion of the constitution clear over and over again.
On July 1, 2013, Hon Walwyn, then Minister for Education and Culture, proposed that all children born in the Virgin Islands automatically be made citizens of the Territory.
In 2016, talk show host Edmund G. Maduro called for Hon Walwyn to be removed from office for making certain statements.
The statement made by Hon Walwyn in early 2016 was that the Government can no longer write laws to “fully protect locals.”
Meantime, Pastor Skelton-Cline added, “I believe in this country, as a Virgin Islander, unequivocally, unapologetically, unashamedly, I believe in a policy of Virgin Islanders first and that there are categories and subcategories of what constitutes that.”
See links to related stories below
https://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/no-official-challenge-to-candidates-so-far-
https://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/walwyn-proposes-citizenship-for-all-vi-born-children
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78 Responses to “'I cannot support Hon Walwyn for Premier based on principle'- Claude O. Skelton-Cline”
For a supposed educated person Claude's statement makes no sense. He is saying that he acknowledges that Myron is qualified, but he can't support him based on principle. What dumb principle is that, to pass over someone who could help to bring the country out of its mess is simply based on bias? This is the same reason why we are where we are now. Popularity contests winners cannot a country run! Good and knowledgeable people want to come forward, but because of nonsensical reasoning like Claude's. they stay back. So, Mr. Claude, should the people support you for the Premier then?
Also, if we’re discussing lineage, let’s be honest: names like “Maduro” don’t exactly echo indigenous BVI ancestry either. Identity in the modern BVI is layered, not one-dimensional.
We must be careful not to replicate the very colonial ideologies we claim to reject. It is hypocrisy to condemn the UK’s history of birthright exclusion while insisting on our own version of it here at home. The United States—despite its many flaws—offers a model where birth on the soil confers belonging. That principle, guided with care, offers us a more inclusive and forward-looking path.Let us be courageous enough to choose inclusion over fear, and principle over politics.
Citizenship should reflect a genuine connection to a country, its people, its culture, and its values. That connection comes from growing up in the community, contributing to it, and being shaped by it. Not just being born on its soil. Myron grew up here. So he is a Virgin Islander whether you like it or not.
In the BVI their Constitution states their rules and regulations/policies of their Country.
Im not from here but I do appreciate having a good job in Tortola.
Its not wise to play bully in another man's Country either like some of us who came here to work. Due to the Country's size and the minority of its people- I agree.
CSC Im with you.
Im with you CSC
You have lost all integrity. We don’t care about what you have to say.
'we' and we have cleared any of his shortcomings. Let the one without a 'shortcoming' cast the first stone. Leave our son of the soil and let him speak for his people.
Just wow
You know, weird hips, crooked teeth, weirdly shaped foreheads, a chromosome missing here and there.
He was arrested?? What happen to that case? What about the WALL/HIGH SCHOOL FUNDS? What happen to the AIRPORT FUNDS??? These questions has yet to be answered??
Prejudice, and national birth of people that borned in the B.V.I contradicts Christian teachings, of which you claimed to represent. This article is proof of your twisted mindset to acguire material gain at the expense of blind, and confused potential voters coming next general elections.
I became of knowledge that our Premier in power was not borned in the B.V.I, but Hon. Myron Walwyn was.
Sadly, but true, you speak dishonesty as crooked as a sidewinder snake move sideways.
Go back to what/who you run from in Detroit. Idon't care a rats @%$ about you nor your ideas, issues you are the worst thing.
I fear because his core roots of not of the BVI . Locals will suffer under his administration. I may be wrong but this is my fear.
myron replacing his uncle. Even Claude was telling people that his uncle should go home because he is tired and has nothing more to offer. All of a sudden now he see a chance to suck the treasury when his uncle becomes the leader of NDP. Marlon was afraid of Myron but now he really got the sharks to deal with. If he thinks that Claude, John, Ronnie and all the other ones will make him leader over Ronnie he lie. I grabbing my popcorn from now. Any party that I think Claude support will never get a vote from me.
Go sid- dung