Resign before you disgrace our country!
A strong call for accountability rang out in the House of Assembly as veteran legislator Ronnie Skelton declared that elected leaders who feel tempted to engage in wrongdoing should resign rather than “bring the whole country to its knees.”
Skelton’s remarks came as lawmakers commemorated the lifting of the UK Order in Council on March 13, 2026. He used his time in the House of Assembly to reflect on the fallout from the 2022 arrest of former Premier Andrew Fahie, an event that triggered the UK Order in Council and a threat to take power away from elected leaders.
Against that backdrop, Skelton argued that leaders must exercise greater personal responsibility, especially when faced with temptations that conflict with their oath of office.
“If we want to practice certain professions, or craft, I don’t think we should try to bring a whole country to its knees,” the veteran lawmaker said. “When we have the urge to do things that are not in keeping with our pledge, then we should probably resign, just try to get over here,” he urged. And while all members of the House bemoaned colonial overreach by the UK and the effect it had on the BVI, Skelton reminded them that it was the actions of elected leaders that led to the Commission of Inquiry.
“We brought this on ourselves. Nobody brought it on us,” Skelton said bluntly, placing responsibility squarely on the shoulders of elected officials whose actions led to the territory’s international embarrassment. He stressed that the consequences of Fahie’s drug-related charges and subsequent conviction extended far beyond politics, affecting ordinary Virgin Islanders in their daily lives. According to Skelton, every citizen “suffered in some way,” particularly those travelling abroad.
“When we were going through the US: ‘Are you from Virgin Islands?’ — they’d be searching you,” he said. “Every one of us are subject to some level of inhumane treatment. And one of us caused it on all of us.”
While holding local leaders accountable, Skelton also turned his attention to the United Kingdom, sharply criticising its use of the Order in Council, which granted sweeping powers over the territory’s governance following the Commission of Inquiry. He described the measure as heavy-handed and damaging to the Virgin Islands’ progress.
“Whenever the British is in control, this country suffers,” Skelton declared. “If you check the pulse of the country, you’ll see we are going no place… it is not good for business, it’s not good for the social fabric of this society.”
Although he acknowledged that the recent lifting of the Order in Council is a positive step, Skelton warned that it must never be repeated.
“Hopefully this will be the last time the British will ever use it on one of their OT — this draconian provision to say they’re beating us into submission,” he said.
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Yes he is right the actions and corruption of the very NDP
This statement is directed at the man who is in jail. So where do you go from here? I wonder if he remembered his own family member is in jail for the same wrong doing and the Feds also have his name on the list eyeing?
The houses and businesses that many of you guys have built and hiding under will be exposed eventually so if you live in a glass house, don’t throw stones.
Shut yuh azzz!!! The banks own all of them. Bloody moronic comment.
Let’s just straighten this out.
You’re acknowledging that corruption brought in the order in council. You’re acknowledging the actions of the head of state had negative impacts on not just Government, but every person in the BVI. This was all whilst the Government was left to do as it pleased
The UK then steps in, and puts in measures to restrict those same actions from repeating (some would say that failed given the present day situation but oh well). Let’s just repeat- the head of state was found guilty of conspiring to import drugs through the BVI, and line his pockets whilst doing so.
What do you want the UK to do… give you belly rubs and tickle yours beards?
Let’s just hope Gov changes and straightens out now… judging by the contracts being dished out left right and center that’s not going to happen anytime soon
A strong call has to go out on the Governor too. Those responsible for enforcing the rules need to do so instead of playing this power grab game of wanting to take some of these ministries from the local people.
The BVI is the only place where politicians don’t face the law to answer for their wrongdoing, but the people are victimized for the politicians’ wrongdoing with harsh laws and penalties.
Ronnie is right but is missing one more valid point he needs to tell his nephew to go sit down and keep quiet .
That’s a grown a$$ man. What Ronnie going say to him? Strupesss
Some of Head Coach Culprits are right there in the House. We need another COI.
