Beautiful Virgin Islands

Saturday, Feb 22, 2025

Breached ‘hope & trust’ were reasons for leaving NDP- Skelton-Cline - said he had a role in VIP General Elections victory

Breached ‘hope & trust’ were reasons for leaving NDP- Skelton-Cline - said he had a role in VIP General Elections victory

“I was affiliated with the National Democratic Party then back in 2010/2011… clearly [I] was hopeful about what they can do as the majority of the country was and it was reflected in the polls… unfortunately, there was a breach of that hope, a breach of that trust and hence persons like myself had to make a different kind [of] decision,” he said.

Skelton-Cline was at the time answering questions on why the shift of support from the then Dr D. Orlando Smith-led ruling NDP, to the VIP Opposition led by now Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Fahie and his role in the new government.

The man of the cloth continued, “Of course therein lies my shift to the Virgin Islands Party and Andrew Fahie in particular… and supporting what I believe that he would have been able to bring… with a team in helping to rekindle the hope and the dreams and the aspirations of the people of the Virgin Islands and it's to that end in which I was committed to ensuring that they would be on the winning end of the stick,” he said.

Mr Skelton-Cline was a vocal NDP supporter but the relationship turned sour back in 2016 when his contract as Managing Director of the BVI Airports Authority (BVIPA) was renewed despite being promised by the then Minister for Communications and Works, Hon Mark H. Vanterpool.

Mr Skelton-Cline sued the government; however, the case was dismissed in the High Court in May 2019.

When questioned about whether he believes he played a key role in the VIP elections victory, Skelton-Cline replied in the affirmative. “I certainly had a role."

Mr Skelton-Cline; however, said it was more of a team effort on the road to victory at the February 25, 2019 Elections Day in the Virgin Islands (VI).

“It’s the team that makes the difference… the teamwork makes the dream work and the leader and the personality of Andrew Fahie is what helps to mobilise and make that happen.”



VIP Gov't has done superbly - Skelton-Cline


Further, he said the first six months of the new government has been excellent “for a twenty-year veteran surrounded by a new team.”

He underscored that unlike the NDP, the VIP team is receptive to listening and learning to work in the interest of the territory, rather than from a self-interest perspective.

Praising the VIP’s legislative agenda to take on issues such as cybercrime, consumer protection, financial services and residency regularisations, he noted that the party has done a 'superb job' in just a short period of time.

“It’s a journey that we are on, its not a one-time event. The people have voted for this Virgin Islands Party again in rekindling their hopes... for the government as we all should,” he noted.



Skelton-Cline made the utterances on the September 27, 2019, edition of ‘The Big Story’ on Japhix Television (JTV) with host Cathy O. Richards.



Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Good News: Senate Confirms Kash Patel as FBI Director
Officials from the U.S. and Hungary Engage in Talks on Economic Collaboration and Sanctions Strategy
James Bond Franchise Transitions to Amazon MGM Studios
Technology Giants Ramp Up Lobbying Initiatives Against Strict EU Regulations
Alibaba Exceeds Quarterly Projections Fueled by Growth in Cloud and AI
Tequila Sector Faces Surplus Crisis as Agave Prices Dive Sharply
Residents of Flintshire Mobile Home Park Grapple with Maintenance Issues and Uncertain Future
Ronan Keating Criticizes Irish Justice System Following Fatal Crash Involving His Brother
Gordon Ramsay's Lucky Cat Restaurant Faces Unprecedented Theft
Israeli Family Mourns Loss of Peace Advocate Oded Lifschitz as Body Returned from Gaza
Former UK Defense Chief Calls for Enhanced European Support for Ukraine
Pope Francis Admitted to Hospital in Rome Amid Rising Succession Speculation
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, at the age of 83, Declares His Retirement.
Whistleblower Reveals Whitehall’s Focus on Kabul Animal Airlift Amid Crisis
Politicians Who Deliberately Lie Could Face Removal from Office in Wales
Scottish Labour Faces Challenges Ahead of 2026 Holyrood Elections
Leftwing Activists Less Likely to Work with Political Rivals, Study Finds
Boris Johnson to Host 'An Evening with Boris Johnson' at Edinburgh's Usher Hall
Planned Change in British Citizenship Rules Faces First Legal Challenge
Northumberland Postal Worker Sentenced for Sexual Assaults During Deliveries
British Journalist Missing in Brazil for 11 Days
Tesco Fixes Website Glitch That Disrupted Online Grocery Orders
Amnesty International Critiques UK's Predictive Policing Practices
Burglar Jailed After Falling into Home-Made Trap in Blyth
Sellafield Nuclear Site Exits Special Measures for Physical Security Amid Ongoing Cybersecurity Concerns
Avian Influenza Impact on Seals in Norfolk: Four Deaths Confirmed
First Arrest Under Scotland's Abortion Clinic Buffer Zone Law Amidst International Controversy
Meghan Markle Rebrands Lifestyle Venture as 'As Ever' Ahead of Netflix Series Launch
Inter-Island Ferry Services Between Guernsey and Jersey Set to Expand
Significant Proportion of Cancer Patients in England and Wales Not Receiving Recommended Treatments
Final Consultation Launched for Vyrnwy Frankton Power Line Project
Drug Misuse Deaths in Scotland Rise by 12% in 2023
Failed £100 Million Cocaine Smuggling Operation in the Scottish Highlands
Central Cee Equals MOBO Awards Record; Bashy and Ayra Starr Among Top Honorees
EastEnders: Four Decades of Challenging Social Norms
Jonathan Bailey Channels 'Succession' in Bold Richard II Performance
Northern Ireland's First Astronaut Engages in Rigorous Spacewalk Training
Former Postman Sentenced for Series of Sexual Offences in Northumberland
Record Surge in Anti-Muslim Hate Crimes Across the UK in 2024
Omagh Bombing Inquiry Concludes Commemorative Hearings with Survivor Testimonies
UK Government Introduces 'Ronan's Law' to Combat Online Knife Sales to Minors
Metal Detectorists Unearth 15th-Century Coin Hoard in Scottish Borders
Woman Charged in 1978 Death of Five-Year-Old Girl in South London
Expanding Sinkhole in Godstone, Surrey, Forces Evacuations and Road Closures
Bangor University Announces Plans to Cut 200 Jobs Amid £15 Million Savings Target
British Journalist Charlotte Peet Reported Missing in Brazil
UK Inflation Rises to 3% in January Amid Higher Food Prices and School Fees
Starmer Defends Zelensky Amidst Trump's 'Dictator' Allegation
Zelensky Calls on World Leaders to Back Peace Efforts in Light of Strains with Trump
UK Prime minister, Mr. Keir Starmer, has stated that any peace agreement aimed at ending the conflict in Ukraine "MUST" include a US security guarantee to deter Russian aggression
×