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Coronavirus 'crisis will create opportunities' for VI - Skelton-Cline

-says the COVID-19 at the end of the day will be more of an economic virus
ZBVI 780am 'Honestly Speaking' radio host, Mr Claude O. Sketon says with the global crisis that arose from the outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus (CIVID-19), the Virgin Islands should use what was learnt from the virus and create new opportunities for the territory. Photo: VINO/File
Mr Claude O. Skelton showered praises on the Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) led Government for their response and preparedness efforts especially at ports, towards protecting Virgin Islanders. Photo: VINO/File
Mr Claude O. Skelton showered praises on the Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) led Government for their response and preparedness efforts especially at ports, towards protecting Virgin Islanders. Photo: VINO/File
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI - ZBVI 780am 'Honestly Speaking' radio moderator, Mr Claude O. Sketon says with the global crisis arising from the outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Virgin Islands should use whatever is learnt from the virus and create new opportunities for the territory.

"Every crisis in your life create opportunities, of course, crisis also exposes deficiencies, it shows you where you're porous, where your weak areas are, but it then, in turn, allows you to have some lessons learnt," Skelton-Cline said on the Tuesday, March 17, 2020, edition of his radio show. 

Learning from crisis 

He said with those lessons, corrective measures and cures can then be put into place, to mitigate the effects of similar issues in the future. 

"It is said that you never let a crisis go to waste, you have to take full opportunity to correct what needs to be corrected, to take advantage of opportunities that come out... and it is no different in this situation," the man of the cloth noted. 

The virus he said, while it may seem like a health issue at face value, when the story is told it will be more of an economic virus due to the impacts it is already having on the global stage. 

"Right here in these Virgin Islands (VI), we are glad to say, we are still a coronavirus free zone that we do not have any confirmed cases in our territory," he said. 

Gov't receives high praises 

Even as the impacts of COVID-19 are already being felt in the territory with shoppers panic buying and projected shortages in items like tissue, the Premier Andrew A. Fahie (R1) led Government came in for high praises for their response and preparedness measures towards protecting Virgin Islanders. 

"I do believe that our government has taken the right measured steps so far, in doing what is necessary," he said pointing out measures at the border, screenings policies and plans to quarantine persons coming from high impact coronavirus areas. 

The latest stats of the disease on the global scale according to the World Health Organisation is 266,073 confirmed cases and of that figure 11,184 deaths. For yesterday alone, there was a total of 32,000 new COVID-19 cases recorded around the world.

15 Responses to “Coronavirus 'crisis will create opportunities' for VI - Skelton-Cline”

  • Pastor (21/03/2020, 16:49) Like (7) Dislike (11) Reply
    Preach pastor, they say china release it to cripple word economies and clearly it's working.
    • Fool hardy (22/03/2020, 10:33) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
      Whose economy is most affected? China, right. Are they that stupid to destroy their own thriving economy. Don't spread false news.
  • Xxx (21/03/2020, 16:50) Like (22) Dislike (4) Reply
    He is spot on again oh yeah
  • Ain’t Ready (21/03/2020, 17:12) Like (25) Dislike (0) Reply
    Y’all ain’t ready for what’s to come

    P.S to all the woke ones hope you have prepped over the last few years because it’s gonna be a rough ride
  • My girl (21/03/2020, 18:28) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    No lies spoken
  • ABC (21/03/2020, 18:28) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    We need to start our backyard gardens
  • tretretrete (21/03/2020, 20:37) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    The virus is right there!
  • Brillant One Cline (22/03/2020, 00:02) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    You are not telling anyone anything new that they can't see on their own. Look at the US stock market, decrease in commerce, cruise ships, impact on taxis, hotels, service workers, etc. Some acting like this news is originating with you. You are just repeating CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS etc.
  • Hum (22/03/2020, 05:38) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    Opportunist
  • Outsider (22/03/2020, 10:14) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    How much testing is going on in the VI ?
    If testing is not happeni g you can't say there is no cases of coronavirus in the country. Government needs to get the test and put it in action


  • wth (22/03/2020, 17:19) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hmmmm... he said a lot without saying anything at all. What are the learnings? What are the opportunities? In his words, what has the government done that he thinks is right? Stop trying to BS the people with word games. That time has passed...save that for the NL congregation.
  • Diaspora (22/03/2020, 18:52) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Rahm Emanuel, former President Obama Chief of Staff and Mayor of Chicago, says, “never let a good crisis go to waste.” True. Nonetheless, at this moment, there is a global pandemic underway and all our efforts and resources should be marshaled to prevent, contain, control and mitigate it. Additionally, at this point, the focus should also be on building surge capacity into the health system so that if a major outbreak occurs the health system will not be overwhelm. An overwhelm health system will be disastrous, and can result in serious triage. When the territory returns to normalcy, it can conduct an after action review and capitalize on any opportunities.
    • RealPol (23/03/2020, 11:44) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      A cogent response to the idea floated by CSC. I endorsed the focus.


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