Skelton Cline says sorry after ‘harsh’ belonger comments
Local clergyman and broadcaster Claude Skelton Cline has apologised to persons offended by his earlier comments about the $2,500 fee for Belonger status, admitting that his delivery had been too harsh, though his position remained unchanged.
Appearing on his programme, Honestly Speaking, on October 14, Skelton Cline said he regretted how his remarks were received by some residents.
“So I’m sorry. You know, for those of you, I said it roughly, and it came out in my passion, and I could have said it with more calm and collectiveness. I accept that. I own that,” he stated.
He continued: “Forgive me for the harshness in which it sounded as I was trying to explain and share. My position has not changed.”
The broadcaster said his intention was to highlight the importance of order, enforcement, and fairness in government processes relating to immigration and residency.
Skelton Cline’s apology follows a wave of public criticism over comments he made last week defending the increased fee for Belonger certificates. At the time, he argued that the fee — raised from $500 to $2,500 — was reasonable given the privileges attached to the status, which include freedom from immigration control and the right to own property and obtain trade licences.
“You’re becoming a Belonger of a country. You cannot be complaining about $2,500,” he said at the time.
The Department of Immigration announced the new fee structure in September as part of a broader review of outdated government charges. The increase sparked debate across the territory, with some residents calling for a reduction or phased implementation.
During his latest programme, Skelton Cline said he had reflected on the feedback he received. “Sometimes you have to have the strength to be weak, and I have blind spots too,” he explained. “I am open to edit. I am open to correction. I am open to begging pardon.”
He added that his goal was to encourage the Virgin Islands to operate in a more organised and fair manner. “We will not all have the same status. We all will not be afforded the same privileges,” he said, urging residents to understand their responsibilities and rights under existing laws.
Copyright 2025 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
Sorry? Only because people are talking about boycotting your business you are now saying this. You are no good. The Bible says what comes out of the mouth defiles the body. You meant every single, slimy, despicable word because that is the person you are. The same way you were thinking about your pocket only when you took those contracts and did no work and still got paid is the same way you are reversing your mouth now because you want your pizzas and wings to be bought by the same people who you spit on daily. Always about your pocket. What a pastor!
Standing ovation, i wish i could like this comment 1000 times…too WUTLESS keep he sorry! Old SNAKE
I wish I could like that comment 1000 times.
Sooner or later, KSC and his cousin JC will learn. Church & Politics don’t mix.
Keep playing and you will find out.
The Bible also says that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Yes
Now that he sees the younger generation slamming the racist views he is crawling back on his defamatory slander..
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speak.
I am so sorry Mr. Cline your half bake apology is unacceptable. This is not just about your harshness of delivery. My years of contribution will not be tied up in those ridiculous fees, and what privilege???? You are disrespectful and trifling and I will never never ever support any business of yours or go to any church you preach. As far as I’m concerned you’re now muted!!! The privilege is that the government get to waste people time and money. Now that I understand the wickedness all you do to people when all you keeping shutting them out I don’t care for no papers. The privilege is the colonial law and oppression you all impose on people who don’t have 100 year old jumbies here. Mr pastor of confusion. When I was here you were in Detroit on another beat. If you have nothing good to say, please shut the hell up. Just like you I’ll apologize for my tone tomorrow just not today.
So what? It is a radio show, not news.
Claude when you get older the state going to put you in the Adina Donovan home in deplorable condition just like how the Premier and others have their parents in there. Your heart is not for people. your heart belongs to the devil why you speak like that. You couldn’t control the words you said because the devil is within you. Yes the devil playing with you and send you to gaslight the people with a phony apology. I wonder what will be next tomorrow. By the Grace of God this land is covered from your treachery.
He is speaking on behalf of his two uncles. This is how they feel deep down inside. Horrible people
Sorry cayn cool it! You meant what you said. You have been saying some xenophobic, down right racist and discriminatory things on your show. You say them with such venom because you actually believe what you say. Now because you recognize that if the so called “island people” stop buying your dry food you will go out of business so you come now with your fake sorry. Take your sorry and stick it where the sun don’t shine!
Anybody who sit down in a congregation and listen to you preach need a hard slap
you’re funny but you right dwl
You can apologize till you turn blue, I will not be supporting your business
Im Boycotting New York Pizza
Claude am very disappointed in your statement for a business individual. i am a islander woman and i will not be supporting your business any longer. I will take my money else where to who will appreciate island people supporting them.
