‘Don’t blame COI for stagnation,’ Bishop tells government
Bishop John Cline has rejected claims that the Commission of Inquiry (COI) is responsible for slowing progress in the BVI, insisting that government leaders should take responsibility for economic development.
Speaking on The Big Story programme, Cline argued that the inquiry, which was launched in 2021 to examine governance and corruption concerns, cannot be used as an excuse for the territory’s economic stagnation.
“The Commission of Inquiry, it is what it is, it was what it was. It helped to strengthen some processes, create a better structure in some areas, but it doesn’t stop you from governing. It doesn’t stop you from expanding your economy. It doesn’t stop you from looking for regional and international opportunities,” he argued.
Cline dismissed suggestions that reforms introduced after the inquiry had slowed decision-making. “That’s an excuse,” he explained, adding that the only clear impact has been in the distribution of social assistance, where funds for people in need now take longer to reach them because of centralised vetting processes.
He argued that the government had instead made policy errors that harmed growth, including dismantling the Trade Commission, which he said had been designed to support small and medium-sized businesses, attract investment, and streamline licensing procedures.
“One of the biggest mistakes of this government, I believe, is when they allowed the then minister to do away with the Trade Commission that was positioned for economic growth and expansion,” he said.
Cline, who served as deputy chair of the Trade Commission before it was disbanded, described how the body was intended to function as a one-stop shop for business. “A trade commission is an independent statutory body that is given the mandate to help the economy of the Virgin Islands grow, develop, expand, look for regional, international, and internal investments and grow it. That was the mandate in a nutshell,” he explained.
The Commission of Inquiry, led by Sir Gary Hickinbottom, was ordered by then-governor Augustus Jaspert in 2021 to investigate allegations of corruption and mismanagement. Its report, delivered in 2022, found serious failings in governance and called for sweeping reforms.
While the government has been implementing recommendations, critics like Cline say political leaders have allowed the process to overshadow efforts to expand tourism, agriculture, and other industries.
Calling for greater urgency, Cline urged residents to demand accountability and reject excuses.
“Don’t blame the COI,” he insisted, stressing that leadership must focus on real economic expansion and long-term development.
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The new President of the NDP. I don’t know about you but I am tired of these same suspects resurfacing over and over again. What more do they want? This is like a club now. Look at all the same suspects manipulating minds and telling lies just to get to the seat of political power. We need a break from these people. I for one will not be supporting them
I agree. The same corrupt political elites and families keep on sharing the spoils. Wanting Independence so that can carry on with no controls.
At least here for a moment John Cline is sounding like an adult.
Let us hope he has really grown up and that others can do so also.
We need to move on from this club, self determine what the people want not what they want, and get politician in place that are working for the people and not themselves
John Cline represents that same elite that is looking for themselves. Watch you will see him push for his best friend and CSC’s uncle Ronnie to be the leader of the NDP. It is one big clan of the old boy’s club waiting to sink their paws in the BVI for their own enrichment.
Ah! Ha! Is this Myron speaking? Certainly sounds like Myron, then how come he keep going after Myron for saying these things? Oh! I get it, he didn’t want his political entrant to overshadowed by Myron polemics and the ability of the alliance, he argued when they moved because he wants them there when he comes over under Ronnie as opposition leader.
Go Myron you have inspired others in politics, even bishop cline is mimicking your style of politics.
This same bishop cline said that Myron was bloggering or some word the premier by questioning his accountability for the Vybz Kartel quarter million USD and bank of Asia $5 million USD.
Am a moomoo meh son, I am confused, let me stay a gumbay.
Short man syndrome. He craves attention. New face of the NDP
The point is that he is absolutely correct. Stick to the issue at hand.
He is absolutely correct. There is no effort to grow the economy. It the same revenue stream and businesses just plodding along. There is no effort to grow regional or international business because they are bankrupt of ideas. Right across the Caribbean there are huge investments going into tourism and the BVI cannot even attract one investment. When was the last time you see a hotel being built in the BVI. Nothing since Scrub Island years ago. Our operational environment cannot attract any investment and our government is not making an effort to attract any either.
Listen to the Message and Don’t focus on the Messenger if the Message is For Real. He is Right. they continue to Blame the COI for everything they don’t intend to change. He is also Right about the Trade Commission being in place to help grow the economy and give ALL Businesses Small and Great an equal chance. Why Did they allowed One Politician to single Handedly Suspend that Body indefinitely and They still have the Gonads to stand up and tell the People of this Territory that they care about them? When they come to Campaign before the People, RAW EGGS should be thrown in their Faces. A Set of Hypocrites. Useless, Selfish, Theives. Tell them John Ivan Cline!!! Another Cline!! lol,
We need a Cline in the Hollywood HOA!! John or Claude???
In the BVI when it comes to politics we have to pay attention to the messenger.
