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Pursuit of independence isn’t ‘outrageous, outlandish, outside capacity’- Skelton-Cline

- said he is for complete & full economic independence
Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline during the September 8, 2026, airing of his show Honestly Speaking on ZBVI 780 AM. Photo: Facebook
Host of Honestly Speaking, Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline has said he is in support of the Virgin Islands (VI) receiving political independence from the United Kingdom. Photo: Internet Source
Host of Honestly Speaking, Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline has said he is in support of the Virgin Islands (VI) receiving political independence from the United Kingdom. Photo: Internet Source
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI- Host of Honestly Speaking, Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline has said he is in support of the Virgin Islands (VI) receiving political independence from the United Kingdom (UK).

During the show on ZBVI 780 AM on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, Skelton-Cline said he does not know why people are afraid to talk about these things. “I am for complete and full political independence, that’s what I’m for…We achieved economic independence in 1977 when we presented and balanced our first budget.…27 years after the restoration of the Legislative House.”

He said what is being pursued is political independence, as Virgin Islanders have been living under an avalanche of lies and miseducation, and a false sense of inferiority. 

“There are too many of you who believe that you need a schoolmaster and you need a superintendent, that you need an overlord, that you need the colonial power, and to make you feel good and sanitise your insanity, they rename and rebrand things- Partnership, Overseas Territories.”

VI will be no different from other countries

Skelton-Cline opined that seeking political independence would make the Virgin Islands no different from St Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Jamaica, and Saint Lucia, or the other countries in the world except the 17 still under colonial rule, of which the VI is one. 

“I’m not advocating something innovative, something radical that is outside of my capacity. You’re not asking for something outrageous, outlandish, that’s beyond the realm of your imagination; you are simply seeking what should have been yours at birth.”

Skelton-Cline said Virgin Islanders, therefore, need to stop being afraid of themselves, and dispel the fear that has been instilled about fearing each other. 

“We need to continue to build our systems, strengthen our strengths, reform the weak areas; that’s the natural course of any democracy that will continue long after we are gone.”

9 Responses to “Pursuit of independence isn’t ‘outrageous, outlandish, outside capacity’- Skelton-Cline ”

  • WHAT!!! (09/09/2026, 09:51) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    With the present self serving premier and government it is most certainly so.
  • Buenas (09/09/2026, 10:34) Like (14) Dislike (8) Reply
    Go rest you fool of a man
  • VG Mon (09/09/2026, 11:14) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    and that budget from 1977 is the last one that was balanced! VI been running a deficit ever since and will only get worse without UK oversight. Look how the money gets lost today, can you imagine how bad it will be with LESS oversight? These politicians can't run a lemonade stand if you set it up, made the lemonade and handed out cups! They'd find a way to screw it up.

    And you want to give the keys to the country to them with no guardrails? Insanity
  • Macky (09/09/2026, 11:42) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Speaking generally no nothing is wrong with it but when looking at our circumstances, we are definitely not ready. Also ppl like Cline, who has raped the treasury with his political corruption amd contracts where nothing was required so that he could be a media outlet for various individuals, should stay quiet on the issue bc they're already compromised and part of the problem with us going independent. They ppl who have classed themselves as 'Elite' are also part of the prob bc they arw introduxing an imaginary caste system to our culture, where none was present before. Too many fragile egos are loud voices here, and good decisions do not come from those who have to protect their egos. The only way independence cam work for us is if we have 80% unity at the very least. And they dont want unity or equality, they want power without checks and balances which is corruption. As a matter of fact, it is ridiculous for a countey without a public library to talk of independence, a country that cannot audit and balance its books for nearly a decade to talk of indepence, a country that cannot provide water to the tax paying residents to talk of independence so publicly. That is what is outrageous and outlandish.
  • Pastor (09/09/2026, 11:47) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    so you can make a fool of the BVI??? not a chance dic*head.
  • Chris P Bacon (09/09/2026, 12:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Can we get independence from this sh!t spewing clown?
  • Ffs (09/09/2026, 13:59) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    To what ends...? What would be the benefits of independence? Real tangible benefits, not just political bravado and playing the big man?

    Please explain how this would lead to the people of the BVI being better off and having more purposeful and fulfilled lives...? Please explain how these benefits would be derived within the context and confines of the capabilities of the political and financial decision makers of the BVI.

    Quit the bullsh!t and focus on making life better for people!!
  • @ VG Mon (09/09/2026, 15:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The people should be the guardrails except they are a bunch of cowards that is the real insanity.
  • Captain Obvious (09/09/2026, 16:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    this man was noted in the coi for having contracts that were blatantly fraudulent


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