I won’t go and eat his racist servings of pizza anymore.
The false pastor will never learn..
However you twist it words speak volumes
How much did you pay for the privilege of the other passport you had?
You are so callous and pathetic that people like yourself would have made exceptional SLAVES MASTERS during the 50’s – 80’s
Your mentality is modern Day black oppression and
Racist , Nationality SLAVERY
There are just a handful of you that have this mentality
What a ting to say!!
Yet you in church saying you preaching when your heart and mind is CORRUPTED.
This guy a steaming POS. Send him back to Detroit where he belongs.
SORRY, SORRY FOR URSELF,script declared its not what goes into a man , but what comes out of the heart that defiles a man. for out of the abundant of the heart the mouth speaketh..
THE CITY , IS SAYING )> MAH PEOPLE ,YA’AL KNOW ME , YO BOI DIDN’T REALLY MEAN ANYTHING BAD , “HONESTLY SPEAKING ” I WAS JUST PLAYING WITH YA’AL HEADS , OR AS OUR PREMIER DOES SAY , IT WAS AN ” HONEST MISTAKE ” SO DOH DIG NUTTIN , OK PEACE & LOVE TO YA’AL
You move your food truck from infront HLSCC , Can’t believe Dr. GEORGES aloud that .
Hopping you’re not killing the young people with your food prices…..after all the Rent is
only 1000.
So be kind.
BULLPISSLE ON HIS HOLINESS ASZ WILL 3IPE THAT TRICKY MILLION DOLLAR SMILE OFF YOUR FACE ,AND THEN WE WILL SEE HOW FAST YOU CAN DO YOUR MOONWALK OR SLIP & SLIDE IN REVERSE
Pizza and chicken wings sales are going to be dropping. Get ready for the judgement call. Learn to respect the same people that support you and allow you to earn money. It’s time you get taught a vital lesson.
Sales drop by over 50% will be your lot…
You must do better by your fellow man to be redeemed. The power of Christ compels you…
Wow. Finally, the people all unanimous in speaking out against this false, wannabe prophet. Time to stop reporting his racist nonsense. Time to stop giving him a voice. If everyone ignores him, maybe he’ll go live his life quietly and stop thinking he’s important.
That is not an apology. You do not apologize by saying “for the way it was received”. You take responsibility and say, I regret the manner in which I said it. You are entitled to your opinion about any matter, but you have to be clear about what you are apologizing for. That is like someone saying, “I am sorry you feel that way instead of saying I am sorry for what I said.
AND ENCOURAGE YOUR OTHER 2 FAKE HOLY MEN OF THE DEVIL’S CLOTH ACCOMPLICES TO DO THE SAME YOU FORGOT EHST HAPPENED THE THE DUDE WHO USED TO HO FOEN ON HIS KNEES WHO THOUGHT THAT HE COULD OF MOCK ( GOD ) AND GET AWAY, WELL HE NOW RESIDES IN MIAMI / CLAUDIE WAS SLICK , SO HE DID HIS MOONWALK OUTA DETROIT AND NOW TRYING AH TING ON US / THE OTHER TWO SLIPPING & SLIDING FOR THE TIME BEING / BUT THEY CANNOT OUTSMART *KARMA * THE GREAT EQUALIZER .
My God quench the fires in his pizza hearth.If you your ancestors not from here..help make the ovens cold.#coolhedown
I don’t think he will get the message ( he is like the joker who claimed to be Mr esteemed , both crave the spotlight / both are experts at spreading lies / they uses racism as a front to create drama – they both believes they got the most brains and can outsmart anyone on this planet / very good at EMBELISILING anything in order to create a desired effect , and they love to play games with our minds ( it will be something else to see these two jokers flex off on eachother for bragging rights , then is when we would see who got the
belt .
This is a call to boycott any racial business in the BVI. Claude we starting with your Pizza Joint. I want to see nobody in there buying anything even if I have to come there and stand with a sign. You are too raciat and descriminating and an abomination to this territory. Please go and repent your ways. You do not love people.
They say white people racist but i always say we black people more racist towards our own brother and sister that is a lot of money for one man to pay
Then the premier calling for independence that will be the worst thing you guys could ever have to deal with the make the same mistake Guyanese people make their are killing our children’s we don’t have a voice to speak up there could do we anything and we must shut up our mouth
Don’t make the same mistake