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

Suspend 'cooperation' with CoI to focus on pandemic- Skelton-Cline to VI Gov't

- reminded that Johnson Gov’t resisted a CoI over UK ongoing pandemic spending yet still called a CoI in VI
Radio talk show host Claude O. Skelton-Cline has called on the Virgin Islands Government to suspend its cooperation with the UK-sponsored Commission of Inquiry so that more focus can be placed on the pandemic. Photo: VINO/File
UK Prime Minister Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson ‘aka ‘Boris’ has resisted calls for an immediate inquiry into his Government’s disastrous handling of the pandemic and its spending but has backed a CoI in the Virgin Islands in the height of the global pandemic. Photo: Internet Source/File
UK Prime Minister Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson ‘aka ‘Boris’ has resisted calls for an immediate inquiry into his Government’s disastrous handling of the pandemic and its spending but has backed a CoI in the Virgin Islands in the height of the global pandemic. Photo: Internet Source/File
The Virgin Islands Government has been urged to suspend its cooperation with the Commission of Inquiry until it can get a grasp of the myriad of challenges resulting from the pandemic. Photo: GIS/File
The Virgin Islands Government has been urged to suspend its cooperation with the Commission of Inquiry until it can get a grasp of the myriad of challenges resulting from the pandemic. Photo: GIS/File
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI– Pointing to a spike in active COVID-19 cases in the Virgin Islands, radio talk show host Claude O. Skelton-Cline has called on the Andrew A. Fahie Government to suspend its cooperation with the United Kingdom-sponsored Commission of Inquiry (CoI) so that more focus can be placed on the pandemic.

On the July 6, 2021, edition of his Honestly Speaking show, Skelton-Cline hinted that to have a simultaneous CoI and a deadly pandemic in the territory, the scenario has paralysed the local government regarding the fulfilling of its duties to the people of the territory.

Gov't paralysed - Skelton-Cline 

“What are we really doing here? You have a government paralysed, can't do anything really or afraid to do anything. That's my interpretation, I can't speak for them,” he said.

Further Skelton-Cline said as a private citizen looking on, the territory is now more vulnerable now than it has ever been.

"The government of the moment is completely sidetracked and distracted from the core business of doing the people's work, especially as it relates to this COVID-19 global pandemic."

The territory currently has some 558 active cases of COVID-19, a record high for the VI since the pandemic reached these shores in early 2020.

“I am calling on this government to write to the Foreign Secretary for these so-called OTs through the Governor, informing them that effective immediately they are suspending cooperation with the Commission of Inquiry until they can get their heads and hands around the ongoing challenges of this pandemic.

“And I am encouraging the government if I was advising them... don't seek permission, inform the Foreign Secretary that you are, effective immediately, taking the position at least for the next 30 days and more, if necessary,” he said.

As such, the man of the cloth said the Government should suspend its cooperation until it can get a grasp of the myriad of challenges resulting from the pandemic.

UK Gov't resisted calls for its own CoI 

Meanwhile, pointing to the UK, Skelton-Cline said the move to suspend cooperation with the CoI is justified since the UK Prime Minister Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson ‘aka ‘Boris’ had resisted calls for an immediate inquiry into his Government’s disastrous handling of the pandemic and its spending.

Johnson in his resistance had said, given the pandemic facing the UK, now is not the time to embark on a Commission of Inquiry in the UK.

In essence, Johnson’s Government has shown that while it had the time to administratively prepare itself and to fund the VI CoI, it did not have the time to submit to an independent inquiry on its own affairs on the backdrop of strong allegations of corruption and incompetence under Johnson’s Government.

Skelton Cline said if it was good for the UK to hold off on a CoI, it is good for the VI, and this is what he is suggesting that should be done, with the cases now at an all-time high and persons in Special Care and Intensive Care at the Dr D. Orlando Smith Hospital.

