The treatment of local and visiting travellers in the name of security at the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport has come under scrutiny by Social commentator and host of Honestly Speaking, Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands

Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline has called on leaders of the airports and the wider Virgin Islands to do better by way of the security measures at the airport. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands

Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline during the July 1, 2026, airing of his show Honestly Speaking on ZBVI 780 AM. Photo: Facebooking

During the July 1, 2026, airing of his show titled ‘What We Know Is Not True Part 4’, Skelton-Cline described his own experiences and those he witnessed during his recent travels. 

“It’s atrocious what we are putting our people through at the Terrence B. [Lettsome] Airport relative to security.” His message, he explained, was not directed at the security workers themselves but at those who make the rules- the leadership of the airport and the wider Virgin Islands. 

“I had some tourists in front of me, some white brothers and sisters. I witnessed where they told those people that they can’t have more than one ziplock bag with their toiletries.” In addition to informing travellers they were only allowed one ziplock bag with toiletries, he said he witnessed travellers being told their ziplock bags were too big. 

What manner of nonsense is that?” He said it is untrue that this has anything to do with restrictions. 

Non-functional equipment & long lines

Adding insult to injury, Skelton-Cline said the lines were extremely long as there was only one functioning machine. 

“How long has that machine been out? Skelton-Cline, that machine has been out for a while now.” 

He said he witnessed another female traveller being patted down several times and scanned only for security to find nothing. “This is what we are putting people through.”

Skelton-Cline added that he had his own questionable experience when he was told that the machine picked up something in his bag. “They don’t know what it is because the machine can’t tell them what it is, but there’s something in it.” After his clothes were removed and bags searched, he said he was told it was most likely his deodorant that was detected, saying, “It’s not even liquid.”

Stop putting travellers through this 

He called on those in charge to listen to him, explaining that this type of security measure cannot be deemed policy because it is not true. 

“I go through airports all the time; these people travel through airports all the time- TSA, Global Entry…there’s something wrong.”

Skelton-Cline added that he was also informed that judges and magistrates, even some time ago elected officials, encounter this type of treatment at the airport. 

“Who do we honour? Why are we making this country so difficult to reside in? When these people tell you about some of these rules, you've got to find a way to push back at some of this stuff. We've got to stop putting locals and guests through this stuff.”