BVI News

Airlift success worth celebrating, says ‘independent’ Skelton Cline

Owner of Grace Consultants and Chairman of the Cruise Tourism Committee, Claude Skelton Cline.

Political commentator Claude Skelton Cline said he believes the government’s success in securing non-stop flights from American Airlines between Miami and Beef Island is worth celebrating.

Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley’s announcement of a free celebration concert that will cost roughly $250,000 stirred a great deal of controversy in the community, including from the Opposition which announced that it disagrees with the move.

But Skelton Cline said party affiliation shouldn’t matter in celebrating the territory’s latest triumph.

“We should celebrate that as a nation. You see there are some things that transcends party politics. It doesn’t matter,” Skelton Cline said on his Honestly Speaking show. “There are some national agenda items that we just ought to celebrate, no matter your party stripe.”

“This is of national importance and therefore all of us must do everything in our power to ensure that this works and works well,” Skelton Cline added. “And so, whatever it is that we have to do, we must ensure that the political will and the resources are in place to continue to not simply enhance, but to expand our airlift — our airport.”

I’m now independent politically

Just before the recent general elections, Skelton Cline became one of the staunchest critics of the government. He insisted then that the party system has failed the BVI and called for a new movement to take the reins of power in the territory.

Describing himself as an independent now after previously being closely aligned with the ruling party, Skelton Cline said he will now support individuals from various parties moving forward.

“As an independent, I’ve come to realise that the party boxes are not expandable enough to bring all of the multicultural, indigenous and whatever else your nationality or immigration status may be,” the commentator said. “I have come to realise and accept that we’re going to have to be more expandable.”

“The government may not be the government you like, but it is the government that we have and therefore we must exhort and encourage and extol this government,” he added while urging them to make an impact.

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34 Comments

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  1. Hmm says:

    Is COSC a paid consultant helping to organise the party!

    Like 18
    Dislike 2
  2. I agree says:

    If it were NDP the NDP supporters wouldn’t be so vocal ! Smh. I wish they would get over their lost and move on and stop trying to stifle the GOV. We all know $250,000 can’t do anything in term of fixing infrastructure or schools or even pay a 5th of increments owed. But here you people are trying to cause divide because it’s not your party . Can that even build a proper class room block when a little bathroom at brewers bay cost almost that? Be realistic and stop trying to create devision.

    Like 13
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  3. Independant Thinker says:

    Please can we normalise ignoring this person and stop publishing his every random thought in the media?

    Oh, and is there any update on the recovery of taxpayer funds paid to him by our disgraced former premier as a reward for speaking about him on his radio show? The man has his own chapter in the COI report and yet he is still treated as some kind of deity.

    Like 34
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  4. Tiyad says:

    I am tired of the Skeltons, Clines and Turnbulls. They sickening.

    Like 32
    Dislike 4
  5. FACIAL EXPRESSION ? says:

    Is saying )> let me holler at you guys , ( yo boy ) is back to play with your mind / body and soul ~ independently or together , you know me , the city slicker ?

    Like 12
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  6. The Go Back HOme says:

    Because unfortunately for you they are sons of the soil . So if you don’t like them go HOME! Lol

    Like 7
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  7. @Tiyad says:

    Wish I could like this a ? times… Yuck

  8. BIRDS OF A FEATHER says:

    HE WILL SANCTION ANY KIND OF MONEY WASTAGE IN ORDER TO JUSTIFY WHAT HE RECIEVED IN THE PAST

    Like 10
    Dislike 1
  9. My Thoughts says:

    I am just as independent. No real political affiliate. I just speak the truth as I see fit.

    I believe all the negative vibes about the celebration is coming from the opposition members and their affiliates.

    However, the want to talk about 250 k to celebrate a well deserves accomplishment. Have they already forgotten our 7.2 million that went in the wind with nothing to show for it? Are they forgetting that the 7.2 million if it was used in the countries interest our roads, schools, infrastructure would not have been in this deployerable state?

    By the way can you imagine the same flights they were bringing from Miami to BVI for 7.2 million can and will continue to come without paying even 1 million. So if we are going to spend the point 2 million we still have 7 million in our kitty.

    People, put away your anger and shame and let the VIP roll. They are our government, we vote them in, let them strive. Mr Premier do your thing. I first and second the motion, or I move and second the motion.

    We deserve the celebration because what one party could not do for 7.2 million, we did for zero million, the same route, Miami to BVI direct. Of course we should celebrate.

    AS the song says, Celebration Time, Come On!!!!

    3 Cheers to VIP lead by our well capable Premier and his team. Halleluia!!!

    Like 10
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  10. BULL says:

    A NATIONAL AIRLINE WILL QUICKER IMPRESS US

    Like 9
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  11. NDP Supporter says:

    I am a NDP Supporter and I do not hate VIP politicians nor do I hate their supporters. In fact many of them are my friends. What I hate is that we do not pick sense out of nonsense and we get to politically touchy. which is why half of you I do not hold a conversation with. When NDP did anything to cut cost, many of you complained, if they did something good we complained. they did bad, we still complained. This is the same for VIP. BVI people are never pleased. Our issue is the execution and accountability.

    We still have to realize that our runway needs an additional few feet for these planes to run comfortably. We still have major issues with schools, infrastructure and so on. I think less funds could have been spent on the concert and put more into Festival which is right around the corner.