To many times BVI “messengers” have hidden agendas or speak only when they are looking to gain something. And once gained they go quiet.
Look at the gentleman who was reporting on the road issues. Man has disappeared, gone quiet or into hiding.
There is nothing stopping him from pointing out these issues. Might even help someone from an accident or worse.
Is this Bishop Cline badgering the Premier? These people are comical. When Myron was holding the Premier accountable this very man said he is badgering the Premier. What is he doing now? A set of jokers.
Cline is the mouth piece for Ronnie and Marlon. Ronnie can’t string to sentences and Marlon don’t have a clue. What a calamity. Another VIP win
I do not care for either one of them, but from what I see you can’t string one sentence together. You don’t know the difference between “to” and “two”. Rolling eyes indeed!
The BVI needs a fresh start. Not these same recycled terrible people. They are all for themselves. It is one big clique who want to run the BVI for their own benefit. NDP gone to the dogs.
CSC and Bishop J Cline are the only two Pastors in the BVI who just can’t seem to keep their nose out of POLITRICKS.
Because they are the only two pastors ensuring that the clandestine plan to displace Virgin Islanders don’t fly. Speak Claude and John. They are our Joshua and Caleb against neo-colonialism. They are hearing the voices of the fallen compatriots saying “do something for our people.” Stop “mashing our corns”, man!!
*the distribution of social assistance, where funds for people in need now take longer to reach them because of centralised vetting processes: This is happening because the SDD was already understaffed when they were given this great responsibility and they can’t keep up with the demands. I won’t speak about their decision making style.
*“A trade commission is an independent statutory body: Which was suspended because the VIP had to be certain that everyone on every board, etc., had to be on the same page as was repeated ad nauseum by Vincent Wheatley during his interview in the COI. It was repeated to him as often as he said it that statutory boards are meant to be independent of the governments mandate/manifesto.
*The Commission of Inquiry, led by Sir Gary Hickinbottom, was ordered by then-governor Augustus Jaspert in 2021 to investigate allegations of corruption and mismanagement. Please folks can we try to remember that it was the Honorable Premier Fahie who asked Jaspert to call for a COI into the corruption and mismanagement of the NDP. Jaspert apparently called for the enquiry to expand to the governance of several governments, not just the NDP. One needs to be careful of what one asks for. If we must lay blame, let’s try to place the blame where the blame is due.
Spot on… The CoI only made things better.
It’s the government’s own attitudes, as exhibited in the policies, firewalls and roadblocks designed into the Trade, and Labour departments and HM Customs. The whole programmed collectively stifles development
nah bro dont forget we still uing irma (2017) still as an excuse in big 2025 but got money for parties , flights and bank schemes lol
The National Dose of Poison (NDP) strikes again. Wow.
And they bring extra poison labeled JC
THANKS FOR BREAKING IT DOWN GOR US / THE DUDE WITH HIS WIG ON THE YELLO SITE TRIED TO CONVINCE US THAT IT WAS A PLOT BY THR ” WHITE COLONIALIST SLAVE MASTERS TO MAKE US LOOK BAD / BY USING RACIST NARRATIVES TO FORCE IT DOWN OUR THROATS , EVEN THOUGH WE ALL KNOW THE REAL TRUTH / AND EVEN ALL NOW , HE IS STIL PUSHING THAT THEY SET UP ANDREW AND IS STILL HOLLERING OUT ” FREE THE DREW ” IN HIS WRITING & BLOGGINGS / HE MESSED UP THE (HOA) WHEN HE WAS A WANNABE SPEAKER ■ WHERE WE HAVE HIS ” POPULAR ” HERO’S PICTURE ON THE WALL ( STILL )
Okay Miss P We Hear You. How Things Up There? Hope the Alliance Checking On You..
Tell Myron stop blogging and shut he “poo-pao for once. Whole letting out too much gas!
This is nothing more than the club trying to maneuver to make club member Ronnie the leader of the NDP. Power hungry set. They made his best friend president and best friend will make sure that Ronnie get the leadership. Watch and see. Marlon better watch his back
He is one who helped to destroy the NDP because he wanted his friend Ronnie to be Premier. Remember when he was on the radio calling down Dr. Smith and telling him to resign as minister of finance and give it to Ronnie? Then Dr. Smith fired him as the chairman of the hospital board. These people are power hungry and care only about themselves. Fraud Cline is out there bad mouthing everybody for leadership so that his uncle Ronnie could be premier. With uncle John as President and uncle Ronnie as Premier, Fraud is good to go again with sucking the breast of the government.
WIGGIE – WHATS YOUR POINT ? NOBODY ASKED YOU ANYTHING / WE HOT THE MESSAGE @ AND WE ARE SURE YOU DO , ARE YOU A TEACHER , OR YOU JUST WSNT VTO BE A ” POPULAR ” BUSINESS EMBELLISHER ?