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Enough is enough; End 'deadly' right-hand drive imports—Skelton-Cline
Addressing his audience on the January 28, 2025, edition of Honestly Speaking on ZBVI 780 AM, Skelton-Cline vehemently criticised the continued influx of right-hand drive and ageing vehicles into the territory. “We have to put a stop to government to letting these right-hand vehicles coming here.”
Insistent in his demands, the candid commentator questioned rhetorically, "you’re going to tell me they're already here and you can't stop them? The devil is obliged to the mother-in-law! I bet you if I was in charge, that would stop coming in here."
Skelton-Cline's argument revolves around what he perceives as a lack of environmental regulation, pointing out that many of the imported vehicles fail to meet American emissions standards.
"The emissions tested from these vehicles cannot pass the American spec. So we are allowing these things in the Virgin Islands, further contaminating our airspace. We're dying from all kinds of cancers, we don't know where it's coming from," Skelton-Cline asserted.
Minister Rymer: Ban unlikely
Skelton-Cline's comments come amid ongoing discussions about vehicle import regulations in the Virgin Islands.
Minister for Transportation and Works, Kye M. Rymer (R5), had previously stated that while the government recognises the challenges posed by the increase in vehicles, an outright ban on right-hand drive or older vehicles is unlikely.
"That document came to Cabinet where we spoke about limiting [the importation of] vehicles over a certain year; There won’t be a ban, but we’ll have increased duty for vehicles over a certain age," Rymer had reaffirmed in a February 2023 report.
According to Hon Rymer, certain vehicles classified as antiques may attract a different duty rate, but there is no immediate plan to prohibit the importation of right-hand drive vehicles. He acknowledged that a reduction in import duties in 2023, aimed at easing the burden of rising fuel costs, had led to a significant increase in vehicle imports.
While no new roads are currently being built, Rymer maintained that the government has implemented initiatives such as Park and Ride to help ease traffic congestion.
"I think it’s working pretty well in terms of the flow of traffic within the Road Town area," the minister had stated.
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32 Responses to “Enough is enough; End 'deadly' right-hand drive imports—Skelton-Cline”
Right hand drive cars do the same sh** all the time, I would say more. Every time I have a near miss it’s some right hand dive car that can’t see the side of the road so goes down the middle. Maybe if the Government put lines on the road to indicate the lanes people would stay in there lane.
some dealerships even killing you parts. the same parts you find on amazon that is 5x cheaper you wonder what makes theirs different...
buying brand new cars to drive on poor roads only to end up with damage suspensions all before you finish pay of the car loan..like rlly?
dont even mention rent, cost of living , groceries, school supplies etc
and i notice rent of apartments steadily increasing to 2k and up................. the middle and lower class making 2k on a reg? even if you make 2k you still have other expense like bro.
but yea go ahead and force everyone to buy brand new left hand drive cars with high interest and high prices only to get 1 free service and you on yuh for everything else. yall making so much money and still want to kill out people more
However, it's the trucks that are the worst offenders & emit a huge amount of pollution - so start with those!
Now, if you're talking about the emissions of these cars then the simplest option is to undertake emissions tests.
And while we're on the subject of things that create emissions, CSC - I suggest you take a look in the mirror.
The Vehicle imported from the USA are LH drive and they are designed for.
Unfortunately the people who have not ventured into the wider world think this is the norm. To make the BVI a safe place we need proper road designers and not the Tar Mac covered donkey tracks. There are a lot of accidents and deaths due to poor design and poor maintenance. We wont mention the pot holes. The tar mac at the airport is a vineer and wont last beyond the next rain. I needs to be stuck with tar to the concrete. Again propper road designing is needed.
My nerves are worked everyday with it. It is not part of our culture and other people from elsewhere are trying to force it down our throats, so to speak. Ministry of Communication and Transportation or whoever, it needs to stop NOW!!!!!
Just shut the hell up damn cr****!!
Can this man drive at all where in the books states that a right or left hand driven car makes you a bad driver in my opinion the driver who drives with out any due care and attention is who causes the accidents not the car so this (FOOL) and the others that think a right hand driven car is a problem go and read your driving test book and see if it for a left hand or right hand vehicle
I am sure some these Expats down island people come up to this BVI and learn to drive your left hand drive vehicles and do a more better job than wunna so call American mockers driving LH vehicles
Get 10 BVI landers give them RH drive vehicles and 10 island ppl left hand vehicles to parallel park and see who can drive better (STUPID) mentality thinking Black people
Panna Hush Yuh @$$, Sound Like A Clown. I Does Drive Both Comfortably, And I Grow Up With Left Hand But I Rather Right Hand. Is A Preference. U Sound Dotish Nf
"Dislike" if you think its right-hand drive vehicles that are dangerous