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'We have let the guards down in this country'- Claude O. Skelton-Cline

- said rules & regulations need to be enforced to preserve the VI culture
Controversy was sparked in July 2025 when patrons and passersby at the Watering Hole in Road Town noticed the flag of South Africa was prominently flown above the Virgin Islands flag, which was, alarmingly, displayed upside down. Photo: Team of Reporters
Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline has called for the enforcement of rules and regulations to preserve and protect the Virgin Islands' culture.
Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline has called for the enforcement of rules and regulations to preserve and protect the Virgin Islands' culture.
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI– Pastor and commentator Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline has called for the enforcement of rules and regulations to preserve and protect the Virgin Islands' culture.

He made this appeal during his “Honestly Speaking” show on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, while referencing the controversy surrounding the Virgin Islands flag being flown below the South African flag at the Watering Hole, a popular restaurant and bar located in the vibrant heart of Road Town, Tortola.

The controversy arose in July when patrons noticed that the South African flag was prominently displayed above the Virgin Islands flag, which was alarmingly displayed upside down.

'Respect the people’s culture'

Pastor Skelton-Cline expressed that the Virgin Islands is home to 120 different ethnicities and emphasised the need for Virgin Islanders to be even more vigilant in preserving, protecting, and promoting their culture.

"You respect the people’s culture. Those things are not accidental or incidental. Those things happen intentionally because we have let down the guards; we have let down the gates in this country. We are responsible for why people think that they can just have a right to do some of these things.’’ Skelton Cline stated.

He added that Virgin Islanders should not only have outrage, but they must also put policies and enforce rules, regulations, laws, and legislation in place to sustain the Virgin Islands' culture.

"It is not enough to be outraged; it's not sufficient. Courage is not rage. Courage is to do what needs to be done to ensure that the culture is preserved," Skelton-Cline further stated.

16 Responses to “'We have let the guards down in this country'- Claude O. Skelton-Cline ”

  • LOL (01/09/2025, 10:41) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
    I am not a born Virgin Islander but a Naturalezed Citizen and this is definitely a hight of " Disrespect".
  • WB (01/09/2025, 11:10) Like (20) Dislike (1) Reply
    Mr. Skelton-Cline is 100 percent right on this.
  • Gary Oak (01/09/2025, 11:17) Like (2) Dislike (24) Reply
    the spanish and syrians them alrdy overrun we country might as well let some south african baddies in as well
  • BRAD BOYNES (01/09/2025, 12:09) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    He added that Virgin Islanders should not only have outrage, but they must also put policies and enforce rules, regulations, laws, and legislation in place to sustain the Virgin Islands' culture.

    Rally? Your police is questionable because you cannot appoint a qualified Virgin Islander. Your Immigration is running .
    amuck because you have a green, compromised and gullible person in charge. Your customs is very shady in operations. and your people are being destroyed for a lack of knowledge. Expats are doing what they cant and will not do in their native country and you entertain the same with impunity. Where else in the Caribbean or by extension the world, a man can sexually assault his step children and be allowed to remain in the country? Keep on living. later will be greater
  • son of the soil (01/09/2025, 12:21) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD PROTECTING THEIR CITIZENS EXCEPT THE BVI...................EVERYTIME A BVISLANDER OPENS HIS/HER MOUTH, EVERYBODY VEX
  • Stealth (01/09/2025, 12:28) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    Subordinating, flying the VI flag upside down and below the South African flag is total disrespect for the VI and the VI people. They are trying to relive the racist, horrific days of nationally sanctioned apartheid in South h Africa. They think they are in Johannesburg. Mehson these MSs need to be deported. The Virgin Islands appeasers encouraged, emboldened, etc., this egregious, racist behavior. It is time to shed, can this above Round Rock behavior. Stop feeding the crocodiles thing they will not rat you last. In the US, there is a Lost Cause movement about the true nature about the Civil War and Slavery. The Africaneers want to create a movement about the validity of Apartheid. GTFH, with the crap. The Watering Hole needs to be picketed, boycotted out of town. Time is up catch the slow boat of town, mehson.
  • hmm (01/09/2025, 12:31) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    South Africa with their legalized racism calling it Arpathied and Natalio them say they are black Conscious carrying african names. What a confused set of people. When you speak to some of these South Africans they have a way of shouting saying they cant understand. Like the flag flying over the BVI flag its a subtle way of expressing Superiorty and inferiority.
  • Broken clock (01/09/2025, 12:59) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    While I don’t always agree with the good pastor (sarcasm) I agree with thin on this. Question, what’s our flag protocols and codes? What’s the punishment for violating the protocols and or codes?
  • fact (01/09/2025, 13:18) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Too many Saffers.
  • Big Richard (01/09/2025, 15:30) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    We sure have. You're back
  • WOW (01/09/2025, 15:54) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    If it was just the BVI flag being flown upside down then I could have understand the mistake.However flying the SA flag above the Union Jack on BVI soil… this is no accident.. this is very disrespectful and action needs to be taken. Things like this should not be taken lightly. It’s rude to BVI and its citizens. Bro you are not in SA.. leave that racist mentality back where you came from . This really pisses me off that people are not taken this more seriously. I don’t understand how the owner of the establishment thought this was ok ??? It just shows what he really thinks about the BVI and its citizens.
    • Informed (01/09/2025, 19:46) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      How did the flag get flown upside down? It was simply run up the flag pole in the wrong direction. this put the bvi flag upside down and the South African flag at the top. A very simple mistake but as usual Mr cline has set to seek a divide in the community.
  • bologna (01/09/2025, 19:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    If intentional and done with approval of owners, they're not very savvy marketers.
  • fact (01/09/2025, 19:23) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I took a picture of the SA flag on June 4th and the BVI flag was above.
  • WE USED TO (01/09/2025, 19:33) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    HAVE A CULTURE ( MISWIKUITE CKS PARSONS ) MADE IT CLEAR , BUT ALL THE HYPOCRITES PRETENDED TO BE DEAF & DUMB AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEIR VOICES CAME BACK AFTER SHE DIED , AND LOOK WHO'S HOLLERING IT OUT , NONE OTHER THAN HIS EXELENCY - CSC -AND IF IS HE IS REPRESENTING WHATS USED TO BE OUR CULTURE - THEN WE ARE TRULY " FRIGGED "


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