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Disrespectful, disloyal trio must apologise to party leaders—Bishop John I. Cline
This is according to Bishop John I. Cline, who in a bombshell interview on January 31, 2025, unleashed a barrage of criticism against the newly formed opposition alliance, accusing the key legislators of betrayal, deception, and outright disrespect towards their party leaders and the electorate and has in fact publicly called for their apologies.
“They need to apologise to their leaders for being deceptive,” Bishop Cline declared in his fiery remarks targeted specifically at first-term legislator and Deputy Speaker Hon Stacy R. Mather (AL), who, alongside Hon Myron V. Walwyn (R6) and the ever-vocal Hon Melvin M. Turnbull (R2), announced a controversial alliance that has left political insiders and voters alike stunned.
Backroom Deals & Betrayal?
Bishop Cline candidly labelled the trio’s actions as a betrayal of their own party leaders, particularly Opposition Leader Hon Ronnie W. Skelton (AL), in the House of Assembly (HoA) and other senior figures.
As such, Bishop Cline, vehemently adumbrating for the legislators, “Go back and say to your leaders, (and say) We made a mistake; If what you're saying is true, even if Hon Opposition Leader Skelton and Hon Penn, weren't at that press conference, anyone who asked them—including myself—would have been told this was part of ongoing backroom dialogues to reunite the two entities.”
Adamant, these discussions were anything but transparent, Bishop Cline divulged that while “There was dialogue. There was blessing. Honourable Skelton said it at the press conference. But when pressed about a third entity being formed, he clearly stated, ‘I’m not aware of that, and it would not receive my blessing.’”
Yet, despite this, Hon Mather, Walwyn, and Turnbull forged ahead, apparently defying their leaders’ wishes, he said.
According to Bishop Cline, “That’s deception, plain and simple; you can't tell the people you’re about transparency when your own leaders are in the dark about your moves.”
Testosterone-Fuelled Power Grab
Not holding back in his damning assessment of the alliance’s motives, while painting a picture of rogue politicians driven by ego and ambition Bishop Cline qualified his position further, elucidating, “That is why I use the strong language of testosterone, because these are men who’ve made up their minds—come hell or high water—they’re going to do what they want.”
Bishop Cline also accused the alliance of recklessly pushing forward despite knowing full well that the wider opposition wasn't on board. “They were aware that the people sitting on the opposition were not in favour of what they were doing and yet, they pushed ahead; That’s why I call it deceptive. If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck—it’s a duck.”
Voter Fallout
In light of the new political environment, Bishop Cline warned that this rogue alliance would only serve to alienate voters and deepen divisions within the opposition ranks.
“They are just emboldening every VIP (Virgin Islands Party) voter to say, ‘No matter how bad the Premier is, we ain’t joining that mess.’ If I were a VIP supporter, I’d be saying, ‘No way.’ You weren’t even loyal to your own leaders. That’s just confusion—pure chaos.”
Bishop Cline, as such, posits that this political infighting could backfire spectacularly reiterating, “You’re creating confusion, and that confusion will cost you at the polls. It’s not just a slap in the face to your leaders—it’s a slap in the face to the electorate.”
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15 Responses to “Disrespectful, disloyal trio must apologise to party leaders—Bishop John I. Cline”
So very sad that we are where we are politically
Smh
Man, i certainly agree with the Bishop. These guys especially Myron and Mitch, its nothing but power they @&& want they dragged an inexpensive Mather with them. Myron dying to be Premier, he better go siddong. 7 is more than 3 or 4. That 1 hiding in the corner.
No one want island man Myron Walwyn as we premier get that through your hard head
The act action of the three oppositions political members to rebel and formed an alliance movement against the opposition leader and his remaining team members was indeed a coup attempt to usurp (take over power elegal.
The right thing for them to do is appologize for their wrong action against the public votors and the opposition leader and the other two remaining leaders.
It is true that the majority, if not all, VIP leaders a d supporters a happy that this political attempted coup has happened, but what good will it really served the people of the British Virgins, those that are living among us, tourists and business people, and family members that visit daily their family members?
Before the VIP headship should have rejoice over the opposition demised, the VIP leaders should have appologized to their employers (the voters particulially) for many diserviced those known and thise unknow by them.
No person in their right mind will rejoice when an attemted coup has occured. All coups are elegal in the democratic of goverment. Only crooked people rejoice, when an attempted democratic succeed.
He sounds very selfish and that’s the problem with most of the poluticians self above country. Speak on behalf of the people and get some respect.