Firm ‘independence’ stance needed for my support in next election
Political commentator Pastor Claude Skelton Cline has placed a new litmus test on how candidates can earn his endorsement for the territory’s next general elections.
Over the years, Skelton Cline has publicly backed different political candidates and parties. And during the last general elections following his fall-out with the NDP, that support shifted to the now governing VIP for which he outrightly acted as a spokesperson.
But based on Skelton Cline’s most recent statements on his Honestly Speaking radio programme, it seems the Andrew Fahie-led VIP — which he has heavily criticised in recent times — is not guaranteed his support going into the next elections.
“Anybody who is running for office and is looking for my support is going to have to declare their position on the matter of independence,” Skelton Cline declared on public radio.
He added a caveat in stating that he won’t allow any potential candidate to get away with simply saying “of course, we’re going to become an independent nation”.
“I want to hear a vision crafted, communicated and cast to the wider population about [the candidate’s] position on the matter of these Virgin Islands, in short order, becoming the final arbiters of their fate and the complete work of decolonisation has ended,” Skelton Cline stated.
A former political candidate himself, Skelton Cline said there must also be structural changes made to prepare the BVI for a future he believes is already here.
“We’re going to have to decide how we’re going to go about choosing people to sit in the House of Assembly other than the way that we’ve been doing it,” he noted.
Where there is no vision…
According to Skelton Cline, every candidate or party needs to have a vision or plan that they would be able to clearly achieve as opposed to a “pie in the sky notion”.
He underscored as his second criterion that will determine how he would exercise his electoral franchise.
“You can’t lead people if you don’t have a vision and you can’t lead people you don’t love,” the outspoken clergyman said.
Warning to candidates who are only after power
Cline also sounded a warning for those seeking office to gain status or power; arguing that if they didn’t have these traits within them before, they wouldn’t have it after getting elected.
“All power does is reveal the crazy in us. It doesn’t make who you are, it reveals who you are,” he cautioned.
Skelton Cline said he felt the need to raise the issues at this time because “nothing beats planning and preparation”.
“My aim is to force and to forge you to begin to think and talk through this stuff,” he told listeners at the time.
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why do we care who he supports? I will make my own mind up and not be influenced by CSC.
Nobody wants your support or endorsement
You took the words right out of my head.
Getting his support is the kiss of death to your political aspirations.
Run away from this guy.
… you remind me of all the reasons that the BVI needs the CoI.
Any party associated with Skelton Crime is going to lose.
How stupid does he take us to be?
I’ll give you a firm independance stance- It’s a s**t idea.
The man oily like a old parot fish.an two times likley to give you s**ts.
why does this man get a platform to spout his views. Will your news site allow anyone to submit their views and get equal prominence? As far as I know he is unelected but vocal – is that all it takes?
It sounds like he is jumping off a sinking ship or maybe trying to find another ship with more treasure
do they allow endorsement from Balo ?
You sir, are both an op****unist and a bu**y, not a man of principle. You allegedly took monies for yourself that were intended to help children.
I think most of us who can vote do not care what you think.
He did not do this by himself. He was given a contract by his buddy Andrew. Do we honestly think that Andrew knew nothing about what he was doing? A contract for 600K?
There are no plans for an election in the next 5 years. Uk will be running the BVI for those years to re-organize all the corrupt government systems here.
Cline no other party outside the main two establih has a chance of winning an election right now. If Mr Walwyn put together a credible team he stands a chance. I believe he will he will have my support. Cline you are giving yourself too much credit. You are toxic politically. No one who has a head will seek or accept your endorsement. The ndp will not touch you with a mile post. You already see the writing on the wall for the VIP. You are about to jump skip. Your mo. You help pull down the ndp ask mark. You destroy the VIP honestly speaking. You are finish cline. No more contracts. Time to go to new York and sell some pizzas
Andrew done tell the COI that you jump from party to party every election so no real news here. Tongue and teeth fall out. Carvin can you please bring some popcorn with extra butter for me?
Why boasted thy self oh e**l man playing smart and not being clever wolves in sheep’s clothing.
C-S-Crime will not be an endorsement that anyone wants or could afford by the time CoI gets finished. I’m predicting seized bank accounts, frozen assets, and enough criminal trials to fill a dozen lifetimes. FETCH THE POPCORN – It’s about to go down…
Even if he is running, he will not get my support. The BVI does not need anymore added problems.Have nothing against the man but I can’t support him.I am curious to know what his true agenda is
I have worked with him and he can produce. Always well organized and he has vision. Some people just want to help the BVI and I believe that Walwyn is one of them.
I simply don’t care. You can see a person’s face, but you can’t see their heart. Who wants to vote for him can go right ahead, that is their choice but my choice is a big NO.
This is why we keep electing the wrong people. It is wise to get to know the people who are running for yourself. The BVI and most Caribbean countries are small enough for voters to try to get to know the people who are standing for election. Unfortunately we rely on what we hear other people say to make decisions. I know the ones we have as leaders now and I am not impressed with their competence. They would not be getting my vote again. I voted for Myron before and I will do it again.
For me it’s a bigger YES. He made a big difference in the education system. What we have now is a bad dream
Being a British territory blocking Claude’s desire to be dictator.
Perfect! Whomever the Rev. supports, then I’ll know exactly to not vote for them!
Anyone CSK publically backs will lose credibility, and lose votes
by Andrew to make noise every week. When are the news outlets going to block this noise?
He is like a persistent pop-up ad.
boi you should be bin the Olympics ?
I doubt the COI have finished with this individual yet, he has a lot to explain.
CSC you need to understand the foundation need to be laid for independent and the foundation has to be strong, We are looking at a 6 yr preparation putting things in place before…I understand your passion and fear, but been independent is not an easy or simple process.
It’s always the people who have accrued a large mass of unexplained Wealth through lying, deceit and outright stealing, are the ones always touting independence knowing full well that they are protected from the hardships of such a process.
I honestly don’t know how people honestly follow this man, thinking that he’s some sort of holy vessel of knowledge and spirituality when he’s one of the most c****pt and de***tful individuals I’ve ever seen.
claude cline need to shut his mouth.he claim to be a pastor,wolf in sheep clothing.co***pted man.
No one wants his support though. Any sensible candidate would distance themselves from you or the VIP party.
Where are the deliverables from his so called contracts? Who do he thinks he really is to command ‘his support’? I trust the voting public can really see this man for who he truly is.
Most of the people in the BVI know that Independence will be a bad thing for us, our payroll taxes will go up our import taxes will be very high, the drug trade will get worse than it is now, crime will skyrocket, and the government will do what they want because they won’t have to answer to anyone. The BVI will become like one of those South American countries that are out of control. The bottom line is we have nothing to export, the big income for the government will be taxes. The life as we know it now will get worse.
It’s getting there on its own. Independence will just catalyize the change into a full on banana republic.
Which is why its being floated so seriously. To hide the corruption from prying eyes.
Maybe we support independence, maybe we don’t but no one in their right mind trusts a word out of this man’s mouth.