We don’t need a referendum for independence — Skelton Cline
Talk show host and political commentator Claude Skelton Cline has argued that a referendum is not necessary for the Virgin Islands to move towards independence, saying elected leaders already have the mandate to guide the process.
Skelton Cline urged the government to show stronger leadership on self-determination and not delay the issue.
“Our people should know that a referendum is not required. It’s a good thing to have, but it’s not required,” he said on his Honestly Speaking programme.
He told listeners that the responsibility lay with those currently in office. Skelton Cline insisted that waiting until 2031 for a referendum, as the Premier suggested, was unnecessary.
“There’s no reason why, if there’s going to be a referendum, that [it] should not be a part of a ballot in 2027,” he stated. “You as the leader of government’s business and as the leader of this current country currently… you have 18 months. You don’t have 2031,” he added.
Skelton Cline’s comments came during a discussion on independence with Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley, who has said that an eventual referendum would be needed to decide the territory’s political status.
The Premier said during the programme that he preferred to take “stages” towards self-determination, beginning with constitutional reform and an education campaign.
“I believe in taking things in stages. I think the next stage for us is to take control of the civil service, is to take control of our security,” he said.
The debate over a referendum has been ongoing in the Virgin Islands for some time. In 2022, governance expert Dr Carlyle Corbin told the same radio programme that “it’s not something that is required. I think that it is one of the means by which a determination can be made”.
Dr Corbin, who was commissioned by the government to assess self-governance, noted that historically, election victories by parties with independence in their manifestos had sometimes been taken as mandates to pursue that path.
Premier Wheatley has faced questions in the House of Assembly over whether independence is being pushed without full consultation.
In February 2025, opposition member Myron Walwyn pressed him on whether residents had been asked to choose from all available options.
Dr Wheatley replied that “before taking any steps to change status, there must be a referendum where the population express their wish and their view”.
The United Nations’ special committee on decolonisation has also recommended that the Virgin Islands conduct an education programme before making any decision on its future.
Copyright 2025 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
Wow.dictatorship.
Exactly. That is the voice of a Dictator.
You mean dictaster
Boy I am not even bothering with you today.
Right after a COI, jailed former premier and an Order In Council against the VI Mr. Wheatley is rushing the process for self governance, and if he is already running to Jamaica for help what is the real outcome of Indepencence. He has not even mentioned a poll to allow the citizens to voice an opinion on the matter. He needs to understand all this is sudden based on waht happen a few yrs ago.
Clearly you either have not read the article beyond the headlines, or you don’t understand what you have read.
Is the “We don’t need a referendum” being touted by several persons an indication of what will happen with decision making if or when we go independent?
The only people talking like this are those who had their hand in the cookie jar hmmmmm and ofc a small ignorant minority who can’t see how corrupt our government is
@no sense
If I could click on Thumbs Up twice, I would have.
Claude Skelton Cline’s latest sermon on self-determination is not leadership. It is like he is auditioning for relevance. But self-determination is not a talk show segment. It’s a generational decision that demands clarity. The Premier’s insistence on public education is not weakness. It is wisdom. You don’t drag a people into destiny with microphone theatrics and soundbite evangelism. You equip them with facts, options, and time.
And let’s be clear, appearing on ‘Dishonestly Speaking’ to debate national sovereignty is like discussing surgery in a barber shop. The platform is loud, but it’s not serious. The Premier should not dignify it again.
population express their wish and their view not needed boy go sit down.
WE WILL SEE ABOUT THAT Claude Skelton Cline
Wrong Again, Rev. Skelton Cline.
If you think our current gaggle of elected officials have a mandate to push for independence, you haven’t been paying attention.
HAVE SPOKEN ~ AND OUR PREMIER NEEDS THE APPROVAL OF THE MULTI- TALENTED PASTOR – CONSULTANT AND PSYCHIC ( AKA ) ” THE CITY SLICKER ” BEFORE HE CAN ACHIEVE THAT PIPE DREAM THAT HAS BEEN PLAGUING HIM SINCE CHILDHOOD
The continued push by the Wheatley Gang members to remove the right that of the VI people and the right respected by the UN that it is for the people of the VI to decide their future.
The VI people determine if Independence is even on of the options and the UN agrees that.
It is only our current Dictator and his gang members that want to not have a vote.
They do not speak for the people, do not have the voice of the people, do not have the good of the people in their minds.
Only 487 people voted for The Wheatley Gang leader.
He does not speak for us.
NO referendum = NO independence
UK Monarchy in control of the BVI forever!
If we all took advice from Fraud Skeleton Crime, we’ll all be kicking rocks. He’s already pushing dictatorship talking about a referendum isn’t needed. He fully well knows that it will never pass and all votes would be not in favor of it.
Just another greedy hustler. If you THINK BVI people going to let you and your cronies railroad us into independence. THINK AGAIN