Not the time to fight with the USVI
Commentator Claude Skelton Cline has urged the BVI and the United States Virgin Islands to settle their charter yacht fee dispute through negotiations, saying the current international climate makes this the wrong time for confrontation.
Appearing on his Honestly Speaking show yesterday, he called on Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley and USVI Governor Albert Bryan Jr to agree on a phased approach to the charges rather than allow the disagreement to escalate.
“This is not the time to fight. Not with our family and friends and neighbours next door,” Skelton Cline said.
The commentator’s stance contrasts with that of former legislator Shereen Flax-Charles, who recently urged the BVI to maintain its position on increased charter fees and rejected USVI attempts to influence what the territory charges businesses operating in its waters.
Skelton Cline defended the BVI’s right to set fees for commercial activity in its waters, while acknowledging that the USVI could advance its own position. However, he argued that both territories should prioritise their survival and their family ties.
Skelton Cline said he had reviewed the fee schedule and considered the charges reasonable. His concern centred on the scale of the increase introduced at once.
Using the $24,000 annual fee for unlimited access as an example, he proposed that the territories negotiate an acceptable timetable for reaching that amount. Such an arrangement, he said, should accommodate USVI operators while allowing the BVI to obtain the revenue it sought.
Earlier this year, Bryan said he preferred a local resolution, although US State Department officials recommended a summit in Washington to discuss charter fees and access to territorial waters. Bryan also complained about the difference between charges for USVI and BVI yachts.
Skelton Cline warned that further escalation could turn the disagreement into a confrontation with the United States, which he argued the BVI could not win. He also expressed doubt that the United Kingdom could defend the territory in such a dispute.
“And we should not be making emotional decisions that have commercial implications,” he said.
He pointed to the BVI’s reliance on connections through St Thomas and Puerto Rico for goods and travel, arguing that leaders needed to consider those relationships when deciding how to proceed.
Although he criticised Bryan’s language in handling the matter, Skelton Cline urged the BVI to avoid a retaliatory response. He also called on residents to stop encouraging the Premier to become more entrenched.
“There is a mutually beneficial path that should be negotiated that gets us to the place where we ought to be,” he said.
He urged both leaders to resolve what they could locally and prevent the disagreement from escalating further.
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our new governmentwillgetthis sortedout
Sound like this one get a stipend from someone to talk muck. This is not a fight. This is the case of a bully picking on someone smaller than them. Do we need another annoying voice in the mix? No! Go away.
I was going to comment, but your comment says it all. You should think seriously about writing articles, whoever you are. lol
What would you suggest the BVI do?
He criticize Walwyn and then go back and say everything that the man does be saying.
Boss grow a pair and stand for your rights.
If the shoe was on the other foot the USVI won’t change anything and we won’t have anyone to turn to.
Convinced this man simply overhears and repeats the most obvious statements to self promote
I Don’t Always Agree With CSC But With This Situation before Us He Is Not Way Off. Firstly, We All Know Our Government Is Not One To Talk With Us.
The Gov Of The USVI, Mr. Bryan Was Out Of Place When He Called Them Silly But I also Agree That The Gov’t Of This Territory Should Be willing To negotiate The Issue And Come Up With A Phased Figure Increase Over A Seasonable Period. I am Not Really Afraid Of Any Unfavorable Outcome If This Issue Is Not Settled In A Manner That Is Favorable For US, But I Want The Citizens Of Our Territory To Note, In The Event A Favorable Decision Is Not Met By Both Parties, Keep In Mind Our Politicians Are Not The Ones To Be Victimized But YOU, The People. I Hope It Wouldn”t Get To That, But Remember, I Told You So. This Is NOT Fear Mongering But keeping It Real.
And it is not the time for the USVI to fight with us. As a matter of fact, we are not fighting with them.
Sounds like words echoed by Hon. Myron Walwyn several months ago to Premier Wheatley and his government.
if they had listened to Walwyn months ago, this would not have been happening, but when you focus on trying to destroy one person, you instead destroy an entire territory