BVI News

BVI deserves more mature leadership — Skelton Cline

Claude Skelton Cline

Political commentator and government consultant, Pastor Claude Skelton Cline has come out in scathing condemnation of what he suggests to be the immature level of leadership being meted out to residents.

He was referring to the public dispute between government and Opposition legislators concerning a Request for Proposals (RFP) the Ministry of Finance recently issued to secure a special health insurance plan for House of Assembly (HOA) members.

Skelton Cline said on his Honestly Speaking radio show on Tuesday that the people of the BVI deserve a more mature leadership than what they’re currently receiving from legislators.

He acknowledged that his criticism might be harsh but said he was unfazed if it were received in this manner.

“The people of the Virgin Islands are more deserving of a more mature leadership … In too many ways we are behaving too childish [with] kindergarten, primary school kind of banter,” Skelton Cline argued.

With the territory currently experiencing a Commission of Inquiry as well as a crippling health pandemic, the talk show host said times are too serious and challenging for its leaders to continuously get into these “sophomoric fights”.

He urged togetherness and emotional sobriety so that residents can meet the needs of the moment. “We’re better than this and we have to begin to behave better than this,” the clergyman said.

The talk show host described as “tit-for-tat” the responses legislators have been hurling at each other about the increasingly controversial RFP.

Compensation packages poorly executed

Speaking to the issue of HOA compensation packages – which includes the matter of insurance coverage – Skelton Cline suggested that these were untimely in the manner in which they were rolled out.

“I believe that the compensation packages or package for the House of Assembly members are rightly conceived but are poorly, very poorly and untimely being executed,” Skelton Cline said in the wake of the uproar over the legislators’ insurance saga.

He said there really is no room or time for legislators to continue to play political football on these issues.

Skelton Cline said while he remains hopeful there is a window of opportunity to turn things around, he would be intellectually dishonest in not saying that he remains disappointed at the level of behaviour.

Both legislators from both sides of the political aisle have given contradicting stories as it relates to the Oppositions involvement in the proposed insurance plan that, among other things, seeks to circumvent the National Health Insurance scheme and offer legislators coverage for cosmetic surgery (in the event of an accident), alcoholism, and substance abuse rehabilitation.

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40 Comments

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  1. Yawn says:

    He didn’t know that before he was campaigning for them? This country is full of opportunists. The ship is sinking so he now trying to jump off. I pray that in this season all the hypocrites and opportunist be exposed.

    Like 62
    Dislike 1
    • @YAWN says:

      It always happens that way once you get caught. IT IS A HARD THING TO SAY BUT, THE COUNTRY IS BEING RUN ON A BUSHMAN MENTALITY. IT IS SO HURTFUL TO SEE HOW THESE PEOPLE SITTING AND FLEECING THE TAXPAYERS. THEY WANT US TO PAY FOR BIG TIME INSURANCE WITH ALL THE PERKS FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES TO ENJOY AND THE PEOPLE MUST TAKE THE SCRAPS. AS A TAXPAYER, I AM OUTRAGED AT THE INEPT, UNPROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR OF THESE PEOPLE. THIS IS THE STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMELS BACK. ONE SET OF LOW DOWN DISGUSTING DIRTY SCOUNDRELS IN SUITS AND HEELS. THEY REALLY STABBED US IN THE BACK HARD THIS TIME AROUND.

      Like 42
    • @Yawn says:

      He is just setting up the chips for his next crossing, wait for it.

      Like 42
    • @Yawn says:

      Exactly. He is also trying to be objective and distance himself from them in the wake of the COI. It’s all part of their mind games.

      Like 42
    • 1EYE says:

      I think he means both sides of the floor

      Like 5
      Dislike 3
    • Why says:

      Why is this d**t bag given a platform on this news service to spout his racist s**t. Pr***n for him can’t come soon enough.

    • For Sure says:

      All of them ships is sinking. IF NHI IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR US, IT IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR THEM. THEY WANT BIG INSURANCE FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES, THEN PAY FOR IT ON YOUR OWN DIME, NOT ON THE TAXPAYERS DIME.

      Like 12
      Dislike 1
    • CSC says:

      I proposed we vote on CSC as our new Premier, he clearly understands what we need moving forward. He is not appreciated in his current role and we should allow him to take on a leadership role for our independent future!

      Dislike 15
  2. Belly full says:

    You turned against the NDP because they did not renew your contract at the BVIPA. You run to the VIP and reunited with your brother Andrew. He threw you under the bus by denying you like how Christ was denied. Now you are saying that they are not mature after supporting them at the top of your voice. Your heart was full of malice against the former administration and now look what you have helped to bring in the country. I guess you done get your belly full from them but Hickinbottom making you vomit up all that food. There are too many Claude Clines in the BVI – people who pretend to love country but actually love self.

    Like 68
    Dislike 1
    • @Belly full says:

      Yes, claiming to love his country but at every corner promoting the culture, mores and values of USA! We didn’t need no damn New York pizza here…the US accent and USA politics, current events and history here…we have our own…promote BVI culture, mores and values…focus on BVI history and heroes and don’t try to make us no colony of the USS…they already have their own virgin islands. Yours sincerely, a Virgin Islands Patriot!

      Like 28
      Dislike 1
  3. DogEatDog says:

    Let the implosion begin.. (or continue rather)

    Like 21
  4. Probity says:

    Sir, If what you have to say is not sweeter than silence please hide go hide up Duffs Bottom.

    Like 19
  5. Margaret Mead says:

    Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.

    Like 20
  6. Overspend says:

    What we need is a non tender Govt consultancy to be handed to somebody to (not) produce a report on private health insurance.

