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‘Let us not forget 360 years of colonisation & oppression’- Bishop John I. Cline

Clergyman and commentator Bishop John I. Cline has admonished that as the Virgin Islands celebrates emancipation from slavery that it never forgets the unimaginable cruelty, struggles and sacrifices that our ancestors had to face to eventually achieve partial freedom. Photo: Facebook
It is only fitting to remember and honour the resilience and the strength and the faith and the sacrifice of our ancestors in this season of Emancipation, Bishop John I. Cline has said. Photo: Facebook/File
It is only fitting to remember and honour the resilience and the strength and the faith and the sacrifice of our ancestors in this season of Emancipation, Bishop John I. Cline has said. Photo: Facebook/File
Bishop John I. Cline said he was praying for a safe emancipation celebration and urged everyone to act and behave responsibly. Photo: VI Festival/File
Bishop John I. Cline said he was praying for a safe emancipation celebration and urged everyone to act and behave responsibly. Photo: VI Festival/File
DUFF’S BOTTOM, Tortola, VI- Clergyman and commentator Bishop John I. Cline has admonished that as the Virgin Islands celebrates emancipation from slavery that it never forgets the unimaginable cruelty, struggles and sacrifices that our ancestors had to face to eventually achieve partial freedom.

Noting that he was travelling to Africa today, July 25, 2025, for his usual biennial mission, Bishop Cline stated in a Facebook Live that he wanted to give his best wishes to the territory as it commemorates Emancipation.

‘Our ancestors endured unimaginable cruelty’

‘We are in that season and that time of the year when we honour the legacy and we commemorate our Emancipation Day. We honour the resilience and the strength and the sacrifice of our ancestors who endured unimaginable cruelty, the lynching, the rape, the torture, the long hours of hard work without rest or pay and yet they worked tirelessly to secure their freedom.”

Bishop Cline continued that August 1, 1834, marked the beginning of the end of one of the darkest and most inhumane and evil periods known to mankind- the Atlantic Slave Trade.

“Therefore, it is only fitting to remember and honour the resilience and the strength and the faith and the sacrifice of our ancestors. Let us celebrate them in the spirit they stood and fought. May their legacy inspire us to strive for justice and equality for all people around the world, and peace and safety and prosperity at home.

“As we celebrate our emancipation, let us honour the memory of those who paved the way for us to be free today.”

‘We are not quite free’

Bishop Cline added that Virgin Islanders must work together to secure a brighter future for those who are coming behind, just as our foreparents did.

Further, Bishop urged Virgin Islanders to work together for a future in the VI where peace, safety, and prosperity for all are a national priority.

“May the spirit of our emancipation be felt in this country and around the Caribbean. Let us never forget that our history is rooted in a strong, resilient, forward-thinking people. This is our emancipation time. Let us not take our emancipation for granted. Let us not ever forget the sacrifice of our ancestors. Let us not forget the brutality they faced. Let us not forget, you know, 360 years of colonisation and oppression and still we are not quite free, but we work diligently toward that freedom, and we believe that we will achieve it in our lifetime.

“We are committed to doing what we will to realise our self-governance.”

Bishop Cline said he was praying for a safe emancipation celebration and urged everyone to act and behave responsibly.

“Yes, you will have a good time, but let us not in our celebration and in the festivities, forget. Take time to remember the lives that were lost during the Atlantic Slave Trade and those who died, those who fought, those who survived, so that we can be here today.”

45 Responses to “‘Let us not forget 360 years of colonisation & oppression’- Bishop John I. Cline”

  • Xxx (25/07/2025, 13:57) Like (6) Dislike (14) Reply
    Tell um bishop
  • BRAD BOYNES (25/07/2025, 14:07) Like (13) Dislike (9) Reply
    The colonization and oppression still going on in the Virgin Islands and elsewhere but for the Virgin Islands you see it everyday. Clean that cycle.
  • Endtimes (25/07/2025, 15:27) Like (19) Dislike (7) Reply
    ‘Let us not forget 360 years of colonisation & oppression’- Bishop John I. Cline

