Skelton Cline claims Fraser/O’Neal rift affected 2007 constitutional talks
Talk show host Claude Skelton Cline has revisited a chapter of the Virgin Islands’ political history, suggesting that divisions among leaders during the 2007 constitutional negotiations in London may have affected the territory’s ability to secure certain governance changes.
Speaking last week on the Honestly Speaking radio programme during a discussion with Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley, Skelton Cline said disagreements between members of the then Virgin Islands Party (VIP) leadership contributed to the outcome of the negotiations that produced the current Constitution.
According to Skelton Cline, differences between the late Premier Ralph T. O’Neal and Third District Representative Julian Fraser during the talks may have limited the reforms the territory was able to secure at the time.
While the issue has been discussed in some political circles over the years, many residents remain unfamiliar with the details of the 2007 negotiations. In recent months, elected officials debating the upcoming constitutional review have occasionally referenced divisions that arose during those talks, though they have rarely identified the individuals involved or the specific issues under discussion.
During the broadcast, Skelton Cline raised the matter directly.
“I’m concerned with what happened in ’07, with the then VIP government and the NDP, where the late Honourable R.T. O’Neal and your sitting Deputy Premier went up there and showed division,” Skelton Cline said.
He added that two reforms discussed during the negotiations were not ultimately included in the constitutional framework.
“We did not walk away with two of these things — namely the governor being out of Cabinet and secondly the public service being under the premier,” he said, adding that in his view those changes “could have been had in 2007.”
Questions about negotiating team
Skelton Cline also raised concerns about whether Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn should be part of the team representing the Virgin Islands in future constitutional negotiations with the United Kingdom.
He suggested that unity among local leaders would be important during discussions in London.
“I am on the public record that I am not in favour of the current Leader of the Opposition being on this committee because I do not believe — and I have not heard — where he is on the same page with the government,” Skelton Cline said.
In response, Premier Natalio Wheatley did not directly address Skelton Cline’s comments about the 2007 negotiations but agreed that unity is important when the territory engages the United Kingdom on constitutional matters.
“Let me just agree with you that we have to learn from history,” Dr Wheatley said. “History tells us that when you go up there, it’s important for government and opposition to be united.”
It’s important to put politics aside
He added that any negotiating team should focus on the long-term interests of the territory rather than partisan differences.
“I think it’s important for us to be able to put politics to the side and do something that would be for not just current generations, but future generations, to the benefit of our people,” the Premier said. “The team that I bring with me would be a team that I’m confident will be on the same page and fighting for the future of the territory.”
Dr Wheatley also indicated that members of the Opposition would be included in the delegation, though he declined to say whether Walwyn would be among them.
Following the Premier’s remarks, Skelton Cline reiterated his view that visible divisions among Virgin Islands leaders could weaken the territory’s position during negotiations.
“The United Kingdom is always willing to use any knife that we give them,” Skelton Cline said, adding that internal disagreements could complicate efforts to secure constitutional changes.
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It the two things you mention as being excluded are true . Paise to the god you profess to serve. I do not now or then (2007) see the level of maturity in our political leaders to mange the public service or run Cabinet properly and at a high governance standard. All 13 needs to go!
And it is instructive to note that O’Neal and Fraser were on the same side then.
Did this man reimburse the treasury yet?
I would be interested in knowing what differences on the constitutional points for negotiation that the Premier and Hon. Walwyn have. I have not heard neither one of them speak of any difference of opinion between them. All I have heard in CSC talking. CSC has his own agenda so I usually cast him aside. It would be best to hear from the two leaders about these differences that CSC continues to say exist.
The division starts right here with natalio and Claude, so stupid to not see they are opinionated towards a continued disagreement once they get to sit down with their white colonial masters, they would be willing to show their crabby in a barrel syndrome to please master, and they are pleasing the colonials by savaging one of their brightest young mind in Myron walwyn, yes they have made the colonials happy to see the neocolonial agenda of self hate to our detriment is alive and well, and it is not a surprise that it is coming from Claude Skelton cline who is associated with that Christianity project that the colonial oppressors gave us to create ethnic inferiority and hatred, both Christianity and Islam are destructive forces of mankind.
We have never heard Christianity does anything for black people but keep us poor and divided, Myron walwyn didn’t do anything to Claude or natalio mind, it is there within their harvest brain. It’s like water running on the floor and someone keeps mopping instead a turn off the faucet, this is crazy, to hear about division when going to meet the white masters, the BVI government should have even dare to gather the radical voices to help the separation of the BVI from colonialism, and don’t go up there in a parasitic conversation, sit and listen to them first day and then layout your agenda firmly, and choose your own hotel and meal accomodations when you go to this meeting, don’t allow master to feed you as his poodle then expect to sit at a table and debate them, you must go there independently minded.
Myron walwyn is not the problem, the preparation and polemics is not coming from VIP party, these guys are drunk on the steaks and wine the UK is feeding them that they sound like house slaves arguing that they don’t want Myron the field slave to come into their white masters house to help eat off the crumbs that master is feeding them. Claude you and natalio are like a coconut, brown outside and white inside, and natalio with his PhD shows that education teaches you to respect power, and that is living the colonial power the premier wields to have parties and travel.
I would be in Favour if The UK would Listen to NOTHING the BVI Team has to say about our Current Constitutional Order Because it does Not Reflect the Wishes of the People of the British Virgin Islands and I hope that H.E. The Governor makes that clear to the UK Officials. Just as they will arrive as Honest, Innocent Children, The UK should Lock them out of any Negotiations until they do Right By the People whom They claim to Represent. I agree that ALL 13 MUST GO! They are Not working in the Best interest of the People But for their Personal Needs and Greed.
Is at it once more, he came clean about the 2007 fiasco with ( O’Neal & the joker from The 3RD who yhinks he holy ) WE ALL , can see how the territory is being RUN by master nat al eo ,but wax conveniently left out , BUT made sure he’s on ” public record that he is not in FAVOUR of walwyn (XENOPHOBIA ) is on control of this fellow’s mind / SADLY HE IS NOT ALONE ~ ITS LIKE A CURSE IN THIS PLACE – A LOT OF US DONT KNOW THIS , WHEN ” LAND IS SURROUNDED BY WATER , WHAT ITS CALLED , AND NEITHER CLAUDIA OR MASTER NAT-AL-EO WHO HAS A PH REFUSES ,TO ENLIGHTEN US ■ •¿• ) UT WD QUICK TO CALL OUR CARIBBEAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS ,”ISLSND PEOPLE” ( WHO WE HAPPENS TO SHARE THE VERY SAME ” AFRICAN ANCESTRY ” DOESN’T THAT MAKE US LOOK STUPID ? ? ?
Just remember when you guys go and negotiate you all are not negotiating on behalf of the people. You all are negotiating for more power to suit your agenda. This has nothing to do with us. We will be watching with popcorn while you fight for power to destroy more lives.
The UK doesn’t think highly of the citizens of the bvi. It’s their self righteousness that got them electing people who just power grab and reducing the little island to nothing.
Claude is one of the worse things to ever happen to the BVI
hey julie-ann you have over a million names that you does blogg under , stop using other people’s name to blogg your sh*t we know thats not ( the real facial expressions, you does the same thing with ( cindy ) its time you grow up