Branson using 'Belongership status' to mortgage VI property - Skelton-Cline
Mr Skelton-Cline made the call on the Monday, April 21, 2020, edition of his 'Honestly Speaking' radio show, alleging that because Mr Branson is holding Belongership status in the Territory, he can do as he likes with the land in terms of having the same rights as locals; however, the commentator urged Government to explore if they can have a say in his proposition.
Cabinet approval not required - Skelton-Cline
"We, on one hand, can get up in arms about that... because Sir Richard Branson is now a Belonger, he doesn't have a Non-Belongers landholders licence [therefore] anybody who has [that] licence, any change of hands, anything at all that has to do with that particular piece of property, always will require Cabinet's approval."
"But if Sir Richard and anybody else who has been deemed to belong to this country holds a piece of property, they do not need government's approval," Skelton-Cline implored.
According to the 'Man of the Cloth', "What now needs to happen when we see matters like these, our government now needs to review that agreement to see what if any conditions are in that sale, and what they need to be looking for, is that do we as a country have first right of refusal," he said.
COVID-19 & saving job
Branson plans to use the Necker Island property as security to raise a £500m loan from the UK Government in order to offset the drop in Virgin Atlantic's business as a result of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This he says will save as many jobs as possible.
Skelton-Cline said the VI, therefore, should have the right to be able to have oversight in a deal like that, "but you see you can't do these things when the paste is already, out of the tube. First of all, I am never in favour of selling islands. I don't know what that was about back then."
He said going forward, VI properties should instead be leased and the Virgin Islands on a whole should work on securing as much land its as possible, "When you lose your land, you lose your country," urging the people 'responsible' to analyse the original sale agreement.
'Just a Loan' - Branson
Branson in correspondence to Skelton-Cline on the impacts of COVID-19 on his business assured that the proposal to the UK Government is only a loan.
"It is just that, a loan that would be repaid [and] as the Premier [Andrew A. Fahie (R1)] has said in our fight for the BVI, together we will come we will come through this, together we will win."
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61 Responses to “Branson using 'Belongership status' to mortgage VI property - Skelton-Cline”
So if the man wants to take out a mortgage on his property he has to ask cline permission.
Who did cline ask for permission to mortgage his property.
You bring something to the table, you are an ASSET, have a seat at the table. You also have the option to leave.
You bring empty pockets and a handful of gimmee with bad hehaviour and ingratitude,you are a LIABILITY, take crumbs.
You too have the option to leave.
It is the same in the US and other countries...capital in the form of cash brings job dodo bird.
In 2008 was over $150 million dollars and what is the government of the BVI getting in taxes ? You tell me .what did the government of the BVI get from the chess of treasure on the island . Maybe he might want to tell you ,so if you don’t know ask or research something.
Dude he can’t mortgage necker easily. Needs a license for enforcement without a local bank. I don’t think FCIB and others are lining up to give a $100m loan.
Good luck to him. He has helped the people of Virgin Gorda with his hurricane funds which were raised for the people of the BVI. Tortola not so much, but any help is a help, right?
Virgin is an important link for the Caribbean. But the loan needs to be with a big warrant and or equity stake. The galactic project needs to be sold.
Not the government. How many islands still owned locals have been developed? How many now owned by others have not been developed or preserved, providing jobs, business and wealth to the country?
i dont understand what you are suggesting...are you looking for a way for government to capitalise on someone trying to raise funds using their own assests ?.... or are you saying he has no right to use his own property in this way..why are you asking to investigate a property sale which took place in the 70's. why dont you spend your time investivating the 40 mill vanishing act at TPP. or the million $ wall ...dig untll you get answers....oh ..i get it.......hes not "from" here. oh and while you are at it...could you pls investivate your self and submit what value for money you gave us on your government contract with the cruiseship industry last year...90k for 6 months wasnt it. i may of course be wrong on that...so if it wasnt you..could you pls investigate that ans ask the questions. thankyou
The good pauster is just deceitful and grudgeful.
Chapter 1 of the interpretations defines who belong to the virgin islands.
In relation to Sir Richard Branson,the virgin islands constitution order states:-
[" For the purposes of this constitution,a person belongs to the virgin islands if that person-
(f) is a person to whom a certificate of has been granted under section 16 of the immigration and passport act 1977 of the virgin islands xxxx"]
Accordingly,Sir Richard Branson is a citizen of the virgin islands and has all the rights and privileges which goes with citizenship.
Sir Richard has a right to own land in the virgin islands,and he has a right to sell his land if he so choses.
There is nothing discriminatory in the constitution,which states that a person born in the v.i from a mother or father who at the time of the birth,belonged to the v.i, and that such person has more rights than a person who became a citizen under section 16 of the immigration act.
That is the kind of behavior which bothers me in the bvi with my bvi people.
If the constitution declared the man a belonger,the man is a citizen.
Whether he is a billionaire or zeronaire,he is a citizen.
Sir Richard has done good service to his fellow citizens in the bvi.
lets live in peace and harmony.
one love.
What was the intention of Parliament when they created the section of laws as mentioned by legal team?
I am putting it to you that you are not familiar with the laws of the Virgin islands. I suggested that you get copies of the laws and be aquatinted with such.
Offcourse the laws of any country or territory, can be amended or repealed [changed]
The immigration and passport ordinance,makes provisions,for person granted belongers status to lose that status under certain circumstances to include:-
(a) "If a person has shown himself by act or speech to be disloyal or disaffected towards Her Majesty,the Queen",
and there are about 6 other reason written in law under the immigration act,when a person can be stripped of belonger status.
But for time being,sir branson does not fall in this category.
Sir branson,in 2020 is and remained a citizen of the UK's British Overseas Territory of the BVI.
Sir Branson is a UK citizen with right of abode in the BVI,as a bvi citizen.