    Like 8
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  12. @ my thoughts says:

    you trying to sound relevant , but you forget to empty that GABBAGE first , it ain’t smell good ,so do that first and try again with some disinfectant , ok , thank you

    Like 5
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  13. Sara says:

    It can buy a dialysis machine for the Nurse Iris O’Neal Clinic

    Like 20
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  14. Sara says:

    How about the $40 million spent on fisher and farmer grant and nothting to show for it? how about all the money given for scholarships to party supporters?

    Like 12
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  15. @my thoughts says:

    Sowande at his best. Either that or words of a paid sowande blogger. Election is over. This is not about party. This about the fact that a cl**n running a country. It is not justifiable. Planting more seeds of stupidity as if there isn’t enough already to go around. This country is dying.

    Like 11
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  16. Further... says:

    @my thoughts clearly don’t have a brain so I am not sure where the h**l their thoughts stemming from.

    Like 3
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  17. Horses a**e says:

    I saw a horse on the high road farting. Why don’t you publish that noise. About as relevant of a speaker as this a**e.

    Like 6
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  18. Yes says:

    And he’s looking Big job again …if he ain’t already get it …..your name should be changed to “manipulate”

  19. Tallgirl says:

    Why when people complain about something they think is wrong that the Government is doing we start to bring up political parties? Should we agree with foolishness because you want it. Yes, it will take more than $250,000 to fix our most pressing issues like lack of running water, sewage, the roads, schools, healthcare and increments to name a few but we should not waste the little we have for just a few to jump up and party on. Plus, the Premier said the country is not broke. So, my suggestion is stop acting like little spoil brats and sit down and put your priorities in order and do something worthwhile for our country. Time and money are running out and it is time we get results that we will be proud of from our elected officials regardless of what party is running the country. I am constantly weeping for my country. Wake up people, all this wastage will come back to bit us in the a**.

    Like 7
    Dislike 1
  20. Kyrie says:

    This man and his whole family clan with their oversized egos and false feelings of importance need to just get lost. I am fed up of them.

  21. NOOOOOOO! says:

    Don’t even think about coming down there to sell pizza,doughboy!!! TF!

    Like 3
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  22. He again! says:

    This a sign that Sowande desperate so he start a new gravy boat. What is this country coming to? Governor, we need a new election! We need a new election!

    Like 4
    Dislike 1
  23. Inaccurate says:

    You all are misquoting what the guy said and are making it seem like he publicly supported the spending of $250,000. He said we should all celebrate the accomplishment collectively, even if we don’t support the current government. I celebrateD the accomplishment. I even went to the airport to see the first flight come in. Does that mean I support the None Stop Concert? NO IT DOES NOT!!

    Like 4
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  24. Reason to celebrate. says:

    This is definitely a good reason to celebrate, my Issue is that its been rushed. We could have taken our time collate ideas and plan for a better and bigger event at the one yr Celebration…Leave this rushed celebration alone

    Like 1
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  25. LOOKS 2 ME LIKE says:

    LIke he was going to intro us to his little friend , but maybe it’s not licensed , so he changed his mind , and smiled ?

  26. Chupes says:

    He support anything with money spending especially if he could hang his greedy mouth to catch some. This man has never contributed one thing to this country. He came back from the States just fleecing off of government and whoever he could sink his paws into. I have no respect or regard for him. He need to come off the people radio

  27. Slimy snake says:

    He is a PVIM. He is not independent. His uncle don’t want him to say that because he will make the party look worse than it look already. He was out campaigning for his uncle. Because they didn’t win he is independent. If they won he would have been there line up waiting for contracts. Old slimy snake. I don’t know who in their right mind could sit down and listen to you preach to them. You worse than the people you preaching to

    Like 1
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  28. Wondering says:

    Am I the only one wondering that American Airlines has started connections out of Miami in smaller planes to other Caribbean Islands at the same time as to the BVI? Is it our Government to be praised for the new flights or was it just American Airlines adding these?

    Like 3
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  29. To Wondering says:

    They did the same in Anguilla and Dominica.

  30. Vislander says:

    What is the objective of the “party”? We ought to be giving Praise and Thanks to Almighty God. I totally agree with also giving credit where it is due….cudos to Hon. Kye Rhymer and his team for their awesome work….to the Hon. Premier as well as anyone else who were instrumental in facilitating these direct flights. This is indeed a major achievement for our territory.

  31. Party on says:

    Think of the great publicity CSK would garner if he were to step up and offer to pay for the $ 250 k party for a flight that has to leave with fewer people than it brings. He could even petition to have the date declared a national holiday to celebrate his magnanimity.

  32. Gravy Train says:

    There are more meaningful, lasting ways to commemorate and celebrate this achievement. And it won’t cost half as much. Have one of the flights, have a few artists at the airport, have a ceremony, a mini concert, and the unveiling of a plaque. There will be other flights to follow. Will we have 250,000 dollar concerts for them too? You set a precedence, be ready to follow up.

  33. Hm. says:

    But it makes logical sense to waste on what doesn’t benefit the people. Settah momo ayo be

  34. Morons says:

    That means you hate your parents too. I am pretty sure you may have their genes in you.

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