New airport rules undermine local culture – Skelton Cline
Social commentator Claude Skelton Cline has raised concerns over new airport regulations that he says will disrupt the lives of taxi drivers and ordinary citizens in the territory.
Speaking on his radio show, Honestly Speaking, Skelton Cline criticised proposals coming from the Air Safety Support International (ASSI), the UK’s aviation oversight body in the BVI. He said directives from ASSI are forcing significant changes to the way residents and taxi operators access the Terrance B Lettsome International Airport.
“ASSI… have now mandated or even threatened maybe that the airport could be closed as if they don’t move the people of the country away from being able to drive into the airport where we regularly drop off and pick up,” Skelton Cline stated.
Under the new proposed measures, vehicles will no longer be allowed to drive up to the airport terminal. Instead, passengers will be required to park further away and walk to the building. Skelton Cline said this would be inconvenient, particularly for disabled persons and those without adequate shelter from the weather.
“You’re going to have to park and walk across outside in the elements in the rain in the sun and all whatever… no consideration for the disabled person, no consideration of what this does to our budget… none of that,” he argued.
ASSI reportedly cited bomb threats and international safety standards as the reason for the changes. However, Skelton Cline expressed doubt over their relevance to the BVI.
“In my whole entire natural born life and in the life of the Virgin Islands, I never heard no bomb threat of any kind in the Virgin Islands,” he asserted.
He also pointed to what he described as a lack of respect for local culture and practices. “This is another example of us just being forced to do things without proper consideration for the local cultural specificities of us as a people,” he said.
Skelton Cline reiterated his long-held view that the BVI should establish its own civil aviation authority to replace ASSI. “You get rid of ASSI by instituting your own civil aviation authority,” he explained.
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I call bull. The ASSI didn’t, nor did any other international organization direct the BVI airport to do anything of the kind. We’re in a fight to the death between stupidity and salvation. Why would you give this a platform.
I never thought there’d be planes crashing into WTC in NY either. Neither did anyone think little old BVIs would be the victims of ransomware. There are plenty of crazy people out there. If walking some distance to the terminal helps to keep Beef Island safer, I’m OK with that. It’s not like one has to trek through snow, mud and ice. Hot maybe, but we live here , right?
More jobs for F&F.
ASSI out, they are enforcing rules that the TSA in the USA doesn’t even worry about. They have the managing body at the airport spinning with new implementations every time they show, bending to their every command. The Civil Aviation Authority needs to be brought back and properly taken over from ASSI, we have people who can take up these posts and make ASSI redundant.
Now that airlift has increased capacity the Govt should make more effort to rebrand Civil Aviation.
Ha ha ha.
We still promoting CashShameCon.
How they hate to follow rules.
Soon Ronnie will be walking through the airport with no checks at all.
How about we follow the rule of law and stop trying to put powers in to the hands of friends and flunkies so you can do as you please.
ASSI is good oversight that is Independent and the people of the VI need that to protect us from corrupt Government processes.
BE UP THERE FIGHTING OFF PEOPLE?
Boarding Call to Cline
Oh Cline, you cry with fury loud,
From pulpit, mic, and righteous cloud—
Yet tethered facts evade your flight,
As truth careens straight out of sight.
You moan of mandates, foul and cruel,
As if the skies should bend your rule;
Yet every airport ’round the sphere
Must meet the codes that keep us clear.
Your rants reject the global pact—
That safety’s not a local act.
You’d trade in scanners, guards, and checks
For rainproof rides and no suspects?
Bomb threats, you scoff, as if you know
That terror grants each land a no.
But bombs don’t RSVP or ask
If culture makes their work a task.
You claim, “This ain’t our way of life,”
As if regulation breeds the strife—
When truth is this: were ASSI gone,
We’d lose the right to fly beyond.
You don’t want rules? Then here’s the plan:
Build airstrips where no jet can land.
Let customs be a friendly nod,
And watch the world give you a prod.
For if your dream takes off young man,
No flights will touch our sacred land.
So drive your taxi, stay in lane—
But don’t derail the global plane.
The airport’s not a village square.
It links the world—it must prepare.
So pack your outrage, claim your seat—
And let the grown-ups take the heat.
I am with Cline on this one. Cars should not be allowed to park for any lenght of time but even the busiest most congested Airports allows passengers to be dropped off at the terminals.
Control or the ports, entry and embarkation, customs and immigration, finances and the economy are all mechanisms if an indirect take over.
Do we need more evidence Mr.Premier and elected officials?
Will you people continue to sleep while our country is taken from us our will you wake and stop it.
Apparently it seems, thus the reason for illiminating Fahie and putting in an inexperienced person whom they could control and out think.
Unfortunately, the take over and neo-colonialism is now in full effect.
Why is it that all the Mou Mou dem in the village always get a mic?
Sir, this is the problem with the BVI idiots like you need to go sit down & be quiet. Stop bringing down the IQ for the nation. There’s something called the international safety laws, if you want to do business international you either adjust and evolve or get stuck in the ice ages— exactly where the BVI will remain. I guess he waiting for the ‘bomb’ being reactive just like the idiot leaders we have; instead of being proactive.