'It is not for the UK or UN to give VI its independence'- Claude O. Skelton-Cline
Further, Skelton-Cline said while he is in favour of independence, there are other options for self-determination but the people must get on with moving away from its current situation of being a colony of the United Kingdom.
Speaking during his weekly Honestly Speaking show, aired on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, on ZBVI 780 AM and livestreamed on Facebook, Mr Skelton-Cline said: "I am declaring that we as a people need to, in earnest, in fact, be about determining what are the next steps on our path to self-determination."
According to an article by Virgin Islands News Online on August 7, 2025, in the VI, the narrative has been that self-determination is the way forward; however, the Territory has not taken any concrete, decisive steps toward it.
Based on a report by the United Nations (UN) Special Committee on Decolonisation (C-24), “there is no alternative to the principle of self-determination” for the United Kingdom Overseas Territory.
VI people 'should not wait on gov't'
Skelton-Cline; however, stated that "the people of the Virgin Islands should not wait for any government. We, the people, must move governments. We, the people, must determine our progress, and when governments get in the way of our progress, we must remove those governments, democratically, by the ballot box."
He added, "I understand that on September 16 or 18, the debate of the constitutional review is to be had in the House of Assembly; however, I am declaring from today [September 2, 2025], that the campaign for our self-determination path has commenced."
Skelton-Cline made it clear that his choice is independence, while telling Virgin Islanders that it does not have to be their choice. "You must do your own due diligence, you must do your own review and determine what path you think that we should take, but please note that remaining as we are is not an option."
He added that the options available are integration, association or independence.
"I want to say that independence is an inherent right of all peoples of the earth...a God-given inherent right to determine their own future, to set their own path. No people of the earth should be subjects or colonies of any other nation.@
Skelton-Cline also said it is not for the United Kingdom or the United Nations to give the Virgin Islands independence or determine its self-determined path.
"It is not for them. It is for us to declare. It is for us to command, and it is for us to ultimately crystallise in constitutional law, what that path ought to be."
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4 Responses to “'It is not for the UK or UN to give VI its independence'- Claude O. Skelton-Cline ”
In spite of, please allowed me to to impart this truth to you.
Independence is a political word, not a practical reality nowhere on this planet. We all depends on God, our Creator, and our neighbors world.
True, we have been colonized, and presently is by the UK. Until the UK agrees to approves Independence for the B.V.I all your talking is hot-air talk, similar to a dog, you are not a dog, barking at the moon.
Bear with me further, please. Approximately 20 or more years past a UK representative informed us VI people that the B.V.I can get their well deserved independence, but the UK will decide the referendum presentage figure, not us.
Many years ago when aids from the UK came to the B.V.I, of course via Antigua. The UK was in no rush to let the B.V.I lose. Now that $Ms of what you are lusting for more of, what make to think that the UK will easily let us lose without a grueling fightThe truth is that the B.V.I is not prepared for independence, not even close. While I am not pro UK, I am not happy with how these local crooked, and deceitful are running against the people's best interest, especially against them that need the most attention, youths, and senior. Oh, I almost forgot, crooked preachers, and some, probably most, ripping them off, too, of well needed cash.
We know that you are being paid to talk, but continuing exposing your ignorance, your arrogance, and lack of factual information, do not help our case, and certainly is not Godly wisdom.
Have a good work day, and enjoy the remainder of it happily with your family.