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VI should aspire for independence by 2027– Bishop Cline

- but said VI will need strong leadership, not UK puppets, to achieve this
Bishop of the New Life Baptist Church in Duff’s Bottom, Tortola, John I. Cline has urged leaders in the Virgin Islands to commit to the advancement of the VI that leads to independence in 2027. Photo: VINO/File
Bishop Cline added that the VI must therefore commit to the path of constitutional change and advancement that leads to independence and that should be done by the year 2027. Photo: Facebook/File
Bishop Cline added that the VI must therefore commit to the path of constitutional change and advancement that leads to independence and that should be done by the year 2027. Photo: Facebook/File
DUFF'S BOTTOM, Tortola, VI – Bishop of the New Life Baptist Church in Duff’s Bottom, Tortola, Mr John I. Cline has urged leaders in the Virgin Islands (VI) to commit to the advancement of the territory that leads to independence by 2027.

“We can choose to remain in the clutches of the UK, or move forward to national growth, economic security, and political independence,” he said in a statement released via Facebook on November 2, 2022.

Time to move forward - Bishop Cline 

“If we choose the latter, we must overcome the fears of our unknown future, move forward with courage and, through thought and action, wrestle with the changes and challenges that will come as we mature into a trusted, stable, and politically healthy country.”

Bishop Cline added that the VI must therefore commit to the path of constitutional change and advancement that leads to independence and that should be done by the year 2027.

“We must put a goalpost in place. We cannot continue to kick the can down the street when it comes to our independence and self-determination. So I say to leaders, you must lead. You must lead or get out of the way,” he admonished.

According to Bishop Cline, allegiance to political parties, self-interest, power-grabbing, and more have stagnated the VI’s growth and retarded its progress over the years.

VI should be further along - Bishop Cline 

“With the annual budget of 390 million [dollars] per year, approximately 1.6 billion dollars every four years, we should have been farther along than we are now and we have no one else to blame but ourselves for that.”

He continued, “Our roads should be in better condition, our oceans and our beaches should be pristine, our environment should be clean, our waste management should be in place, our education system, our healthcare system, our energy system, all should be world-class.” 

He said strong leadership will be needed to take the VI forward, including towards independence.

“We need leaders, not UK puppets, national-minded leaders who will lead us forward into our own independence, and leaders who can unite us and not divide us,” the clergyman said.

41 Responses to “VI should aspire for independence by 2027– Bishop Cline”

  • Sit Down Conman (08/11/2022, 13:32) Like (87) Dislike (2) Reply
    "we have no one else to blame but ourselves for that" exactly - so how would independence help, just mean that nobody watching you while you raid the peoples piggy bank ......
    • smh (08/11/2022, 18:02) Like (45) Dislike (0) Reply
      THE SOONER YOU ALL CAN CUT THE GRASS AROUND THE ISLAND AND KEEP IT IN SHAPE, THE SOONER YOU CAN TALK ABOUT INDEPENDENCE.
    • Rubber Duck (08/11/2022, 23:24) Like (33) Dislike (0) Reply
      Either way, you will be watching it all from Balo if there is any justice.
  • Revolutionaries (08/11/2022, 13:35) Like (1) Dislike (57) Reply
    They don’t want to here real talk Bishop
    • @ Revolutionaries (09/11/2022, 09:45) Like (32) Dislike (0) Reply

      We want nothing to do with people like you and the bishop, point blank!! For years we were running our own affairs; the UK was watching but they let us make independent decisions.
      Just imagine, if politicians and their lobbyist friends had no one looking over them, you guys would have this place turned upside down.
      It is shameful and disrespectful how you continue to play with the minds of the people. We will not rally for independence under you cr*****s.

  • Take down that sign (08/11/2022, 13:51) Like (44) Dislike (0) Reply
    and take a hike
  • resident (08/11/2022, 13:57) Like (74) Dislike (6) Reply
    Economic security? Did the Bishop read the CoI report, or look out of the window to see the state of the place, even after the billions of government revenue over 40 years? We'd be like Haiti in about 2 hours, if we were independent.
    • Josiahsbay (08/11/2022, 23:44) Like (24) Dislike (3) Reply
      We've been running as an independent for the last 70-plus years. The COI is the first major intervention during that time. All we need is the right government.
  • (08/11/2022, 14:13) Like (21) Dislike (4) Reply
    This man a pastor or a politician or both lol lol he need let’s us know
  • bvibuzz (08/11/2022, 14:13) Like (21) Dislike (5) Reply
    The slow man cannot take us to independence
  • justin (08/11/2022, 14:22) Like (46) Dislike (3) Reply
    Independence by 2027? This man needs help!
  • Salty Fish (08/11/2022, 14:39) Like (39) Dislike (2) Reply
    My God - enough of all them preaching Clines! Please, I beg you!