    Imagine he is a so-called Pastor and look at his comment. Instead, he should be preaching the gospel and calling men and women out of their sins, as the coming of the Lord is near. You can't try to hold God in one hand and the devil in the other. You have to choose a side, Mr. Cline.
    • VI to The Bone (25/07/2025, 16:18) Like (6) Dislike (13) Reply
      @Endtimes. The Bishop is exercising as right of freedom of expression. The man, like him or not, said nothing wrong. Every Virgin Islands should be looking toward a future of an independent Virgin Islands.
      • strupz (25/07/2025, 19:40) Like (6) Dislike (3) Reply
        Shut up.
      • Endtimes (28/07/2025, 11:16) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        @VI to the Bone, I am tired of these so-called pastors involving themselves in festival every year! Why doesn't he tell the people that they shouldn't forget the price that Jesus paid on the cross of Calvary to free us from sin? That should be the mission of the churches! Not talking about the festival every year! It just shows where these so-called ministers' minds are at.
    • @ Endtimes (25/07/2025, 17:20) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
      The more disturbing aspect of the article, apart from everything he said was facts facts facts but the apparent trying to kill the messenger instead of talking about reperation!!!
    • Jack Sprat (26/07/2025, 20:50) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      @Endtimed
      What is wrong about what he said. The world expects Black people to forget about the BRUTALITY our Ancestors endured but everyone one else can remember their ancestors bad experience. WHY...we must forget and others can remember. Is people like you that will like to see us suffer again... I wish the spirits of our Ancestors pay you a visit for that BS you said.... Fire Burn you
      • Endtimes (28/07/2025, 11:19) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        @Jack Sprat, you are talking nonsense! He needs to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, the one who shed his blood on that cruel cross at Calvary! He is still alive and well. Where are your dead ancestors? Can they save you from hell's fire? That should be the message of these Pastors -- Oh, sorry! so-called Pastors!
  • c (25/07/2025, 15:45) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    Move on and improve yourself
  • Herbs Powa (25/07/2025, 16:04) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
    Bishop I have news for you. It's the same people that give us Christianity is who still have us colonized. So you my black brother contributed and still contributing greatly to it.
    • HAHA (26/07/2025, 05:52) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
      This pastor is an agent of the system. He assists the masters to oppress his brothers and sisters by pushing into their throats the weapon of the colonisers."The Bible ". He keeps preaching salvation when people are dying and telling them that they are going to heaven. Preaching the gospel of poverty when he is a millionaire.
  • african (25/07/2025, 16:29) Like (19) Dislike (2) Reply
    Yes, but we are the ones oppressing ourselves now. Talk that too.
    • Endtimes (28/07/2025, 11:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      @african I strongly agree with you! We are our oppressors, yet we cry that we don't want the UK to take over. Wait for it....
  • Norris Turnbull (25/07/2025, 16:32) Like (7) Dislike (3) Reply
    All right Grindsman you know best.
  • open wide (25/07/2025, 17:01) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
    Give me our independence or death
  • asking for a friend (25/07/2025, 17:07) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    What role does the governor and his uk staff believe they should be playing here? They've remained completely silent on the matter.
  • For Real (25/07/2025, 18:00) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Really, you all don't respect where you come from!! Tortola is not a part of this globe,!! It's not an island!!
  • Josiahsbay (25/07/2025, 18:48) Like (2) Dislike (7) Reply
    We have not only forgotten the struggles and hardships that our forebears endured while striving for emancipation, but we also make excuses to remain under the yoke of our colonizers. We are not making a genuine attempt at self-determination. Have the referendum!
  • Let's not forget guys (25/07/2025, 18:57) Like (19) Dislike (1) Reply
    Yes true

    And let's not forget

    COVID grant scheme

    Fake students

    Fake fishers

    Fake farmers

    Ssb money

    Deteriorating roads for the the past decades

    Government buildings unfixed since Irma but money for a parties and music artist that sings about sex drugs violence and gangs

    Tax money putting into bank of Asia without the public knowledge

    Awarding a criminal with a serious offence nationality cuz "you felt bad"

    13 yes olds with guns

    Calling everyone with big chains , tattoos, big solid, etc a business man

    Having clear indication of Coco trade but ntn ever in the news for money laundering


