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NDP ignores court deadline on Claude O. Skelton-Cline’s legal matter
Mr Skelton-Cline was successful on September 27, 2016 in winning the first step in the legal process when the High Court granted him leave to carry out a Judicial Review (JR) hearing in his case against the government for their non-renewal of his contract.
The case was presided over by Justice Vicki Ann Ellis and the start date for the legal open court hearing was scheduled for December 15, 2016. Mr Skelton-Cline is being represented by the law firm Hunt & Co.
Zero response from Government
However, word from our NDP sources close to the case is that after the court ruling by Judge Ellis, the government had a deadline of October 25, 2016 to respond to Mr Skelton-Cline and his lawyers’ affidavit; however, they have to date not done so.
It is unclear why they failed to respond to the deadline and they could be made to pay for Mr Skelton-Cline’s legal fees by the court, costing taxpayers more money.
There is a date set of December 15, 2016 for the open court hearing on the matter. It is our newsroom’s understanding that the Government via the Attorney General (AG) Chambers is now requesting a postponement of that date until January 2017, but AG Chambers officials are tight-lipped as to why.
It remains unclear when the government will respond to the claimant Mr Skelton-Cline’s request as to why he was not given a new contract when the BVIPA Board had made a recommendation for one, and the Minister Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) had also promised one but told him to wait until after the 2015 snap election.
When our newsroom asked the NDP source why the government has not taken this matter out of the court and settle with Mr Skelton-Cline, who ran with them in 2011, they reported that “you know the NDP and Dr Smith is a bunch of weaklings…they want to see first what the court outcome will be…” the source said.
A prominent local attorney told our newsroom that the Government missing the October 25, 2016 deadline to respond is “yet another example of this government’s pattern of disrespect for law and order and shows reckless disregard for the court,” she said.
“When the ordinary man or women do not comply with a court order they can end up in jail…but these guys do as they please and are still out talking piss and being paid by we taxpayers for breaking the law,” the senior Attorney articulated in regards to the Government of the day.
Background
Mr Skelton-Cline contested the 2011 general elections with the NDP in District Two. He lost to former legislator J. Alvin Christopher in a four-way race. Mr Christopher received 423 votes to Skelton-Cline’s 339.
Following his election defeat, and the NDP victory, Mr Skelton-Cline was hired on a close to $100,000 a year contract as a consultant with the Ministry of Communications and Works where he had special over-sight of the Administration’s plan to expand the cruise ship pier.
In 2013 he was appointed Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority on a three-year contract that ended last year December 2015. Mr Skelton-Cline requested a renewal before the June 8, 2015 general elections after the BVIPA Board had already advanced an early recommendation for such a renewal.
However, he was reportedly told by Communications and Works Minister Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) and other Cabinet Ministers to wait until after the 2015 election, which was won by the NDP.
After they were victorious at the election, and under pressure from the controversial Governor John S. Duncan OBE, they did not renew Mr Skelton-Cline’s contract.
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21 Responses to “NDP ignores court deadline on Claude O. Skelton-Cline’s legal matter”
Says it all really; they will intentionally lose the case as they have already decided on the settlement figure of seven figures (that is millions for those whom can't count) to pay their 'boy'. It is a crying shame how the public are continuously fleeced without anyone even from the legal fraternity batting an eyelash at the contempt and malfeasance in the place. This is a game and the citizens of the BVI are the ultimate losers!
This is what you get for giving political jobs as favour. I knew something like this would happen.Sleep with dogs,rise up with flees.