BVI News

‘I built that pier, not McMaster’ — Skelton Cline

Claude Skelton Cline

Former Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority, Claude Skelton-Cline has sought to set the record straight regarding claims that former Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Works Ministry, Anthony McMaster helped to forge the Tortola Pier Park into what it is today.

Those claims had come from Opposition legislator and former Works Minister, Mark Vanterpool during a recent contract signing. He praised McMaster for the work done on the Pier Park while he (Vanterpool) was his boss.

Vanterpool argued at the time that McMaster, who now serves as the Acting CEO of the Recovery & Development Agency (RDA), should be confirmed in his new post and no longer be made to act, given all that he has achieved.

But Skelton-Cline, who said he understood and agreed with the minister’s point in championing McMaster’s cause, felt there was an error made in attributing the success of the Tortola Pier Park to McMaster and the ministry.

“What I don’t agree with, with my minister; he said that McMaster built the pier … That’s not true,“ Skelton-Cline stated on his Honestly Speaking radio programme.

According to Skelton-Cline, the pier was built by the body corporate under his leadership along with a team that he assembled at the BVI Ports Authority.

I should get credit for the good if I get blamed for the bad 

He also had a retort for any potential critics who disagreed with his claim.

“You all don’t look at me funny either, because it’s my name you all like to call when anything negative comes up about it. So I don’t want to hear you,” Skelton Cline said.

He added: “So [the minister] was trying to make a point but used that. But that wasn’t the best example, that was not built by the ministry, that was not built by the then PS.”

Skelton Cline said he wanted to be clear that credit should be given where it is due.

“Since you all want to give me all the flack for it, well doggone it, at some point put your hands together and applaud and clap for the team that was assembled there under my leadership in building that Tortola Pier Park,” the radio talk show stated.

He added that McMaster should indeed be confirmed in his post, but not under the ‘truth’ that he built the Pier Park.

“Confirm him for all the other work he’s done and continues to do, I’m for that. But let’s keep the record clear and straight,” Skelton Cline said.

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28 Comments

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  1. ITSTIME says:

    You should have stayed wherever you were it was nice not hearing your BS every week.

    Like 80
    Dislike 3
    • @ITSTIME says:

      Totally agree with You!

      Like 37
      Dislike 3
      • Foolishness and Stupidness says:

        McMaster was responsible for making the Pier Park the success that it is today. He had managed numerous other projects at the RDA – on budget and on time.
        Claude O(for overspend) Skelton-Cline oversaw a $40m overspend at the Pier Park, and according to the Auditor General did not deliver on his various consultancies with the Govt.

        Like 30
        Dislike 1
    • Jim says:

      And I also heard he created the internet, Bitcoin, and Twinkie’s. Mmmmmm. Twinkies

      Bravo sir. Bravo.

      Your statue is currently under construction and will be placed at Pockwood Pond

      Like 18
  2. I Agree says:

    They blamed you for the building overrun, now they trying to give someone else the credit for building it. Set of cr**ks

    Like 13
    Dislike 21
  3. 100% vip says:

    You should be in j**l too

    Like 36
    Dislike 1
  4. Concerned Citizen says:

    Well, he right about this one.

    Like 5
    Dislike 2
  5. @ U AGREE ? says:

    Yeah rite ,he built , he complex / PeebLes and the college tOO , oH, his excellency GOLDYLOX contributed his knowledge ,( without him we would of still been in slavery , thank U mister esteemed one ?

    Like 7
    Dislike 4
  6. Fa True says:

    When are we going to send this man to p**son where he belongs? He *** self need to shut up wit he bragging about his lack of delivery on project that helped bankrupt our country. What a ting? You couldn’t make this crap up.

    L**k him up!

    We need to go Swiss and have some real referendum up in dis place.

    1) Independence
    2) Prosecution of Claude and Julian Willock
    3) Change our voting system so you must be voted for at large to be premier. This some real foolishness that a man who only voted on be the people of the 1st can be the leader for all a we.
    4) Madatory 20 year prison sentences for unregistered gun possesion
    5) Ban the scooters dem

    Let the people decide

    Like 27
    Dislike 1
  7. Elsa says:

    Set the record straight Claude!

    Like 1
    Dislike 14
  8. LB says:

    Well now we know exactly who to put in jail!

    Like 30
  9. 1st District says:

    And you built your house too! How can they forget to give you credit for the Pier Park and your House!. Shame on VIP not to acknowledge your hard work.

    Like 27
    Dislike 1
  10. 1ST DISTRICT says:

    It’s OK , AND IS GOING TO LET HIM BUILD THE CASINO ,SO HE WILL BE GIVEN CREDIT FOR BLESSING ALL THE MONEY ? THAT PASSES IN AND OUT OF THE MINISTER OF FINANCE CREATIVE DREAM ?, WHAT A SET OF GANSTERS

    Like 16
  11. Hahahaha. Truth that. says:

    Took long. Was waiting to hear that Trumpet blowing loud…Truth be told. Hate or like CSC. He get things done. He was a major player one the main engine in bringing this product to reality

    Like 1
    Dislike 22
    • hahahahaha says:

      Taking credit for turning a $30m project into a $80m WITHOUT the main building (which was supposed to be Margaritaville) takes the biscuit. Can he explain why the project was 3X budget?

      Like 19
  12. Matthew 23:12 says:

    “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” NIV

    I think Claude should look this verse up. He seems to have skipped that page in Bible Study.

    Like 18
  13. Well sah says:

    Fighting for accolades !! This Minister never stops !!! He spent all his life oversees come like a hot rod and wants to bulldoze the the man for his contribution

    Where is the neighborhood watch contribution?
    Where is the benifit for all of what you were paid to do ?
    Go sit down

    Like 10
  14. Kwame says:

    So was it you Claude that took all the monies for Eastend sewer project to spend on TPP ?

    Like 14
  15. I says:

    Applauding the Pier Project with your name attached defeats the good and deserving intentions.
    Your name attached or affiliated muddies and sullie

  16. Well says:

    Your name attached and or affiliated is a precursor to the not good look of any and all things, as you well know.
    Let us have our joy. Thank You.

  17. Hugh Darley says:

    The BVI had no chance of getting a world class pier until I developed a plan, created a Joint Venture and designed 100% of what is now Pier Park. Mark and Cline didn’t know a cruise ship form a Catamaran when i meet them. I prepared a pitch introduced NCL and Disney to the PM Orlando Smith and the rest is fiasco that left me being owed $2 million Dollars and with the loss of 20% of the port equity.

    Let’s publish a true time line of the story and see who did what and where the lost $45 Million went. I have all the details and can certainly set the record straight!

  18. GTFOH says:

    He is technically right he played a huge role in the Pier Park both good and bad. Although the Pier Park is a good thing we could have achieved the same results without the millions overspent and probably without him at the helm.

  19. rackie says:

    So he admits it was his fault over spending all that money that could have gone unto the schools – I would like the CoI too look at the Pier Park bills and trace where the money went.

  20. Well I say says:

    Anyone notice the colors and materials on the fancy north shore place that went up around the same time? Schoolchildren know.

  21. tro away the keys says:

    The missing building at the pier park is his house

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