‘This is a state of emergency & I tried to warn us’- Claude O. Skelton-Cline
“As early as March or April, I said to the head of the BVIEC, I said to us as a people on this programme, that we should lock in the price for fuel up to some two million gallons worth of fuel and reserve it for the purpose of this country.”
BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) customers received bills significantly higher than their average monthly bills in August, reflecting energy usage for July. BVIEC said the increase is as a result of an increased fuel surcharge, which occurred after the government’s three-month subsidy had ended.
‘Some of you think I’m crazy’
“See, some you all think I’m crazy, but one of these days, in the not too distant future from now, you’re going to wish that you listened to Claude Skelton-Cline…I’m saying that as one of the persons in this country who tried to come before you weekly, for no other reason but to have an honest conversation about the state of affairs in this country.”
He explained that earlier this year, his advice to the BVIEC and government to lock in the price of fuel fell on deaf ears.
Locking in the price of fuel, he said, would have been one of the ways the Virgin Islands would have braced for the blow it now faces. Those he spoke to, he said, informed him that they were not worried as there were enough reserves. “How in the sheggedy, you have enough reserves, here we are now in August.”
Fuel price fixed but electricity bills doubled?
Skelton-Cline read out someone’s electricity bills, which had been around $400 from April to June but increased significantly to over $800; the fuel surcharge on that bill was over $500.
“How she gone pay it, single woman, three kids. How you gone get it done…So the surcharge is more than the actual bill. People are out here hurting. This is a state of emergency, and I tried to warn us.”
He said this is also occurring in the middle of the Atlantic Hurricane Season and at a time when the fuel supplier for the country has a monopoly.
“They tell us that we have a fixed price in the contract we have. How the hell do we have a fixed price when I still have a variation? It’s madness for somebody who's not paying attention or for somebody who is. The price ain’t fixed; it’s all a game.”
.png)
Follow Us On
17 Responses to “‘This is a state of emergency & I tried to warn us’- Claude O. Skelton-Cline”
Only yapping to try to be relevant.
He best study how to save his pizza business now that Riteway selling fry chicken.
And yes. We aint think you crazy. We know so.
Bvi people built for pressure. We got this!
We survived corona, Irma, gas prices , Maria , light bills , greedy bill, school book fees , stis , aids etc
Just lay it on us. Even when was broke we was still partying hard during festival. The cost of living is nothing to us
We got this! BVI love!!
Where I going get a luxury car wash without leaving my vehicle.
Stop yapping and get them thing back open
I'll pay my bill every time it comes up so no one don't talk sh** to me later down the road.
I thought that electricity purchase fuel at a set price for a pdriod if 1-3 years. Don' t they award contracts to businesses for the supply of fuel. Last I check these contract still in use, so I don't understand the constant change of price on our bill for fuel charge. Help me understand this.