These calls were made by the host of the Honestly Speaking radio show, Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline, on ZBVI 780 AM on Tuesday, March 23, 2021.

Room for political leaders to unite

“I’m calling on this Government to lead the way, in bringing together all of these former legislators. Y'all are not going to agree on everything and you don't have to, but I do think that there is a window and there's room and there is need... I think we have a moral and ethical obligation on behalf of our foreparents,” he said.

Further, Mr Skelton-Cline said for generations unborn, legislators have an obligation and must be able to set aside ego and personal feelings to put the VI ahead of everything on the matter of the ongoing United Kingdom (UK) CoI.

“I’m asking this Government to lead the charge of putting all of you in a room. And the goal of putting you in that room is to come out with a singular voice on one thing: That we cannot afford to allow the United Kingdom to come into these Virgin Islands and take over,” he said.

Further, Mr Skelton-Cline said for generations unborn, legislators have an obligation and must be able to set aside ego and personal feelings to put the VI ahead of everything on the matter of the ongoing UK CoI.

Clear signal of unity needed

Skelton-Cline said now is not the time for party politics, as the unity of VI leaders will send a clear signal to followers, given the end results of the UK CoI could be the suspension of the constitution and the HoA ceasing to exist among other ramifications.

“This is far bigger than the current sitting government, this is far bigger than the current sitting Premier. This is about our country, the land of our birth, the place we call home.

“After that meeting is held behind closed doors, that group needs to call a press conference where the former Premier Dr D Orlando Smith and Andrew A. Fahie are standing together with men and women, current and former legislators,” Skelton-Cline noted.

'VI aginst CoI message must be clear' - Skelton-Cline

He said legislators need to send a clear sign and signal to the local population and the international community, the VI is not in favour of the CoI given the territory has a system to hold its own people accountable.

“We have the systems, we have the structures in place to hold accountable whomever and or whatever needs to be held accountable,” he said.