    Paying rent to family friends while government buildings remain mash up for years

    Paying barges money to patrol the boarder only for them to be docked up throughout

    Prolonged time to increase minimum wage to measly amount but quick to pass greedy bill

    Refuse to implement a sex offender list despite knowing offenders in vulnerable areas like schools daycare hospitals etc

    Lack of price control while the businesses continue to abuse residents with price increases every week and giving 10c discount

    Bi water schemes

    Airport schemes

    Pier park scheme

    Water off after 6pm

    Sewage running into the streets

    1 yr plus to build a stretch of road and still going


    Lastly let's not forget that our past leader was willing to sell the territory to cartels to enrich is friends family and whoever in their close circle
    • @ Let's not forget guys (25/07/2025, 22:44) Like (4) Dislike (4) Reply
      We will never ever forget the wickedness of the slave trade where it was the biggest genocide in the history of man kind took place on blacks by white!!! We will never forget that evil
    • god is watching (28/07/2025, 11:24) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      @Let's not forget guys, I applaud your comment a million times!! What a tangled web we weave when we set out to deceive our country!
  • hello (25/07/2025, 19:03) Like (8) Dislike (5) Reply
    Hi Bishop, i find it strange that there is no mention of our lord and savior Jesus Christ by you in this article. What is this spirit of emancipation you speak of yet we know the true power is in his name JESUS? Whats the point of remembering slavery if we have the redeemer in our hearts? Im not judging you but i am calling you out on something i think deserves answers. Where in scripture did Jesus teach us to remember the pain of our past and to what purpose? We dont need to remember it in order to move forward if we have God.
  • Eldread (25/07/2025, 20:50) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    But how come this bishop cline don't stand up against the present corrupt colonial power devolve to natalio Wheatley to take $260k and give to Vybz Kartel and bank of Asia $5 million USD.
    Instead he don't want Myron interrogate natalio too hard on these matter.
    That's the way of our for slave master natalio behaving like, power devolve in colonialism, our black people are what once a white position over the people and the economy, and as slave wealth was extracted from our labor in the fields to cut cane and pick cotton , the wealth that was generated was extracted to the UK and built real estate and affluent lifestyle, so to premiere Wheatley engage in wealth extraction to Vybz Kartel giving he $250k to build a new house in Jamaica, and our $5 million USD is extracted to Asia to enrich other races while our people suffer just like how the white colonial slave master have us, you must see colonialism will still be with us as neocolonialism like the independent Caribbean, they all swear to the royal family of UK, and the commonwealth system corrupt the politicians to behave like a coconut, brown outside and white inside, the do things like there white predecessor, even you as the bishop want to placate the population to behave like obedient slave and let the entitlement political family and friends do as they like with public funds, and that's true because you torturing Myron and the alliance to keep quiet.
    • Truth be told. Mr Cline. Speak ir. (26/07/2025, 05:34) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
      Selfish greedy leaders have oppressed us just as much, you see when it comes from your own people it hurts more..Peolpe you trust, people who you expect to have your best interest at heart, people who promised to do you good and just, only helping themselves and a chosen few, while watching the massive suffer. Cline, you can considee to be one of those...Our solution is simple, "Truth, Fairness & Honesty".
  • NB (25/07/2025, 22:16) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    John, let us not forget that we have the power to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery. Let us not forget that we are now the masters and are holding other people slaves. Run talk that.
  • Joe Colon (26/07/2025, 06:36) Like (9) Dislike (2) Reply
    Fathering children out of wedlock is not a way to go. Free to do that and it's ok? Slime rhythms. Wickedness
