"We have got to solve this pandemic, we... if we keep looking just to one sector if we keep looking just to government... it is the government that has been the engine, but I think this is a good time to begin to switch to the business community," he said on the Thursday, September 3, 2020, edition of the 'Honestly Speaking' show.

Business community must take charge - Skelton-Cline

According to Skelton-Cline, this switch will allow the business community to be the real engine of the pandemic and take charge of running the economy of the country, to help determine policies and laws moving forward.

"We have looked to the Government and we have looked to politicians for everything and in one degree, we have been idolatrous because we have made the politicians lords," he said.

According to the man of the cloth, this behaviour has allowed the populace to become completely dependent on the government for everything, which should not be the case he said.

"A good time to change these Virgin Islands in right now, all of us have a role to play and no matter the percentage of your role, it is equally important but play it, we must."

Citizens must carry some of the burden - Skelton-Cline

He said the territory cannot afford to return to the dysfunctions of the past, rather, should use the COVID-19 crisis and pandemic as a catalyst for change.

"This is the time to change it... we must become to change agents, stop looking to the government," he said.

Skelton-Cline noted that while both the VI Government and the United Kingdom (UK) ought to be held accountable for decisions they make, the people also have a responsibility to carry the load of the pandemic until the burden gets lighter.