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Political leaders must not be elected solely on popularity- Skelton-Cline

- said VI needs leaders who have the ability to run the territory
Local clergyman Claude O. Skelton-Cline has called for a resetting of how elections are conducted in the VI when selecting political leadership. Photo: VINO/File
Voter registration line at the Virgin Islands (VI) Election Office in Road Town. Claude O. Skelton-Cline He says that oral tradition should say that the people of the country must be able to wisely and prudently choose women and men who are able and available to lead and also have the ability to run the country. Photo: Team of Reporters
Voter registration line at the Virgin Islands (VI) Election Office in Road Town. Claude O. Skelton-Cline He says that oral tradition should say that the people of the country must be able to wisely and prudently choose women and men who are able and available to lead and also have the ability to run the country. Photo: Team of Reporters
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI– Local clergyman and commentator Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline has called for a resetting of how political leaders are elected in the Virgin Islands (VI).

Skelton-Cline was at the time speaking during the August 16, 2022, edition of his Honestly Speaking radio show on ZBVI 780 AM.

“We can no longer afford to water down leadership in this country, the challenges that we face, that we will continue to face… we must set a standard for how we go about electing persons in this country.”

Skelton-Cline added that in a democracy, anybody should be allowed to run however, an unwritten rule embedded in culture should also mandate that while anybody can run, anybody cannot be elected.

No population elections - Skelton-Cline 

“We can no longer afford to elect persons purely based on popularity, this is not pageantry, this is politics,” he said.

Skelton-Cline added that the job of a politician is to navigate the affairs on behalf of the country and as such, should not be based on popularity since these individuals have important decisions to make. 

“We are partly responsible for who we elect and how we go about electing people, so there needs to be a standard embedded in the oral tradition of our culture that says yes, in a democratic society anybody can run, but not anybody can’t be elected,” he said.

He said that oral tradition should say that the people of the country must be able to wisely and prudently choose women and men who are able and available to lead and also have the ability to run the country.

15 Responses to “Political leaders must not be elected solely on popularity- Skelton-Cline”

  • vex (17/08/2022, 13:04) Like (4) Dislike (10) Reply
    Csc is right again
    • Overspend (17/08/2022, 17:59) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
      Why is this man back in the news - the CoI should have been the end of him!
      He certainly is not popular enough to be elected.
    • Young Leader (17/08/2022, 20:52) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      I hope when the young aspiring leaders start to reveal themselves, all y’all embrace them and not shame and shatter their confidence.
  • The standard should have been set LONG ago... (17/08/2022, 13:54) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    “We can no longer afford to water down leadership in this country, the challenges that we face, that we will continue to face… we must set a standard for how we go about electing persons in this country.”

    Could the territory *ever* have afforded watered-down leadership? The standard should have been set a long time ago; in CSC's words, politics, not pageantry. Neither is oral tradition an instant thing; traditions, especially oral ones, take years to be passed down from generation to generation. If the situation is as dire as CSC claims, there is no time to wait on 'oral tradition'; this isn't story time.
  • GTFOH (17/08/2022, 14:00) Like (18) Dislike (1) Reply
    No $H!t Sherlock! Too bad the idiots treat elections like a popularity contact then complain when things go wrong. Mark for example failed with his whole portfolio, tried to resign and the idiots still voted for him. People still complain today about the roads, internet, water, sewage and everything Mark was responsible for. Give them the chance he will win again.
  • Eagle Eye (17/08/2022, 14:08) Like (5) Dislike (3) Reply
    Even if you are a good person, because of the way the Babylon system is set up you will end up wicked. Example, robbing people of there hard earn money through tax.
  • Big Richard (17/08/2022, 15:09) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Did you learn that from Kwame while in Detroit?
  • Native Senior Citizen of the British Virgin Islands (17/08/2022, 15:14) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Clergymen, Talkshow Host, and political consultants should not be selected, and recognized solely on popularity either, Claude Skeleton Cline, not only political leaders.
  • Native Senior Citizen of the British Virgin Islands (17/08/2022, 16:03) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Only now that you know that political leaders should not be elected base on popularity, CSC, your conscience probably becoming awakening to this fact...
    I believe that means that you will not contest as a leader in the next coming general election. You are a popular Talk Show Host. In the past you have blah, blah, blah, blah, blah to much , but some of the time some you said we're not on point.with the more important issues that's meaningful, and helpful to us.in reference to our more urgent needs
    However, it is good to know that you are improving in knowledge, and wisdom, I hope.
  • Agreed. 100%. (17/08/2022, 16:21) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    We need to identify a good New Leader before we talk about change..Look at St. Lucia. Grenada, St Kitts, they identified a new leader from early and made the change and if we don't get serious. We may end up with someone like Kedrick being Premier. This is high possible if we don't wise up...
  • Stop The Talk (17/08/2022, 21:02) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Some of you bloggers should put the money where you mouth is and put your name on the list and see who that foolish to vote for you…..
  • Voter education.) (18/08/2022, 07:55) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    This can only come from voter education where voters realized they have to elect Reps who can make hard decisions fior BVI in the interest of BVI. Voting is now just popularity and what I can get. Who also have to look at the pool you have to choose from.
  • @ CSC (18/08/2022, 10:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    SO THE HOLY GHOST HAS ARISEN , THE PLAYER OF GAMES ON OTHER PEOPLE'S MIND IS FLEXING OF HIS OTHER SKILLS WITH A DIFFERENT TWIST ???? BROTHER YOU NEED TO COME REAL / MANY HAVE TRIED TO FOOL GOD AND HAVE OUTSMARTED THEMSELVES ON THAT JOURNEY BUT WE KNOW THAT YOU REALLY BELIEVE YOU CAN GET IT DONE , WELL YOU GOT MY BLESSINGS ???? ????
  • Really??!! (18/08/2022, 11:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Look who's talking!! Well, sah!
  • HERE WE GO AGAIN (18/08/2022, 13:03) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    PRINCE ???? CHARMING IS BACK , AMD NORMALLY THE BISHOP WILL SHOW UP LATER WITH HIS BLESSINGS ???? AND WE ALL KNOW THE OTHER OTHER HOLY ONE FROM CGB , IS QUIET ,COOL AND JUST SIMPLY CHILLING OUT , PEACEFULLY ???? ( NOT AH NOISE HE MEKKIN


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