Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

'National disgrace! HoA needs to get out of a gym'– Skelton Cline

- said it's time for HoA sittings to return to original HoA building in Road Town
The House of Assembly had relocated its sittings to the Save the Seed Energy Centre in 2020, during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, to allow for social distancing protocols to be observed. Photo: HoA/File
Outspoken clergyman and consultant Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline has described the continued use of the Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff's Bottom to conduct the House of Assembly (HoA) sittings for the past few years as a national disgrace. Photo: VINO/File
Outspoken clergyman and consultant Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline has described the continued use of the Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff's Bottom to conduct the House of Assembly (HoA) sittings for the past few years as a national disgrace. Photo: VINO/File
Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline believes it's time for HoA sittings to return to the original HoA building in Road Town. Photo: VINO/File
Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline believes it's time for HoA sittings to return to the original HoA building in Road Town. Photo: VINO/File
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI- Outspoken clergyman and consultant Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline has described the continued use of the Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff's Bottom to conduct the House of Assembly (HoA) sittings for the past few years as a national disgrace.

He said on his show Honestly Speaking on ZBVI 780 AM last night, February 22, 2022, that it is past time to return to the original HoA building located in Road Town.

“I am also concerned, it continues to be a national disgrace and shame that our House of Assembly is continuously meeting in a gym!

"I am sitting there looking at what goes out worldwide and it has become part of the public’s history, to see the guys and the gals, the people that we elect, conducting business in a gym for so long a period of time.”

He added: “It is a shame and a national disgrace! I remember calling the NDP on this and I am calling my government and when I say my government I’m not talking about personally, because is all of us government. I am calling us on this.”

HoA ought to have class- Skelton-Cline

Mr Skelton-Cline said the territory’s House of Assembly ought to be “a stately, sophisticated, substantive, that communicates an anchor, that communicates surety so that when we drive up to it, when we see it, when we see you in it, it bespeaks all of our hopes and our dreams and our aspirations.”

He continued: “We need to get out of gyms, we need to get out of every other building that is not the HoA and conduct the people’s business and in the requisite house that bespeaks who we are with all of the symbols and substance.”

Borrowing a line from Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9), Mr Skelton-Cline pointed out that we have become too comfortable in a bad place.”

“Our eyes are adjusting too well to the darkness, our nostrils are adjusting too well to the stench. We as a people in the Virgin Islands accept too much injustice, too much mediocracy,” he stated.   

The House of Assembly had relocated its sittings to the Save the Seed Energy Centre in 2020, during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, to allow for social distancing protocols to be observed.

When the HoA was damaged by Hurricane Irma in September 2017, sittings were also held at the Save the Seed Energy Centre and the International Arbitration Centre in Wickham's Cay II, before sittings returned to a refurbished HoA building in March 2018.

19 Responses to “'National disgrace! HoA needs to get out of a gym'– Skelton Cline”

  • W*F (23/02/2022, 10:05) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
    si he not happy his buddy making money
  • joe (23/02/2022, 10:07) Like (33) Dislike (2) Reply
    It's such a disgrace, the house of assembly building should have already fixed and given as a priority.
  • Smh (23/02/2022, 10:11) Like (25) Dislike (1) Reply
    By golly, he is actually right!
  • lol (23/02/2022, 10:30) Like (2) Dislike (5) Reply
    Laughing in my Vincent Price laugh.
  • asura (23/02/2022, 10:48) Like (160) Dislike (0) Reply
    they do not care only about getting teh club money
  • Jane (23/02/2022, 12:13) Like (50) Dislike (0) Reply
    The ruined high school is a disgrace, young people being educated in a mold-encrusted former DIY store is a disgrace. JVD primary school a disgrace, raw sewerage in Road Town streets is a disgrace, burning garbage is a disgrace. I think i am ok with politicians sitting in a gym in the circumstances.
  • musa (23/02/2022, 12:33) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    After over spending tax payer money and still having government contracts &hold directors position that what I call a disgruntled national disgrace
  • Patriotic (23/02/2022, 12:37) Like (12) Dislike (2) Reply
    I COULD NOT HAVE SAID IT BETTER . THE HIGHEST OFFICE EQUIVELENT TO PARLIAMENT IS ON A BASKETBALL COURT. THIS IS NOT ONLY UNFORGIVABLE BUT INEXCUSABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ISLAND.
    WE OUGHT TO STOP THIS HURRICANE ERMA - THAT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME NOW.
    THE CIVIL SERVICE (VARIOUS OFFICES) IS AT A ALL TIME LOW . VERY POOR SERVICE -- IT SEEMS LIKE IT TAKE FOREVER TO GET SIMPLE THINGS DONE .
  • vip prioritys mixed up (23/02/2022, 13:01) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
    Same way them got the children of JVD going school in a rum shop
  • jokes (23/02/2022, 13:10) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    Laughing stocks. On a basket ball court. How low can you go. That is low class.
  • at the end of the day (23/02/2022, 13:12) Like (15) Dislike (3) Reply
    The money used to purchased the escalade and to pay the speaker fees could've been used to repair the said building.
    • @ at the end of the day (23/02/2022, 17:51) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
      For Jesus sake go from here with your pig droppings
  • Earl (23/02/2022, 13:13) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    Hallelujah..... I agree with him for once !
  • Just Sayin' (23/02/2022, 13:43) Like (8) Dislike (3) Reply
    mr. CSC
    take a step back for a minute. dont you think there are more priorities than the comfort of the HOA ?
    Its a national disgrace that schools are still in the old ctl building.......its a national disgrace that work permits take 6 months to process, businesses are failing. its a national disgrace that continually have to que outside in the blazing sun to do banking....HOA ??? they live in luxury compared to the day to day hardships that need fixing first.
  • AS THE SAYING GOES (23/02/2022, 16:27) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    IT LOOKS LIKE THE HOLY MEN ARE TURNING ON EACHOTHER , ( HE MADE
    SURE HE CHOSE HIS WORDS VERY CAREFULLY ) BUT THE HOLY BISHOP IS NOT GOING TO TAKE THAT LYING DOWN
  • rubber duck (23/02/2022, 17:50) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Claude just mad John choosed his son over him
  • BuzzBvi (23/02/2022, 19:32) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Maybe now is time to end the present version of the Legislative Council. It has been done before. And then start again fresh, like 1950, with proper politicians with a care for the nation. We may then have some new and proper heroes who we can name building and streets after.
  • Just Checking (24/02/2022, 01:20) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The speaker is silent on this project


Create a comment


Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.