Should the Premier call snap elections?
Political commentator and clergyman Claude Skelton Cline has called on Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley to announce snap elections, arguing that the current political climate demands a fresh mandate.
“If I was in charge right now, I would call a snap election with the minimal amount of constitutional time that I am allotted,” Skelton Cline said on his radio programme, Honestly Speaking, on Tuesday.
Skelton Cline argued that calling early elections would allow the government to extend its mandate and complete major projects, including a $100 million infrastructure initiative and the redevelopment of Prospect Reef.
“I would give myself two more years… I would push this thing out to 2029,” the clergyman said.
He also suggested that a snap election could catch Opposition parties off guard. “I’ll just keep them with their pants down… running around like chickens with their heads cut off,” Skelton Cline said, referring to political disarray among Opposition groups.
The political commentator also questioned the effectiveness of long-serving legislators, suggesting that some have overstayed their political tenure. “Most of these guys and gals we got in the House now need to go home anyway,” Skelton Cline said.
He contended that the Premier lacks adequate support to achieve meaningful progress. “The Honourable Premier does not have a team around him that is able to help him carry the ball down the field and score a touchdown,” he argued.
Skelton Cline also criticised the current political structure, arguing that changing governments every four years hinders long-term development. “We cannot develop this country changing governments every four years,” he said.
The clergyman expressed frustration with the government’s approach to key issues, including price control and the cost of living. He criticised the dismantling of the Trade Commission, a body he claimed could have helped regulate prices. “Y’all allow a single minister to knock that right out the window,” he said.
The call for early elections comes amid political instability following the 2023 general elections, which resulted in a coalition government led by the Virgin Islands Party (VIP). The VIP secured power with support from Lorna Smith, who crossed the floor to join the ruling party. The Premier has since removed Smith from his Cabinet and formed a fresh coalition with another Opposition member, Julian Fraser, who he awarded the post of Deputy Premier.
The administration has since faced criticism for governance challenges and internal disagreements.
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No to loose?
This entire article is a textbook example of a coordinated effort to undermine—a convergence of two parties, each with distinct motives, collaborating toward a common objective. One party remains perpetually dissatisfied unless there is a consultancy contract in hand, all the while maneuvering for a potential run for elected office. The other, though unnamed, is gripped by frustration over the UK’s decision not to impose direct rule and is now grasping at ways to disenfranchise the local population.
If crossing the floor is to be characterized as political instability, then by what measure should one describe the spectacle of three Prime Ministers cycling through Downing Street in the span of two years? And if such instability demands external intervention, one wonders—who precisely should assume stewardship of the United Kingdom?
Let him try it nor
The Premier heself may lose his seat
tell him run at large let us show him how we really feel… and allegedly stop buy them poor old folks in the east votes to win
My analysis district by district
District 1- Karl will win
District 2- Mitch
District 3 – Fraser
District 4- Luce will lose
District 5- Kye
District 6- Myron
District 7- Natalio will lose
District 8 – Marlon
District 9- Vincent
At large
Mather
The other 3 will lose
He will be a dead duck (so to speak) if he come wid dah
stop publishing Cline’s opinions on this news site. Nobody on the planet cares about his opinions on anything!
It sound crazy at first but when you think about it, I believe NDP and PVIM realize by now that they have to get back together to secure the win and I believe they will before next election. Calling election early would be the move to catch them with their pants down yet again and counter having to deal with their combined strength. Not a bad strategy.
Just need to stop those 487 misguided souls from voting. I guess they feel so ashamed of their last vote so we can hope they stop themselves.