Form 'Commission on Independence' for VI- Pastor Skelton-Cline
The Premier continues to express his desire for an independent Virgin Islands (VI), moving away from being a British Overseas Territory.
Pastor Skelton-Cline on his weekly show, Honestly Speaking, on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, said he is in support of an independent VI. According to the man of the cloth, the record can show him as predicting independence for the territory will come by 2027.
Form a 12-month Commission; let people decide
The Pastor encouraged the Premier to form a commission, giving them 12 months to work, following which they should present a report to him.
“They’re going to study this whole thing on independence. They’re going to move throughout the Virgin Islands with multiplicity of meetings in every venue, in every church, in every centre, on social media platforms…gather for you all the information in every component that is necessary that a country will need to make an informed decision,” Pastor Skelton-Cline stated.
Following the commission’s report, the final decision on independence for the VI should be made by the people, Pastor Skelton-Cline further advised.
A referendum should then be held, he continued, to allow Virgin Islanders to “democratically” decide if they are prepared for independence.
“Bring it to the people,” Skelton-Cline stated.
The pastor's comments come as the UK remains reluctant to lift the controversial Order in Council that threatens to suspend the territory's constitution and impose direct rule.
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53 Responses to “Form 'Commission on Independence' for VI- Pastor Skelton-Cline”
CORRUPTION!
Roads and horrible infrastructure
Education in shambles
Crime/murders/drugs
Terrible healthcare
Reliance on imports
Use of US dollar (which will most likely be taken away if we go independent)
Financial services will possibly decline
Tourism will dwindle because it's only then we won't take proper care of country
No Army/Navy
Expats (who play a vital role in the economy) will probably leave and the entitled BVIslanders won't probably don't have much skill can't fill their shoes
No growth in country (no new hotels, tourist attractions, events to draw people)
Who will be head of country? The one we have now needs to be removed EXPEDITIOUSLY
STOP PUSHING INDEPENDENCE!
You said it... "CORRUPTION!"
Politicians of every persuasion chafe under the thumb of oversight. The UK's Governor and Foreign & Commonwealth Office oversight keeping our politicians and government honest and transparent is an anathema to pols and their huge egos.
this same country where websites got hack and can't recover up to now with people coming in person to pay in person waiting in 2 hrs plus line?
this the same country that has people being picked up by the USA for human sumggling and drug trafficking?
This the same country that was beggin for climate change funding?
This the same country that has no proper price control while supermarkets change their price every sunset?
This the same country that has import tax so high forcing you to buy the over expensive and cheap products locally.
This the same country that had several parties funded but turned around and said there's no money left to fix roads and infrastructure?
This the same country that have a medical center in VG where someone died bcuz it was closed???????
This the same country that finds it very hard to raise minimum wage bcuz it would negatively affect business that making 300% profit on the small man?
This the same country that gave our grants to fake fishers and farmers and refused to do a proper background check before giving out tax money to friends and family and government worker who were being paid a salary during lockdown??
This the same country that took SSB money to build house that no one can afford but them and their rich friends?
This the same country that complained UK took long to come and help us after Hurricane IRMA?
This the same country that have "business men" getting shot down like a dog whenever police get a bust?
This the same country that have customs boss being investigated for breach of trust and custom failing to show a decent drug bust up to this day?
This the same country that was willing to work with drug kartels to run dope through the ports at our expense?
This the same country that have youths as young as 14 yrs carrying assault riffles??
This the same country that invites music artist to sing about sex,drugs,violence to the youths every festival but cries out for peace when a businessman gets gunned down??
This the same country that choose to implement barges for border proctection and dish out loads of cash over getting it for free by the UK??
This the same country that has their underage girls dress like whores and getting involved with low standard men of all ages?
this the same country that finds it hard to get a sex offender list in place but was able to grant belongership to a rapist???
This the same country that has cars parked on both sides of the road during the work week with congested parking and empty paid parking lots??
This the same country that can't keep water running for 24/7 for their residence.