23 Responses to “Suspend 'cooperation' with CoI to focus on pandemic- Skelton-Cline to VI Gov't”

  • Crazy stupidness and foolishness (07/07/2021, 08:54) Like (20) Dislike (3) Reply
    There is probably a good case for suspending cooperation with the Inquiry pending the resolution of the latest spike although I am not of the legal basis for the same. However, CSC lending his name to the claim makes it less likely to happen.
    • Rubber Duck (07/07/2021, 11:09) Like (26) Dislike (2) Reply
      The majority of the government including the civil service are not " fighting covid". They are sleeping at their desks or at home as usual.
      • @rubber duck (07/07/2021, 21:15) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        Stop stereotyping. It have very hard working public servant. The problem is lack of necessary resources including the right technology.
  • lucky 13 (07/07/2021, 09:03) Like (6) Dislike (8) Reply
    the 13 of them need to get more balls
  • dua (07/07/2021, 09:13) Like (30) Dislike (1) Reply
    Claude, You will really love that, we will see what happens.
  • just wrong (07/07/2021, 09:17) Like (37) Dislike (3) Reply
    GREAT IDEA !! Perhaps that will help the UK make the decision to take over.
  • qualified (07/07/2021, 09:20) Like (31) Dislike (0) Reply
    Youre about as qualified to treat covid as you were for your consultancy work. Why don't you go work in the hospital...?
  • question (07/07/2021, 09:37) Like (35) Dislike (0) Reply
    Was there a transparent tender process to have CSC employed as the governments media spokesman? I don’t recall.
  • HAHAHA (07/07/2021, 09:40) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    There we go .
  • @ CSC (07/07/2021, 09:51) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
    BOI THAT WOULD BE A BREATH OF FRESH AIR YOU AND THE REST
  • Secret Bear (07/07/2021, 10:00) Like (34) Dislike (0) Reply
    Wouldn’t that be convenient. More time to destroy the evidence.
  • Trinket (07/07/2021, 10:02) Like (35) Dislike (0) Reply
    Your presence is a gnawing and regrettable reminder of one of the biggest errors in the current history of the these Virgjn Islands.
    Kindly dissipate and evaporate... (S i l e n t l y)...Thank You
  • Agree (07/07/2021, 10:11) Like (0) Dislike (46) Reply
    makes perfect sense, whether you like Claude or not
  • Master Plan (07/07/2021, 10:13) Like (18) Dislike (4) Reply
    Judging by the way government changed their protocols last month and the lack of effort now to contain this virus, sounds like this was their plan all along.
    • jimmy jowe (07/07/2021, 11:14) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
      Ppl don't want to vaccinate but they flooding the Hospital for testing. Something is a mist Johnson.
      • @jimmy jowe (07/07/2021, 13:40) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
        Vaccinated is also up there testing your comment sounds soo dumb Dotish stupid.
        21.5 % vaccinated is positive stfu if u don’t have any positive factual thing to say ...
  • UK (07/07/2021, 10:48) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mr.. Cline, All inquiries, and information should flow freely to the citizens and residents of the BVI. If the British government is accusing the BVI wrongfully, then bring the facts, to prove it. Otherwise, you have no argument in trying to slowdown, prolong, or deny
    the reality. UK as you know, is the MOTHER of the BVI, so we are answerable to them, like it or not.
  • Sapping (07/07/2021, 10:54) Like (0) Dislike (27) Reply
    Just a couple of days ago I sat there thinking the same thing. It's time to focus solely on the present situation hitting out territory now them for this the hour is come where we need all hands on deck and people need a sound mind to be able to deal with what's ahead of us. This inquiry needs to be placed on the back burner for a little it's sapping the energy of not only the people but more so of the present Government. It is draining them to the max.
    • king (07/07/2021, 13:21) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
      Those who have something to hide would love to delay the process. Let the COI continue.
  • Accelerate (07/07/2021, 11:31) Like (14) Dislike (2) Reply
    Actually this is the time to accelerate the CoI interviews before various civil servants get sick and can't be interviewed. Deathbed confessions are admissible crucial evidence even though the witness can't be cross examined.
  • Pretending (07/07/2021, 13:27) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    No time for pretense lots of pressure in the territory.
  • How convenient (07/07/2021, 13:45) Like (22) Dislike (0) Reply
    Your a business man you would appreciate a staff that can multitask.... Don't see how one affecting the other. My favourite TV show right now is the COI. Very informative and educational...
  • omg (07/07/2021, 14:12) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    I’m so hope you are the next person they call so we all can here about where all the money went for the two contract you got


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.