Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

‘We don’t like to be workers for nobody else'- Claude O. Skelton-Cline

- said a part of the VI's DNA is ownership but multinational corporations are now being allowed to cannabalise the market
Host of Honestly Speaking, Claude O. Skelton-Cline has said Virgin Islanders are natural owners, as it makes up their DNA, but that ownership is being given away. Photo: Facebook
Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline said ownership of land, ownership of industry, ownership of business, and ownership in the marketplace are natural to Virgin Islanders. Photo: Internet Source
Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline said ownership of land, ownership of industry, ownership of business, and ownership in the marketplace are natural to Virgin Islanders. Photo: Internet Source
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI- Host of Honestly Speaking, Claude O. Skelton-Cline has said Virgin Islanders are natural owners, as it makes up their DNA, but that ownership is being given away.

During the last airing of his show on July 28, 2026, Skelton-Cline hit hard at multinational corporations being allowed to monopolise the market in the Virgin Islands (VI) without legislative restrictions or guidelines by which they operate. This, he explained, hurt the native businesses, particularly the small businesses. 

The VI, Pastor Skelton-Cline said, is built on locals being owners. 

“This country, in the DNA of Virgin Islanders, we are owners. We don’t like to be workers for nobody else. We will work, don’t get it twisted, but a part of our DNA is ownership. Ownership of land, ownership of industry, ownership of business, ownership in the marketplace. We are owners.”

He said this is being given away by allowing multinational corporations to come in, unabated by legislation, and “cannibalising the market” and putting small businesses out of business. 

“That’s how economies run: on small business, even in the so-called America and the United Kingdom.”

We’re being taken advantage of

Skelton-Cline warned to be careful not to hitch your future on the wrong horse. 

“We let too many things slide and go in this country, and we’re being taken advantage of, and some of us are so naive, we don’t even know we’re being raped; we don’t even know that we’re being economically molested. We don’t even know that we’re being taken advantage of.”

He added that some know something is wrong but are unable to point out exactly what it is. He said that is why he is trying to point these social ills out. 

9 Responses to “‘We don’t like to be workers for nobody else'- Claude O. Skelton-Cline”

  • Wow! (20/08/2026, 13:26) Like (44) Dislike (2) Reply
    He's not wrong, but, were we being raped when the Auditor Generals audit found Skelton-Cline received over $365,000 in taxpayer funds without delivering on his contract requirements, at a monthly rate ($16,330) higher than the Premier's or any Cabinet minister's. Asking for a friend.
    • Yall don’t forget (20/08/2026, 19:14) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
      NOTHING!! Lol but it is a large amount of money to not have anything visible to show for it.

      That money was to buy the Audi. It’s gone too.
  • LOL (20/08/2026, 15:20) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    So we want BVIslanders to be the owners and workers. Who is going to tell this guy?? Wow!
  • Update on CSC (20/08/2026, 17:33) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    https://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/where-is-claude-o-skelton-cline-why-is-he-so-quiet-over-ports-scandal
  • Everyone owns a business. (20/08/2026, 20:21) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    No customers...hmmm.
  • Bvi lander (20/08/2026, 20:27) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    CLAUDE YOU NEED TO CLOSE YOU FILTY TRAP AND STOP TALKING SHIT GO PAY YOUR WORKERS NHI SOCAL AND TAX
  • pp (20/08/2026, 21:19) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Right now you dancing to your own music
  • ---------------------------------- (21/08/2026, 09:25) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Just to damm lazy
  • Wellsah (21/08/2026, 09:54) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    yea lets go back to the old days of trade, i exchange fowl eggs for your goat's milk and charcoal


Create a comment


Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.
Video Ad


Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.