USVI Governor’s tariff threats may backfire, says Skelton Cline

Political commentator Claude Skelton Cline has warned that United States Virgin Islands (USVI) Governor Albert Bryan Jr’s tariff threats against the BVI could have unintended consequences.

Speaking on his Honestly Speaking talk show recently, Skelton Cline criticised Governor Bryan’s suggestion that tariffs could be imposed on the BVI in response to increased fees for charter operators.

“Governor Bryan said that he is going to appeal to Trump about imposing tariffs,” Skelton Cline explained, suggesting that the move could be shortsighted.

“Be careful that Trump doesn’t turn on the US Virgin Islands,” he warned. “Trump is the kind of guy who seemed to have lost all his moral compass and ethical equilibrium… Be careful.”

The USVI governor’s call for tariffs follows the BVI’s decision to increase fees on commercial water taxis and charter yachts operating in its waters. Some business owners in the USVI have argued that the fee hikes unfairly target their operations and could reduce tourism and trade between the territories.

Despite this, Skelton Cline argued that the economic relationship between the two territories must remain balanced. “I know you have to look out for your constituency… But be careful. We are friends. We’re not enemies,” he said, adding that both governments should engage in constructive discussions rather than punitive measures.

He also criticised the BVI government for granting trade licences to foreign-owned marinas, alleging that local water taxi operators were being pushed out of the market. “We have issued some licences to some of these marinas who are now running their own charters, their own water taxis, and have now relegated the locals to the side where they can’t make money… That is wrong.”

The BVI and USVI have long maintained a close economic and cultural relationship, with frequent travel and trade between the territories. While tensions over maritime fees have arisen in the past, direct tariff threats from the USVI are a new escalation.

Skelton Cline called for level-headed negotiations between the two governments when Bryan and Dr Wheatley meet. “You all need to have some honest discussion and love,” he said.