Exclusive: Letter emerges! John I. Cline confirms being sacked!
Our senior National Democratic Party (NDP) sources today January 10, 2017 provided us with a copy of Bishop Cline's letter.
We had reported that Premier Smith called for his resignation and had instructed the Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Ronnie W. Skelton (AL), to convey the Premier's wishes to Mr Cline, the outspoken man of the cloth.
In the letter dated January 8, 2017 the former BVIHSA Chairman wrote "it has come to my attention that based on an interview I had....the Premier of the Virgin Islands...has determined that I do not support his government."
In Mr Cline's painful admission that he was forced out by Premier Smith, he said in the same letter "as per his request to see my resignation as Chairman...by Sunday 8 January 2017, I hereby tender my resignation..."
Cline was vitimised, no freedom of speech!
Many, even in the top brass of the NDP and their supporters, have labeled Bishop Cline's ousting as victimisation. To this end, the former Chairman has also concluded the same thing in his letter.
Mr Cline took the same position when he wrote in the same resignation letter, "I cannot; however, in good conscience, serve in any public capacity in these my beloved Virgin Islands, if acting in such a capacity will dilute, hold hostage or abolish any of my constitutional rights in respect to which my forefathers suffered and bled and died."
The popular Bishop of the New Life Baptist Church in Duff's Bottom, on the main island of Tortola, went on to state, "My service has been, is and will continue to be to my country first, over and above any particular individual, political party or administration; and where there is a conflict of these competing interests, the overriding interest, of my country will always prevail."
Today January 10, 2017 also the former Chairman confirmed to other media Houses that he was forced out by Dr Smith for agreeing with an infamous letter from former legislator and cultural icon Mrs Eileene L. Parsons OBE where she lambasted the NDP, saying the organisation needs leadership and that the portfolio of Finance must go to Hon Skelton.
See full sized letter below:
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66 Responses to “Exclusive: Letter emerges! John I. Cline confirms being sacked!”
look at how our country is under your watch come on and take advise.
No John you are wrong as you do have freedom of speech which you exhibited that day but unfortunately in this case it comes with consequences which in this case you lost your job. You see you cannot publicly criticize and actually recommend that your employer relinquish his post because he is not performing well. You could have written to him( Like Ms.P) or even scheduled a meeting.
Well be that as it may, it sure damages the credibility of the Premier's leadership when one of his party's most fervent supporters and one of its biggest beneficiaries have to call him out publicly. Something must be wrong for him to do that hence the reason why we need to see the financial statements before we proceed with this airport expansion.
I noticed he is also hinting that the Premier relied on misleading headlines to arrive at his decision. Come on John...Vino please roll the tape.
John is a major beneficiary of this Government but still good on him to take a bold stance like this but it was intentional and for a long time one could see factions developing in the party.When Claude Cline got the boot who stood up and said he did a good job? Skelton and Mitch. I don't think this is the end of it....Just the beginning.
I am glad that he stood up as it also confirmed the NDP leadership as a vindictive one that even their most fervent supporters can get shafted like that. If they could do that to an outspoken supporter, imagine what they can do to outspoken opponents?
In regards to the contracts for Televisons, computers and even office supplies, Infinite solutions is not the only big player on the market. I know for a fact that there was one other company DPro that made a bid to provide television and computers but due to some ludicrous time technicality(late by half an hour) their bid was not accepted. They knew very well that they wanted Infinite to get it. Up to now some of the work that has already been paid for is not even completed at the hospital. I also understand from a reliable source that the former CEO was very concerned with the high cost of the services and goods provided and wanted to cut costs by using an alternate provider and that may have been her undoing.
John may have done well off prior Governments but not to the extent that he has done with the NDP, hence his glee on TV when they got a second term.
Talk that!
.TV. Drama..Comedy..laugh.. Tears. Whatever happened on Monday I won't miss none of it.
About the airport project Orlando should be signing those papers today. I want to ask Cline how many other countries flooding the BVI?
Kedrick, if it is one time i'm on your side is now with that airport project. Those local contractors can't fix the roads in the BVI how them going to make a runway?. You see the road sea cows bay and all around you they just say they fix? We don't want any potholes in that runway for when the plane land it hit one or two and broke of its wheels.
These local contractors draining the government with their high prices.
It is time to rally People! I ready to march!
Its more in the marta than just the pissle.. ayo go be fine
The Diva and the doctor must have sphincter spasms right about now. With John their protector gone the way is paved for their r@$$3$ to be carted out of the HSA.. Then again what will the rasta really do? She has no dog in the fight bit her 200k a year plus bonus. Anyway we can rest easy as Karma has spun around and bit John in the @$$. She just needs to hurry up and finish the job now!
Cline has shown himself to be an incontinent person. He needs to take some time and make the needed adjustment. It will benefit him greatly in the long run. I hope he does not let pride get in the way.
While free speech is allowable, public outbursts on a matter stated in private is hurtful-very hurtful and would never be tolerated by anyone in leadership.
Perhaps, if the good Bishop had stated his concerns privately, his position may have been retained.
Outbursts of this manner is seen as incompetence by the Leader of this country and his family and personally, I too, would not have tolerated such either.
Good luck in your newer endeavors Ivan.
Let this example be a lesson to all: Dirty laundry must always remain in the washer room, not outside for others to see or have the ability to interact with!