Trade Department should be led by Virgin Islander — Skelton Cline
Honestly Speaking talk show host Claude Skelton Cline is calling for the head of the Trade Department to be a Virgin Islander, reigniting debate over who should lead one of the territory’s most important economic agencies.
The controversial talk show host made the comment recently, while bemoaning what he calls the poor service Virgin Islanders receive when applying for trade licenses.
He said a Virgin Islander in the top Trade Department post would be poised to make decisions in the best interest of those who have the closest ties to the territory.
“I don’t know who’s in charge of Trade. But I think it’s somebody from Trinidad,” Skelton Cline said during his most recent broadcast. “I’m sure he’s a nice person but Trade is one of those departments where Virgin Islanders need to sit at the head.”
The Trade Department is currently without a Director. Deputy Director Lincoln E. Bobb is a Trinidad native – and is believed to be the person Skelton Cline was referring to.
He is understood to be managing the day-to-day operations of the department. However, it’s unclear whether Bobb will be confirmed as director or if a formal search will be conducted to fill the post, especially amid news that former Director of Trade Karia Christopher has now been formally appointed Director of Communications within the Premier’s Office.
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I’m a BVI islander of Caucasian persuasion.I would never be considered because I’m a honkey!!You know it,I know,and my lawyer said that’s the brutal truth.Only private sector for whites nowadays.
@ Truth . you are talking utter bull nonsense. Both you and Claude Clyne are uttering divisive bull.
Facts! bc I am a local BVIslander and they have mine held up for months. It is WILLFULLNESS AND ENVY, that is the sole reason they hold up applications so long with no sight in end. If you dear ask them how long the process takes generally, all they come up with is they will call when it is ready. Such an answer is UNACCEPTABLE. Unless you in a posse, you have to beg them like a dog. NO ACCOUNTABILITY. Applicants are to the mercy of some EVIL and BADMINDED people down there meh son.
I’m willing to bet that no Virgin Islander has ever called you a ‘honkey’
Here’s something I hope that everyone understands, 80% of us here feel marginalized for some reason or another. Whether born here or not, or black skinned or not, we all feel marginalized to some degree.
I want the best ppl working where they will produce the best work for us. Not for others but for us. So that needs a cultural understanding in order for it to happen along with the training and expertise needed for the role.
Im white. Wasn’t born here but spent most of my adult life here. I have never been called a honky. I’m often referred to a white but that’s life. As I’m surrounded by black ppl. It’s just a figure of speech. Never felt hatred towards me (apart from a couple romantic relationships gone wrong). Majority of friends are black. However I was recently call white ***** to my face but that was from an ignorant island man recently moved here. Had to fix him fast by speaking about his mother!
My complexion is very dark and I have had people call be “black” with negative connotations. But, hey, I am black and it does not bother me one bit. What I will not do is bleach because my knuckles and finger tips will remain of my true complexion. Said that to say, it should be ok to be called what you are although it is no secret to you.
I think C.O. S-C has made it clear.
A vote for INDEPENDENCE is a vote for CORRUPTION.
A vote for INDEPENDENCE is NOT PATRIOTIC it is only to benefit our greedy politicians and elites who thrive from CORRUPTION.
INDEPENDENCE and CORRUPTION will go hand in hand.
And those that believe the lies that the COI failed to unearth any large-scale corruption in the Government of the Virgin Islands continue to be conditioned by C.O. S-C and certain media.
Remember the COI revealed enough about corruption to have C.O.S-C charged on Friday, May 17, 2024.
Such a bigot and people actually sit down and let this hateful imbecile preach to them? There is no difference between his conduct and that of Charlie Kris. We would condemn Trumpsters for their attitude and we do exactly the same thing here.
you’re a Kool-Aid drinking nut, and your statement boarders on two faced rhetoric. Charlie Kirk was nothing like CSC, so stop drawing comparisons just because you’re a liberal who only wishes people to see things only as you do and believe (ironically the same thing you are criticizing CSC for).
We as people all have to right to dialogue, disagree, and try to find common ground. CSC believes the common ground is only as he sees it, much the same as yourself.
Stop covering up BVI racism
Racism exists everywhere, including where you are from.
I pity you whoever you are.
CSC you exhaust me! Put the best person in the job, to achieve what is needed, and let the country, the people, and the economy benefit from their skillset!
Your narrow-minded, self-serving thinking divisiveness benefits nobody!
