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VI must do everything to protect ‘golden goose’ financial services sector– Skelton-Cline

- as sector continues to come under attack from outside forces
Talk show host, Claude O. Skelton-Cline has called on the people of the VI to protect its local financial services sector referred to as the ‘Golden Goose’ which continues to be under constant attack from outside forces. Photo: Facebook/File
Skelton-Cline added that one of the reasons why the VI has been able to stave off any encroachment is because the territory has its financial services and that has been the conduit for economic success in this country. Photo: Internet Source
Skelton-Cline added that one of the reasons why the VI has been able to stave off any encroachment is because the territory has its financial services and that has been the conduit for economic success in this country. Photo: Internet Source
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI– Talk show host Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline has called on the people of the Virgin Islands (VI) to do all they can to protect the local financial services sector, referred to as the ‘Golden Goose’, which continues to come under constant attack from outside forces.

“One of the deep issues with financial services [is] that it has been our bread and butter… for the last 35 years, is a quasi-sense of the economic independence that we have enjoyed,” Skelton-Cline stated on the Honestly Speaking show on ZBVI 780 AM on November 8, 2022.

He said; however, the industry remains under relentless attacks from forces like the European Union and then Brexit, which has called for the renegotiating of the relationship between Britain and its European neighbours, along with the impacts of BREXIT on the local sector.

“Financial services is not going anywhere in the sense that it won’t cease to exist, but it may continue to exist somewhere else,” he added. 

Protecting the local financial services sector 

Skelton-Cline said the VI must therefore do everything in its power "to negotiate, to compromise, to come to the understanding… with the United Kingdom and the United Kingdom's relationship with the EU and our own relationship with the EU and indeed Asia in particular and the world in general.

“We must continue at all means, do whatever we must to protect that goose that has been laying that egg, it may lay it differently, it may lay less eggs, it may lay more diverse eggs, but we can ill-afford to let 2023 come and we [have] not addressed in meaningful, substantive ways, a way for the continuity of one of our main pillars economically,” he said.

Skelton-Cline added that one of the reasons the VI has been able to stave off any "encroachment" is because the territory has its financial services and that has been the conduit for economic success in this country.

“Economic independence is key above all else because if that falls, you're talking about depending on the UK and you don't want that [economic independence] to fall,” he said.

17 Responses to “VI must do everything to protect ‘golden goose’ financial services sector– Skelton-Cline”

  • CSC (10/11/2022, 10:24) Like (24) Dislike (0) Reply
    the financial services industry does a good job despite the wider mess. need to get rid of petty corruption, clean up, then can build
    • Hrmph (10/11/2022, 12:53) Like (15) Dislike (2) Reply
      Unfortunately years of problems getting work permits for suitably qualified employees in the financial services sector forced trust companies, registered agents etc to move as much of their work as possible to other jurisdictions where it can be done by competent employees. We still do basic filing, but the substantive work is done elsewhere and then sent to the BVI. The horse has bolted and the BVI will live on the remnants of what was a golden goose for a few more years (whilst refusing to accept its part in sending the work elsewhere). Unfortunately, it appears that the same thing is now happening with our boating industry. Will we ever learn?
    • Rubber Duck (10/11/2022, 18:01) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Crime wants the BVI independent. The day BVI is no longer British at least half of the finance industry, and all of the spin off legal industry , will be gone in a heartbeat.
      • @ Rubber D (11/11/2022, 13:16) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        You forgot to mention that once BVI is no longer British, it will probably become a narco state (alas).
  • Just saying (10/11/2022, 10:38) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
    Now he speaking good
  • Dreamer (10/11/2022, 11:01) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    I note that the article makes no reference to the actions of local parties who have done their level best to undermine financial services for at least the last 10 years through interference, neglect and misguided principles. There is no doubt that global politics and macro forces have a significant influence, but simply pointing fingers at everyone else and not looking inward at decisions made which have hampered financial services is lazy at best.
  • The Enquirer (10/11/2022, 11:18) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    Claude, exactly what is your agenda, are you campaigning for office or what?
  • YOUR HOLINESS (10/11/2022, 12:13) Like (26) Dislike (0) Reply
    YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE IN TOUCHED WITH THE MAN UPSTAIRS , CAN YOU PLEASE SAY A WORD ON OUR BEHALF , SO WE CAN BE SAVED FROM YOU AND PRETENDERS LIKE YOU ????
  • oh boy (10/11/2022, 12:38) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    You said it best your Holiness
  • Native Senior Citizen of the British Virgin Islands (10/11/2022, 13:45) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Fake bishop Claude Skeleton Cline is one on the sum number of talk show host in the BVI. Talking is his job. But when he talks, he put his own spin on most, if not all the issues that he talks about.
    What we mostly need to protect ourselves against are the internal political leaders, that have caused us to be in the mess we are now in, and others, that have a selfish mindset as he CSC does, money mongerers of our finances. Protection against internal corruption is surely a good one, if not the best way to protect the Financial Services Sector in the BVI., Facts.
  • fox cline (10/11/2022, 14:12) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    First, we got to protect the goose from you
  • again (10/11/2022, 15:06) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Is there a way to silence the likes of the clowns clines boys.They both are like empty kerosine jugs.Ot amazing that people can sit in a church to congregate to hear the word of God coming from the two demons mouth
  • @CSC (10/11/2022, 15:43) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Sorry to say but as soon as Head Coach (Former Premier, Fat Albert) was arrested on April 28, 2022; that is what killed the Golden Goose!! Ask how many European Banks or any other global banks are opening bank accounts for BVI Business Companies? Also the high level of outsourcing of work/employment only with a "skeleton office" in BVI. CSC is late with his analysis on this!!!
  • face (10/11/2022, 16:20) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Take a good look @ that FACE , pure stress.!!
  • Adonis (11/11/2022, 02:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply

    Before they could come here. They have to show proof of good governance or it’s independence. They need us. We don’t need them. They got this @*&% twisted



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