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Virgin Islanders are the 'greatest impediment' to own advancement– Skelton-Cline

-Calls on Virgin Islanders in positions of power to empower others
Talk show host Claude O. Skelton-Cline has called out the people of the territory for, according to him, hindering their own advancements as a people. Photo: Facebook
Claude O. Skelton-Cline said Virgin Islanders malign and suppress each other without realising that they are doing it for themselves. Photo: VINO/File
Claude O. Skelton-Cline said Virgin Islanders malign and suppress each other without realising that they are doing it for themselves. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Talk show host Claude O. Skelton-Cline has called out the people of the territory for, according to him, hindering their own advancements as a people.

‘We as Virgin Islanders, we are the ones who are the greatest impediment to our own progress and advancement. Why? it appears that we don’t like ourselves,” he said on the March 22, 2022, edition of his talk show.

“We behave and we speak to each other, and we treat each other in ways that are disrespectful, that is marginalising, that tears down, that pulls down. We block the progress of each other,” he added.

Skelton-Cline further said that Virgin Islanders malign and suppress each other without realising that they are doing it for themselves.

Locals hindering selves  

“The hard truth is that until and unless we are willing to own our part in hindering our own advancement, we are not going to be able to fight the real enemies that confront us."

The man of the cloth then questioned when did Virgin Islands stop liking each other, celebrating each other and pushing each other forward.

Turning attention to Virgin Islanders in high positions of power and authority, he said these individuals must learn to empower others. 

"The reasons why you come in these posts is not to subjugate, is not to punish [and] put down everybody else who you supervise and manage," he added.

Empower others - Skelton-Cline 

He further said that those in positions of power must empower others and that persons must be able to continuously sharpen their skills for the job. 

"Too many of us as Virgin Islanders are in key positions of authority and power but we are exercising and we are conducting our business in mediocre and subpar ways," he added.

17 Responses to “Virgin Islanders are the 'greatest impediment' to own advancement– Skelton-Cline ”

  • @ CSC (24/03/2022, 16:10) Like (3) Dislike (6) Reply
    BOI , YOU REALLY GOT A WAY WITH WORDS , BUT THEY WILL COME BACK TO HAUNT YOU /\\_ BUT WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND BRO , KEEP ON SINGING
    • josiah'sbay (24/03/2022, 17:12) Like (9) Dislike (3) Reply
      The truth hurts. Mr. Cline is correct.
    • Edmond says (24/03/2022, 21:03) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
      Does Mr Cline practice what he preaches, and not hire any belongers at his cafe?
      • Jack Sprat (25/03/2022, 05:47) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
        @Edmond says, l totally agree with you. What CSC said is true but is he practicing it. He is in the position to make the change and he is not. He seems to be the mouth piece for the government of the day with certain issues yet he has nothing constructive in place to help reduce some of the issues that spoke about. He is just finding all means to fatten his Hugh bank account....So Truths he needs to practice what he preach.
  • no togetherness at all (24/03/2022, 16:41) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Tolians always willing to bad talk a next tolian
  • agreed (24/03/2022, 16:44) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    And you are a perfect example.
    One of the biggest .


  • musa (24/03/2022, 17:03) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    This is the first time I agree with you ,100٪% it all begins with the way you all campaign in the pass 3 to election.
  • Stealth (24/03/2022, 18:38) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    The BVI has many Sambos. Virgin Islanders have mastered the art of self-hatred and self-discrimination. The slavery era conditioning of hating your own and worshiping the slave masters flourishes in the BzvI. Slave masters used Sambos to do their dirty and egregious work by offering slaves a little more morsel/privileges if they act as Sambos and threaten or takeaway it away if they (slaves) didn’t do the dirty work or in their view did it poorly. That behaviour exists to this day even after nearly 200 years since physical Emancipation. This behavior is not the province of Virgin Islanders though, for the same behaviour is exhibited by regional sisters and brothers, by Blacks in the Americas, by Black Britons, etc. The behaviour is destructive and internalized inferiority. We are in a disgusting and sad state.
    • @Stealth (25/03/2022, 03:45) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      @Stealth, I hear you, for you talking truths, but who or what is a Sambo?
    • @Stealth (25/03/2022, 11:29) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      It is only blacks in the Islands that keep slavery as an excuse for not progressing. Something from 200 years ago still preventing progress despite the obvious freedoms and wealth held here. In the UK black Britain is thriving. A place where skin colour and origin holds no boundary for those who wish to progress. (The boundary in the UK is more likely to come from poverty which affects all ethnic groups).

      Free Yourself!
      • @@Stealth (25/03/2022, 21:51) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        @Stealth, perhaps, you don’t clearly understand the length and breadth of the impact of slavery. We can’t just look at symptoms and not the root causes. Nevertheless, not all the blame can be laid at the feet of the institution of slavery. Virgin Islands can and must do more.
  • Just observing (24/03/2022, 19:06) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Once CSC is behind a mic, whether at church, on the air, campaign trail, what have you, he has the world to say. Word's can't done. However, he barely talks to anybody outside of those settings. Who has he empowered though?
  • @ STEALTH (24/03/2022, 22:18) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    WOW ,WE HAVE ANOTHER DISCOVERER OR HISTORIAN , 2OO HUNDRED YEARS ,YOU BETTER COME FORWARD TO
    NOW AND TRY THE NEW WORD , ITS CALLED ( REPARATION
  • Richie (24/03/2022, 23:29) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    talking LOUD and saying NOTHING. as usual.
  • Yes (24/03/2022, 23:30) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is the first time I can 100% agree with Claude. Unfortunately when some Virgin Islanders get empowered they snub others. Sad reality but Claude what can be done about that? Everybody has to take responsibility for them own action. In the end they will all be judged by God rightfully.
  • WEW (25/03/2022, 12:23) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Again... BVI blaming all their faults and failures on racism & slavery since 1853
  • Agree (26/03/2022, 14:36) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I Agree


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