As concerns about constitutional reform continue to loom large for many in the Virgin Islands, commentator Claude O. Skelton-Cline has reiterated his position that, given the events of the past eight years and the ongoing challenges, the Virgin Islands is not in a position to negotiate a new constitution with the United Kingdom. Photo: Facebook

The House of Assembly is scheduled to debate the Constitutional Reform Report at the next sitting of the House of Assembly. Photo: VINO/File

Skelton-Cline told listeners of his Honestly Speaking show on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, on ZBVI 780 AM, that "there is a danger of our going through this exercise of constitutional review and negotiation at this particular time, in our history, given the geopolitical situations in the earth."

Noting that the matter is to be debated in the House of Assembly this month, Skelton-Cline assured that the territory is not in a position to negotiate a new constitution with the United Kingdom.

"Premier and all 13 members of the House of Assembly, hear me by the spirit and hear me by the wisdom of those who sit behind the scenes and are more attuned than me and some of us are... We are in no position to negotiate a new constitution with the United Kingdom."

He said this is so because no country should negotiate when it is under threat.

A 'divided House' not helping the cause

"You cannot, in good faith, from the other side of the table, expect to have any meaningful gains when in fact, between the Unity Government and the current Virgin Islands Party [government], government has completed all 148 to 152 recommendations of the COI that has taken away powers that once belonged to the ministerial component of our government, and in fact, that is enshrined in constitution, to now say we going to negotiate?"

He said wisdom must prevail.

Skelton-Cline further stated, "And not only that, not only that, constitutional negotiation requires that all of the House of Assembly be on the same page, and it is clear to us that you are not, as a matter of fact, history may very well show that this is one of the most divided House we’ve had. History may show that."