    Like 12
    Dislike 1
  7. Belonger says:

    As a government adviser, he didn’t know about this insurance thing?
    Hmmm. Everybody now trying to save face.

    Like 22
  8. Bossman says:

    The matter at hand is not maturity, it is a matter of principles. Either you have principles or you don’t, clearly Sir you do not.

    If NHI is good for us, NHI is good for them!

    Like 31
  9. SON says:

    We may need more mature leadership but Cline!!!!!!! IT WILL NEVER BE YOU

    Like 33
    Dislike 1
  10. Island ? Man. says:

    I had the opportunity to work @ your lovely house in Ballas Bay that you allegedly use the Pier Park money ?to build. It’s a lovely house ?.

    Like 23
  11. Musa says:

    He made a general statement and that including him self.

    Like 17
  12. LOL DETROITTTTT says:

    Well, he can rule himself out then LOL

  13. They should says:

    All of them should hang their heads in shame. DID THEY ACTUALLY THINK THEY COULD HAVE GOTTEN AWAY WITH THIS TYPE OF DISGUSTING BEHAVIOR? BIG SHAME ON ALL OF THEM!!!!!. HOW DARE THEY???!!!!!!. NOTHING BUT A BUNCH OF DRUNK IN LOVE FOR POWER VOLCANO ROCK FREAKS!!!!!. TAKE MY COMMENT ANYWAY YOU LIKE WITH SWEET OR SOUR SAUCE, BUT I SAID ITTTTTT!!!!.

    Like 8
    Dislike 1
  14. Sturpss... says:

    This one realize the ship sinking or wha.

    Like 14
    Dislike 1
  15. Here’s my say says:

    IF NHI IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR US, IT IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR THEM AD LIBBING A BIT AND THEIR FAMILIES. COME ON PASTOR, YOU KNEW AND WAS PART OF IT AS WELL. THE WHOLE THING BLEW UP ALL OF YOUR FACES. BOOM. CAN’T WAIT TO GET THE T ? SO YOU GUYS CAN SEE AND BE REMINDED ABOUT WHAT YOU ALL WAS TRYING TO DO TO THE TAXPAYING CITIZENS OF THE COUNTRY.

    Like 12
  16. heckler says:

    PVIM here he comes…He rode the NDP and VIP to death

    Like 15
  17. Hmmm says:

    Claude, i generally dislike what i call your divisive rethoric.

    However, i have to agree with you. For one member of the HOA to call another member a liar in writing, tells a lot about the maturity of that elected person.

    She has not made a single contribution to improve the lives of BVI Islanders since she got elected. What does she STAND for. Dont worry, next election her vote count is not going to take long.

    Like 19
    Dislike 2
  18. BVI Future says:

    This country needs visionary leaders- those who are educated, intelligent, modest, honest, mature, care for the people, care for the country, respectful, have good communication skills, not boastful, analytical, knowledgeable in cultural diversity and accepts criticism in a positive manner. CSC and Foy do not have these qualities. They are self-serving and pushing us to become a Third World country.
    We need leaders who will secure our borders from illegal activities, follow CDC and WHO guidelines, modernize the infrastructure, provide affordable and basic healthcare, built public schools, provide affordable internet services, keep the country clean and beautiful, provide incentives for those who left to further their education to return to the BVI.

    Like 14
    • Stop deh t*F says:

      F**K CDC and WHO. They are part of the plan to kill off black people from the earth. Since when those two organizations have all the answers for the world? We were advising wypippol not to sleep in the same quarters with cats and dogs to save themselves from diseases. We know better than they are proposing with their untested vaccines.
      We are reading now, remember.

      Like 2
      Dislike 5
  19. So says:

    They halted the insurance, they now need to withdraw the padded pension increase they just passed for themselves.

    Set of greedy so-an-so’s, only looking out for themselves while people suffering,

    Keep the heat on, Ladies from the East.

    Like 20
    Dislike 1
  20. Rubber Duck says:

    Looks like him and Albert are falling out. The blame game over the COI and the contracts to do nothing no doubt to blame .

    “When thieves fall out, honest men come by their own “

    Old proverb.

    Like 14
    Dislike 1
    • Deh Watcha says:

      From the looks of it brother, there seems to not even be a contract in place because nobody can produce a copy.

      So the gentleman appears to be an employee of government and not a subcontractor.

  21. WEW says:

    Just leave

  22. Action Man says:

    ……MIA….what’s his thoughts on this debacle? Busy revamping Pisher’s new menu..?

  23. lol says:

    Is there no honour amongst thieves?

    Like 11
  24. COI INDA HOUSE says:

    PAMPERS ON SALE , WELL YOU HAVE A WAY WITH WORDS , LETS SEE US US HOW YOU ARE GOING TO WIGGLE YOUR WAY OUTA DIS ONE, TEACH US THAT DETROIT GROOVE THAT YOU USED ?

  25. Haha says:

    We need people with better comprehensive skills. People read this as he is bashing VIP solely when he is clearly talking about the whole situation with our leaders from both sides of the HOA. It takes two to tango you can go tit without the tat.

  26. Hnmmm says:

    He’s a big coward and needs to grown up and act speak like a real mature man and stop hiding in his shell waiting for for all clear, ,,,## he just can’t be trusted ,,,

  27. What was the campaign song says:

    CAptain the ship is sinki

    Well the ship really floating now ….,,,

  28. Indeed says:

    That would begin by the pastor sitting down and listening.

  29. MI says:

    I’m from Detroit area. I love BVI. This dude is a cr**k. How desperate are b I to elevate a fr**dster like this to leadership? Ship sinking with a f**l like that at the helm. Toss him, or sink.

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