Talk Show host Claude O. Skelton-Cline has called ‘demonic’ the ongoing Virgin Islands Commission of Inquiry (CoI) being executed in the territory by the UK. Photo: Facebook

Present at the hearing as a witness was ex-Premier Dr D. Orlando Smith on June 17, 2021. Photo: CoI/Youtube

Claude O. Skelton-Cline's comments came on the heels of similar comments from former Mrs BVI and talk show host, Angelle A. Cameron, who said the CoI is using the breaches of the Registers of Interests Act as a starting point to plant doubt in the minds of Virgin Islanders about the people they elected. Photo: VINO/File

Mr Skelton-Cline made the comments on the June 22, 2021, edition of his Honestly Speaking radio show on ZBVI 780am.

VI leaders being humiliated – Skelton-Cline

“I watch with much chagrin, these last few days with the Commission of Inquiry marching across the stage our elected officials, both former and current. 

Persons he said included former Premier Dr. D Orlando Smith, “a man who is served this country, serve it to the best of his ability now in retirement from politics.” 

He said new Legislators like Hon Sharie B. de Castro (AL) and Shereen D. Flax-Charles (AL) were all paraded and undressed along with other elected VI leaders over the 10-15 years.

“Watch them expose and being made to feel ashamed and guilt-ridden. Had much of them offering up confessions before anything was even asked”

UK Building a case using CoI – Skelton-Cline

“I asked myself, what is this about... except for shaming and except for building a case in the UK self-interest that paints our leadership as incompetent,” he said.

Quoting CoI Council Bilal Rawat, Skelton-Cline said VI leaders were described as non-compliant and participating in a culture of noncompliance regarding the Register of Interests Act.

“Some of us don't understand that the motives, the intent behind all of this my brothers and sisters is nothing short of demonic,” he said.

Social Commentators express similar concerns 

Skelton-Cline continued, “It's designed to erode your confidence in the competencies and character of leadership that you have elected in this country for the last 20 years,” he said.

Skelton-Cline's comments came on the heels of similar comments from former Mrs BVI and talk show host, Angelle A. Cameron, who said the CoI is using the breaches of the Registers of Interests Act as a starting point to plant doubt in the minds of Virgin Islanders about the people they elected.

According to the Clergyman, the embattled Ex-Governor Augustus J.U. Jaspert Governor and the current UK Secretary of State for Foreign Commonwealth and Development Affairs Dominic Rabb has formulated a thesis about the VI and its leaders.  

Skelton-Cline hinted that the UK is using the CoI as a catalyst to prove that the Virgin Islands (VI) cannot govern and manage itself.