  • vi finest (26/07/2025, 06:50) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Let's not forget Africans fought against each other and that the captured were sold to the white man. Let's not forget that black people also made the Atlantic Slave Trade possible and profitable. In Africa Africans are not united even in 2025. Let's not forget the Arab/Africa Slave Trade since you love history so much, speak about this too. Slavery has been in existence since men existed. Islam is the Religion of peace they say but clearly it institutionalised slavery. Read about its prophet when you get the time, since you love history. Christianity is the only religion that preached ALL MEN are created equal in the sight of God. READ and know history and never be so biased.
  • ok (26/07/2025, 06:52) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Your pizza is hard bro.
  • reality (26/07/2025, 08:31) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    colonization was made easy due to the book this man reads from, it was used to enslave the population with the threat of damnation even when your dead, lol and now he wants to speak about it catch 22 sucker
  • @ VI FINEST (26/07/2025, 11:03) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    THANK YOU FOR SHEDDI G SOME OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE WITH US / BECAUSE ( THE CLINES , AND A COUPLE OTHERS , LIKE E LEONARD / WHO HAS SELECTIVE AMNESIA ON " THE HISTORY ABOUT " THE ISLAND PEOPLE " BUT CAN TELL US ABOUT THE AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE FROM CENTURIES AGO AND DUDE WITH THE WIG IS USING THE WHITE COLONIALIST SLAVE MASTERS AS A FRONT TO HOLLER OUT HIS RACIST NARRATIVES DAILY , LOOKS LIKE THEY HAVE HIDDEN AGENDERS • SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR TELLING IT LIKE IT IS .
  • LETS NOT (26/07/2025, 12:07) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Forget current slavery and oppression being meted out on the poor, and the underprivileged by the politics and religion of the day.
  • Just like their greedy ancestors (26/07/2025, 12:26) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The Africans that sold out their people to slavery only was thinking about what they will gain for themselves. Just so, those African descendants here who want to collect for reparation in the name of their dead ancestors only want further enrich themselves. They don't really care about anything but money in their pockets.
  • Stay in Africa (26/07/2025, 16:39) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Pastor cline no matter which party is in you eating and you do not want Bvislanders to eat. We must celebrate emancipation when nothing at the village is free and if a bvislander during festival wants to sell something to feed their family they have to have a license. How can a poor man celebrate emancipation and he needs money to get in the village, yet we put money in Asia bank and every politician have the money to go away every weekend on tax payers money with no conscience. Imagine you worry about white slave master have they ever stopped you from eating. Have they ever try to use tax payers dollars to buy quality insurance while depriving BVIslanders from work and those the government give menial jobs to they have to settle for NHI. When you hobnobbing with the TD Jake’s of the world and looking down on your fellow men is that slavery. Who is to blame you or the white colonizer. My suggestion to you enjoy your trip to Africa and hope that you learn some humility and humanity and come back ready to treat your fellow BVislanders equitably. Then and only then can we be free at last.
  • 2024 (26/07/2025, 18:27) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Our Forefathers and Mothers where chained and whipped: bought and sold: injured year of cruelty just because of their Skin-Color
  • E. Leonard (26/07/2025, 19:21) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    In looking to the future, the Virgin Islands(VI) [British] must take a peek back to the present and to the past to take stock from where it came, where it is, and where it aspires to go. The UK has been in full control of the VI since 1672. And in a few short days, the VI indigenous people will be recognizing 191 years(01 August 1834) since the UK supposedly emancipated (tun loose) its forebears barefooted with just the rags on their backs, homeless,,jobless, penniless, property less, etc. In the intervening years, the VI has cycled through various political statuses. For example, a separate colony in 1960, a dependent territory in 1983, and an overseas territory in 2002. It is currently an Overseas Territory (OT) of the UK. Though it is listed as a self-governing territory, the UK still wields ‘unilateral power.’ Devolved powers can be easily reversed. Currently, its constitution is suspended by Order Council but it is being held in abeyance, hanging over the VI and its people’s head like the Sword of Damocles.

