'No Belonger' should be allowed to vote on independence referendum- Skelton-Cline
“Unless you are a Virgin Islander by blood and birth, with the proper requisite of the [British] Nationality Act, you cannot be allowed to vote in a referendum on the political status and future of this country, that will not be for you to do,” Skelton-Cline stated on his show, ‘Honestly Speaking’ on ZBVI 780 AM, on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.
The clergyman, who also said there is no law that requires the Virgin Islands to have a referendum on independence, but he is in favour of one, said Belongers should, nevertheless, be in full support of the Virgin Islands aspiring to independence.
‘How you get in that argument?’
“No Belonger! Oh Lord, look at you, your eyes just rolled…No, no, you cannot, you cannot, you will not, I will not support, I will not be an advocate for you voting on a referendum for our self-determined path for Virgin Islanders.
“And I dare any Jamaican to come and tell me why we’re not ready for independence. I dare anything Vincentian, any Grenadian, any Guyanese, any Kititian, any Nevisian, any of our regional neighbours, come closer and listen to me with the politics of tenderness, now you are arguing with Virgin Islanders about why we ain’t ready for independence. How [did] you get in that argument? No. You should lend nothing but your support,” Skelton-Cline argued.
The commentator said countries like Saint Kitts and Nevis, Antigua, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Jamaica, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana are independent, yet some of the Belongers originally from those countries are now opposing independence for the Virgin Islands.
‘That is specifically our business’
“How you gonna come to the Virgin Islands and then want to set the tone, temperature and tenor for us Virgin Islanders? Nope, that is specifically our business.”
Skelton-Cline said he loves those persons he is speaking about to death, and he knows most of them understand his position, but there is a “handful” who are not going to understand.
“I love you to death, but on this matter, about what happens in the master bedroom, that’s for us. Now you can sleep in all other beds in the rest of the house, but that particular piece on the referendum, about our self-determined path, that’s for Virgin Islanders, not Belongership,” Mr Skelton-Cline said.
“No, no, no, I can’t go to the Philippines and tell you what [to do]. I can’t go to Spain, I can’t go to Australia, no, no, so I know you understand.”
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84 Responses to “'No Belonger' should be allowed to vote on independence referendum- Skelton-Cline”
Does he know that there are different classifications of Belongers? So while i agree with him in principle, he needs to be mindful of painting everyone with broad brush strokes.
But Claude, that's what ure trying to do in a way. You ran away from Detroit some years ago and now wanna set the tone for us. I know u from here and all but d...MN..
Hold it down. Everyone with rights here, belongers included have a rightt to their future. Basically you want rightful belongers who will be living here forever,, so to speak, to not have the right to vote on it, but you want all Virgin Islanders, those of whom don't live here and will probably fly in to vote and fly back out one time, to have such right..
But I understand, u wanna shorten that list to increase your chances of a pro independent result.
Merriam Webster Dictionary: Indigenous or less commonly indigenous : of, relating to, or descended from the earliest known inhabitants of a place and especially of a place that was colonized
"Originating or occurring naturally in a particular place; native"
So you are referring to the Arawaks???
Or as above and have no outstanding criminal charges against you.
Or only those Born in Vi and have a job in the VI.
Or only those in the living in the VI that have a job or registered as unemployed or married to someone living and working in the VI.
Or all people on the census excluding Pastors (real or fake).
Or just Natalio.
Some BVIslanders are more equal than others.
Is he running for Premier or something.
Struggling to stay relevant so spouting rubbish everyday
OTHER HOLDING AN ( AK 47 ) • WE GOT TO KEEP AN EYE ON HIS BIBLE , BECAUSE THERE MIGHT MIGHT BE A GUN IN IT TOO / HE HAS ALREADY PROVEN HIMSELF AS A FALSE PROPHET / WHICH IS JUST ONE OF HIS
HIDDEN TALENTS HE SAID " IN HIS FATHER'S HOUSE , THERE ARE MANY ❓️???????????? THERE •
Its a very hard Sl** I want to line up CSK with
What is the meaning for be longer
And how belonger can vote in the general election u just say things because u have a mouth
Bvi locals are the minority in this small beautiful VIs the outsiders may influence the voting process.WOW!
Everyone seems entitled to country of birth! Lol
I spend more time and resources in the bvi as a belonger than this guy will ever achieve in imhis lifetime.
This is the problem in our society (bvi) the educated are silent to give the uneducated and misinform a voice. Where were you all these years when we built these islands ????
What is the difference in rights between virginity Islander and Belonger, based on the latest Constitution? None. Per the constitution, if a Belonger is permitted to vote or run for elected office, he/she is also able to vote on self-determination referendum. The VI does not have partial citizenship, for a person attaining Belonger status either by naturalization or descent has full citizenship, including the right to vote..The US territories enjoy partial citizenship; full rights are not following the flag . See the insular cases. Here is a news flash. We like to adapt what big developed countries like the US do, ie, naturalization, for the social impact is dwarfed relative to small dots like the VI. Does Bermuda, Cayman Islands, TCI, Anguilla, etc have the same problem? If no, why? What a frig!!! Well, Maiboi. It is going to take strong leadership to fix this frig.
Im leary of all who use the Bible to justify their Bull sh**.