Come hell or high water I am not leaving Tortola to live anywhere else on this earth.
I never had a problem travelling through the US ..ever. They asked questions I answer and go on my way. I can and will always come back to Tortola.
In the BVI they blatantly discriminate against their citizens who they cannot control. Especially if those citizens are working for the government. I know of several cases where very qualified Tortolians were blatantly discriminated for positions they were qualified in. But God sees all, not some, ALL.
Who intend. Or living ho is ? It’s going on right before your eyes and you know it.
Most of those Elected Officials who sat before the COI and inadvertently admitted to wrongdoing should have been Legally forced to Resign from Political Office and sent Home if Not Jailed instead of being allowed to remain in Politics and continue to do wrong. What type of Message does that type Behavior
say about Politics in the Virgin Islands or how does that Depict what kind of Country We are operating in? And Some of these same Culprits sit in the HOA and pretend that they are squeaky Clean. What type of Example are they setting for Aspiring Leaders of this Country? I agree at least 50% of our HOA Members need to GO!!!!
Sometimes, it’s best to say little, on these types of matters!
What’s happened in the past, is the past, and as a country, we should be moving forward, in all of our actions, statements, and deeds!
Was BOLDFACED enoùgh to go on tV and HOLLER OUT ” WE DON’T HAVE ANY CORRUPTION HERE • TYEN THERE’S THE HOPPO ON HIS YELLO RACIST SITE IS STILL HOLERIHOLLERING OUT ” FREE THE DREW ” AND YOU CALLING THE UK “DRACONIAN ” A YOUNG MAN WAS GUNNED DOWN IN FISH BAY EXECUTION STYLE ,MIN BROAD DAYLIGHT AND THE SAME “HIPPO” CALLED HIM AWHITE COLONIALIST SLAVE MASTER FOR SHOWING THE VIDEO FOOTAGE ON TV OF WHAT REALLY HAPPENED AFTER HE HOLLER THAT ITS A LIE AND IT NEVER HAPPENED/ THE HYPOCRITE SAY THE COMMISSIONERHE WAS TRYING TO MAKE THE COUNTRY LOOK BAD , MEANWHILE PEOPLE WERE GETTING KILLED LEFT / RIGHT AND CENTER/ GUNS & DRUGS ARE STILL HAUNTING THE COUNTRY WE EVRN HAVE THE PICTURE ONVMN THE SAINT HANGING IN THE HOA / BIG BIG DADDY NAT-AL-EO AL EVEN SAID THAT WE HAVE ” COLDBLOODED EXECUTION STYLE KILLERS WALKING IN THE STREETS AMONGST US ETC , SO SKELIE WHY YOU LEFT OUT THOSE ? HOW ABOUR THE INFRASTRUCTURES ? HOW ABOUT THE RENTAL PROPERTIES RODEO GAMES / HOW ABOUT THE FREE JAMS / THE LUXURY TRAVELLING ? HOW ABOUT THE SALARY INCREASE ? / HOW ABOUT THE CIVIL SERVANTS & AND THEPOOR PENSIONERS ? / AND WHAT OUR MASTER NAT-AL-EO IS DOING TO THEM ( IS THE WHITE SLAVE MASTERS GOING TO BE CALLED ” DRACONIAN ” GOR ALL THOSE TOO ? EH UNCLE SKELIE ? WE ALL KNOW THE TRUTH ( HOW ABOUT THE MONEY FROM (SOCIAL SECURITY )THAT WAS RIPPED OFF ? WAS IT THE UK WHO DID THAT TOO ? ●¿● ( GREEDINESS WILL TAKE YOU ALL TO YOUR GRAVES SND NOTHING YOU ALL WILL LEAVE ALL THE WEALTH WILL STAY RIGHT HERE ON EARTH . ( A WORD OF ADVISE ~ LIVE AND LET LIVE ■■■