    Moreover, through hardwork, Virgin Islanders’ characteristic ‘ rugged individualism,’ etc, the VI has made progress, eg, it boasts of having one of the highest standards of living, quality of life, human development index, per capita income, etc., in the region. Further, it has been financially self-sufficient since 1979 under the Willard Wheatley Administration. The UN lists the VI as a non-self governing territory. Like people elsewhere, the people of the VI has the right to voluntarily pursue a self-determination status of its choosing. Options include a) integration b) independence, c) free association, among others. Nevertheless, in my humble opinion, it seems to haunted by the ghost of divide and rule dogma, meritorious manumission, appeasement, Stockholm Syndrome, disunity,,” etc..In moving forward, the VI must unite, practice group economics, ethno-aggregate, develop self-empowerment plans, etc. This among other actions are needed, so that our forebears can rest easy. Furthermore, VI people must be given the opportunity through a referendum to determine the next political status.
    • @E. Leonard (27/07/2025, 08:19) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      @E. Leonard,,Mehson, you dramatic, “ Nevertheless, in my humble opinion, it seems to haunted by the ghost of divide and rule dogma…” ‘ haunted by the ghost..’ You trying to cut it both ways it appears. On the one hand, you are asserting rightly that the UK has and is demonstrating ‘unilateral power.’ But on the other hand, you are also claiming that the BVI can boast of having one of the highest standards of living, quality of life life, per capita income, etc. You are very generous and loose with the claims and progress. By the way, what iare ethno- aggregate, human development index, etc. You diaspora folks overseas can supposedly see things clearly from overseas but fraid to come back to help. That is not patriotic. Thousands out of the territory but few contribute a thing. At least, you periodically run your mouth. ????????????. May sound critical but appreciate the insight brought.
    • NPolitico (27/07/2025, 08:41) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ E. Leonard, words matter and your choice of words speaks volume. For example, you used the word ‘recognizing ‘ instead of celebrating or commemorating. Further, you open the aperture to give us a vivid view of the state, conditions of our foreparents when they were ‘ tun loose’ off the plantations, ie., ‘ barefooted with just the rags on their backs, homeless, penniless, jobless, property less, landless….”
    • Eagle and Buffalo (27/07/2025, 11:26) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply

      Leonard, disunity , divide and rule, appeasement,,meritorious manumission, political patronage,,dependency, etc juxtaposing against progress, self-determination, the way forward. Virgin Islanders have a love affair with materialism , paying little to no attention to how civic responsibilities,,overall socioeconomic, political issues affect the community and their lives. While Virgin Islanders slumber, others are wide awake laying down their markers , footprint, etc., to build influence and control Virgin Islanders at warp speed are becoming a minority in their homeland, while they standby like a goat in the head light wondering what the hell has happened and is happening. A broken clock/watch is correct twice a day. A smart decision government did recently is not signing on regional freedom of movement. Large countries can absorb migration with little to no immediate social friction in their communities. Small locales cannot behave like large developed countries relative to immigration. Commentator Thomas Famous hit the nail on the head, driving it home, recently with his comment that ‘ Sheep head and Goat head’ are not the same. Many of us don’t give a rat’s @$$ about the brutality, sacrifices, abuse,,..exploitation, disrespect,etc., our foreparents endured. They see that as ancient history and time to move on. Marcus Garvey said: A people without knowledge of past history, origins, and culture is like a tree without roots.

      [Let’s lead like eagles,,not careen off the cliff like buffaloes and sheep]

    • @E. Leonard (28/07/2025, 12:01) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
      @ E. Leonard, ease up nah wid de slavery talk till after festival. Give us a likle chance to vent our stresses, frustrations, etc,, with alacrity.. Leh we have a likle time to enjoy the jump up, shows, cultural events. That mental picture of forefathers when the lens/aperture is widen is depressing..
    • outside (29/07/2025, 22:00) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      “The UK has been in full control of the VI since 1672.” No, the Kingdom of England was not the UK.


      “the VI indigenous people…”? Who are they? Are they extinct?


      “a separate colony…, a dependent territory… and an overseas territory”. That’s all just domestic UK legal nomenclature. Its international status is the same at the UN.

      “VI … boasts of having one of the highest standards of living, quality of life, human development index, per capita income, etc., in the region.” The roads alone tell us enough.

      “Options include a) integration” Really? Is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland offering to transform itself into the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the Virgin Islands? Similar re ‘free association’ a term not on a menu.
  • Maria Louisa Varlack (29/07/2025, 11:07) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    360 years of colonial oppression and slavery was based on economic advantage from the rich and the wealthy blacks and whites and asians and hispanics from europe, asia, and africa that have an advantage over the poor and needy and the weak and the downtrodden.


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