    Kites in a fickle wind, flip flopping, spinning, and showing their true colours!.
  • lol (08/11/2022, 14:48) Like (39) Dislike (2) Reply
    someone bell this kat and the other one CSC
  • asking for a friend (08/11/2022, 14:50) Like (3) Dislike (64) Reply
    Under the British we will be worse than Haiti by 2027 what about 2025 or sooner?
  • who (08/11/2022, 14:57) Like (25) Dislike (1) Reply
    are you going feed the people of the British virgin islands
  • bobby (08/11/2022, 15:02) Like (52) Dislike (0) Reply
    "allegiance to political parties, self-interest, power-grabbing, and more have stagnated the VI’s growth and retarded its progress over the years."
    Mr. Cline this statement looks like you sir.
  • Really (08/11/2022, 15:04) Like (59) Dislike (2) Reply
    The two so claim bishops only looking out for them alone why you and your nephew don't go into the world and preach the gospel like the bible said and win souls for the kindom of God and stop playing politicians crocked false propthet.
  • Not Sure (08/11/2022, 15:21) Like (36) Dislike (2) Reply
    If our good 'bishop' has been following the news but the country is in a bit of a mess right now. Independence towards 2050 more likely..
  • Aspire. Hell yeah. (08/11/2022, 15:39) Like (46) Dislike (4) Reply
    But where we at now. It's a messed.. How do we clean up and get out of this mess... Honestly I'm not seeing much positive energy in wanting to change and make the BVI the envy of the Caribbean again...That's the reason why I'm in support of giving Britain the wheel for two years.
  • time will tell (08/11/2022, 15:42) Like (47) Dislike (0) Reply
    I totally disagree. We are not ready for independence now nor will we be in 2027. As much as some may hate the COI, what it has done is high lighted the flaws and weaknesses of our systems of control in relation to governance. No country can survive and develop properly when systems are week and susceptible to corruption and corrupt people. It should not matter who holds any office if the systems are sound and work properly. You and your nephew would rape the hell outta this country morning ,noon and night
    • We are not ready (08/11/2022, 19:37) Like (34) Dislike (0) Reply
      What the hell we going to eat.
      Agriculture gone through the window. Little planting in the back yard can't sustain us. Fisheries is a bust. Up to now they can't open back up that dept.
      Countries in the Caribbean that have gold, oil, coffee etc not making it. All we have is tourism, that is not enough. The government officials only for their family and friends. What the rest of us going to do?
  • THESE WANNABE HOLY MEN (08/11/2022, 15:57) Like (41) Dislike (0) Reply
    ThEY ALL SINGING THE SAME SONG , WHAT A SET OF BAREFACED HYPOCRITES , YOU NEED PRAYERS
  • is this joker (08/11/2022, 16:15) Like (49) Dislike (0) Reply
    For real ??? With all bthe murders , guns cocaine youths disappearing and not a word or protest from any of them or politicians about the PERPETRATORS ,BUT INSTEAD THEY WOULD RATHER GO TO WAR WITH THE PEOPLE WHO
    WANTS TO CLEAN UP THE COUNTRY ???? , THE GOOD THING IS , DAY BY DAY , THEY ARE SHOWING WHO THEY REALLY ARE , AND WHICH MASTER THEY SERVE .
    • @is the joker (10/11/2022, 06:37) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      You are completely correct. I have never once heard him or CSC spoke on the crime and drugs issues, encouragement of the youths to do better and the state of our infrastructure. It's always politics and fight UK for independence. They just want control and continue to run this place to the ground.
  • c (08/11/2022, 17:13) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    I didn’t realize the BVI’s have a standing military to demand anything.
  • Wanker (08/11/2022, 17:50) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    you have @leaders@ in jail for drugs and nobody fighting to have him removed, you have ex ministers under investigation for corruption and years of total mismanagement. Who does this clown think will run the country and who will they run it for?
  • asinine (08/11/2022, 18:55) Like (18) Dislike (1) Reply
    This is the most asinine statement ever made. If this is the type of leadership we will get as a territory then God help us. The state of the infrastructure is not the result of UK oversight. It is the result of corruption among the local leaders. Independence will not make that better. Rather it will make it worse. This pastor should rather be advocating for better ethical and moral standards among elected leaders and ensuring that integrity legislation is passed.
  • @COSC (08/11/2022, 19:16) Like (23) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why wait 5 years? Do it in 2023. Straight to a republic and ditch the King. No ceremonial head of state. Elect your own executive President like Guyana. Britain would be only too happy to scratch you off the OT dependent list. Take the route of Haiti and Rhodesia/Zimbabwe. Expel all the down islanders like Idi Amin did with the Indians in Uganda. And drop the US$ and create the VI$ and central bank. Drop that colonial British passport and citizenship. And keep naming prospective future leaders and cursing their names by association with you. Keep destroying your future.
  • justin (08/11/2022, 19:58) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
    Bishop conversations are somewhat stimulating but during the curfew & lockdown Bishop took the vaccine and departed the territory while the less fortunate had to brace their backs and deal with all manner of issues

    one could be curious, will the Bishop disappear from our territory if the British shows up or will homeboy stay home
  • my2cents (08/11/2022, 22:42) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    we won't be ready for that anytime soon
  • musa (09/11/2022, 00:23) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    this guy was fire from duty at the hospital much less run a country
  • Well booooo to you (09/11/2022, 00:49) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    This place is in no way ready for INDEPENDENCE. We don’t even have a military service to protect us. Go Independent and this place will be worst than Haiti.
  • just wrong (09/11/2022, 08:44) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Talk about "the kiss of death" ...sigh
  • Aspiration (09/11/2022, 09:21) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    VI should aspire for a clean, honest and transparent Government first before seeking Independence.
  • lol (09/11/2022, 10:27) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    We should aspire to be independent from these hot air talking heads.
  • Hey bro (09/11/2022, 18:36) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hey , you mean , you just do a moon walk out of the church to turn politician , ( what's the name of the movie ) i saved the bvi from us ? ????
  • Gas bag (09/11/2022, 18:52) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    BVI should aspire to be done with CSK by 2023, January 1…..exactly what has he done for the Territory besides his narcissistic strutting?
  • 2027? (10/11/2022, 06:29) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    What is the big deal with him and CSC about 2027??? ???? Why is that the magic number for independence.
    We, the lower ones in society not calling and asking for independence so why ppl like him and politicians shouting independence if we don't want it and not ready for it? What's their agenda???
  • Handel (10/11/2022, 06:30) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    The BVI can barely govern themselves under colonial rule and you’re seeking independence? Haha!
  • Blind leading the blind (10/11/2022, 11:56) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Y’all need go find out what God this man praising cause it aint Jehovah..


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