He contributed nothing to this country but acting like he is entitled to it more than most who stayed here and help to build this country. He went to Detroit for decades and got involved in all sort of things and ran back home when his friend Kilpatrick went to prison. Meanwhile BVIslanders, belongers and other expats built the country. He came back and immediately started to suck at the breast of the government. Both NDP and VIP. Now he wants to tell those who stayed here and work that they should be included in critical decisions affecting this country. He is the scum of this earth.
The person running Trade made no contribution to the BVI, just like CSC. So what’s your point.
Can he please leave the BVI and go back to Detroit? He is sickening and he is trying to poison the BVI like a filthy son of satan
The problem is BVINews think listening to a radio show and publishing it here is journalism.
It is BVINews that actually is spreading his gospell and has this guy preaching to us.
It is hard to understand why.
I completely agree with CSC! Trade department doesn’t require any uniquely special skill or skills that aren’t available right here with Virgin Islanders! It is a travesty that a local isn’t heading up this department. This Trini brings nothing special or anything to the table!
Airport should be run by Khoy Levons too not a Vincy.
We have the skills and education level here with our own people!
Why is BVINEWS posting his comments as if they are profound? I swear there’s an article everyday on him and his foolishness. This man spews so much division and hate it’s crazy!
I completely agree with you! Why is BVI News allowing him the space to incite divisiveness daily? There are so many other leaders in the BVI who can offer thought-provoking and incisive commentary that would generate positivity for moving the country forward.
I am of the opinion that the Trinidadian does not have the BVI best interest at heart. I do not care who is in charge but I think the individual needs to be effective.
Sitting on an application for six (6) months is unacceptable. If there is a reason to deny a trade licence application, then by all means, do not sit on it for nearly a year. It is unacceptable and unprofessional! We are killing the industry that lays to golden egg!
This brother needs some help. The divisive antics is not coming over well. He needs to stop like yesterday. ZBVI need t silence that mike.
You are interesting. But quit it. You talking fluff. here are the facts: the Virgin Islands is a colony of the UK. The Governor has the final say in all those matters you spout on. As a diplomat he will allow you to spout. Nothing will happen on nationality unless the UK allows it. When it comes to international law all legal residents have equal rights and those categories you talk about are simple imagination. Once a person is a belonger and naturalized he is 100% a citizen and has equal rights with you and the rest of the native population. If you do not like it go back to Detroit.
Why should the origins of any qualified competent person be relevant? Is our favorite gas bag saying BVIs only for the BVIslanders born here?
so he just goes and talk about segregation and racism all week then preaches about love and unity to each other on the weekends
Well if the current head of trade department is a Trinidadian, that’s something to be alarm about, and not about Myron whose navel string buried in the BVI.
But why is Claude not talking about premiere Wheatley interest in the country when his navel string buried in Puerto Rico?
Because according to the laws of the land, the Premier is an indigenous BV Islander. CSC did not write those.
Which law is this? The law of xenophobia?
Want somebody local so they can bribe/blackmail them into taking extra long with the non BVIslanders/ foreigners ‘good business ideas’ , delay them while they tell their buddy to go ahead and start up the same business ideas.
I agree with Claude, in this day and age with so much educated virgin Islanders you still need to import someone to work in trade department. You people need to stop this nonsense about our premier born in Puerto Rico His parents, Grandparents and i am sure it goes further back are Virgin Islanders. When one person starts this nonsense others continue. You cannot compare him to Myron. Please stop it now.
I am Resting Skelton Cline out of the Equation and just Playing Devil’s Advocate.
1. Did any qualified Virgin Islanders applied for the Position, was Interviewed and was refused the Position?
2. Can a Virgin Islander go to any other Caribbean Island, Apply for a Position that there Is/Are qualified Applicants from that Island/Country and expect to get the Position?
3. What are the Circumstances surrounding this Position or any other Positions in the Virgin Islands that are held by Expatriates?
4. Which Department is Responsible for situations like this and others?
This is a Government Department But what about Positions in the Private Sector? or Statutory Bodies?
This man is spitting hatred into this country
He and his brother who I just heard is the interim leader of NDP
Will overthrow Marlon during the internal election and make him sit down like a little boy
They are deadly and underneath
Destruction comes with smiling faces
Myron shoot himself in his foot
Marlon will shoot himself in leadership
Too much political confusion
AT MY GOODNESS, YOU ARE CORRECT BUT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO STOP.
This was done strategically to minimize the levels of dishonesty and corruption in regards to Trade Licenses and Trade relations..** was too dishonest amongst others or they would have been there today.