This the same country that blocked the Japan boat from coming here to force everyone to buy brand new dealership cars with our crazy bank interest rates?
This the same country with terrible bank lines and crazy high interest with little to no returns?
You want to go EC with inflation on and our high local living pricing?
should i continue? independent?? ha whenever that day come i will gladly read all the news of the aftermath from UK or USA.
SPOT ON!!!
All of it, every sentence is pretty much right on the money.
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome.
Yes this is the same country and it's ours not the UK. As we self-correct ourselves, it is high time that we run our own f#(%1^g affairs.
My personal opinion; let the people cast votes for Yes or No as it relates to Independence
those with the ability to vote will simply go to their relevant pulling stations and cast the Vote
Thereafter; based on the counting of yes or no ballots one will set about the mindset of the People
The people have spoken
Talk Show Host or Political Party Members Should not congregate and determine such a drastic change for our people(Independence)
Independence is a very serious thing: One of the Challenges We might have is Currency: Cost Guard and that list goes one
Dont Forget accountability of public officers: who will watch over their shoulders or the number of hand going into the cookie jar
outsiders who moved to the VI and were ripped off or robbed or otherwise violated by the VI government or
the citizens who like to do such things. The US won't do anything to you as long as you are a part of the UK.
A lot of government entities in the police part of things and have gotten away with all kinds of crap, as has
customs over-taxing imported household goods brought in by people moving to the VI. And of course some
private citizens have gotten away with crap. You keep implying that outsiders cause a lot of the crime, and yes
some sure do. But when its perpetuated on an outsider by 'insiders' , then that's ok. True the UK sits by
and does nothing, and God knows what motivates that government or the US. Not God, that's for sure.
But if you did separate from the UK, then you would be easier to identify as the culprit in many matters.
So please stop using the UK as a human shield. They're already guilty enough of crap. You both are.
This sl***y guy still around ? Go back to Deroit
Moreover, in regards to Virgin Islands holding a referendum on self-determination, independence should not be the only option; it should also in integration, free association, etc. Free Association can be a viable option. For example, the Cook Islands has free association status with New Zealand. Additionally, The Republic of the Marshall Islands(RMI), Federated State of Micronesia( FSM), and Republic of Palau have free association status with the US. What is free association?
The General Assembly: “ defining free association as a non-colonial political status. That includes the principle the FAS are sovereign nations with full rights of democratic self-determination and self-government.”
our government use our tax for everything else but helping the country and its residents
As a resident who went through Irma, it was relieving to see the Royal Navy arrive within days of the traumatic storm. There didn’t seem to be any immediate stabilizing presence from Government officials here. And I wonder how it would be, as an Independent Country, dealing with another storm as devastating as Irma, Helene, Milton?
Thought it has been blisfully peaceful so far, but here he is again like a bad penny.
I agree for independence, but we are a very very long way from being stable enough to cope with it.
Can someone please spell out to me the true benefits of independance and how it will serve us in the future..nott the Colonial quotes and other retoric....what are the facts...will we be able to reshape our financial services to better encourage people to " be here" out of the " rule of UK or will people run from the exiating benefits of financial servcies if NOT backed by UK....
Someone tell us the cold hard facts so decisions can be pondered. Dont treat it like a political campaign and just tell us what you think we want to hear.... ..twll us what we need to know
Thankyou
Recall following the 2017 devastating hurricanes, the United Kingdom wanted to assist our people however the ruling politicians drove them away leaving our in turmoil months after(shameful
currently our sons and daughters can go the United Kingdom and continue their education some of us can go to the United Kingdom and work with out issues
F***d Skelton Cline??? You're a scam artiste this ineligible to be giving any kind of insight or outsight.
Second, I do not think you are aware of the plethora of issues still plauging these virgin islands, not mention the hard adverse effects of such a decision.
I highly suspect that you who are pushing this agenda have y'all own personal reasons for this and none are for the benefit of us the people.
Gwen.