Beautiful Virgin Islands

Sunday, Jul 20, 2025

‘Leopards don’t change their spots’– Bishop Cline on colonialism

‘Leopards don’t change their spots’– Bishop Cline on colonialism

Bishop John I. Cline of the New Life Baptist Church in Duff’s Bottom, Tortola, has called on citizens to remain vigilant about the legacies of colonial countries and its role as a territory under Global Britain.

Speaking On the Monday, June 7, 2021, edition of Umoja, with host Cromwell Smith aka ‘EdJu En ka', Bishop Cline called on Virgin Islanders to look at Global Britain and what that means to the Virgin Islands, considering how large countries have reaped resources from Africa through colonialism.

According to the research publication, 'UK in a Changing Europe', Global Britain is the UK government’s mantra for its post-Brexit foreign policy. It was intended to signal that the country would not become inward-looking after Brexit, but on contrary would have a global outlook that went beyond Europe.

Speaking On the Monday, June 7, 2021, edition of Umojo with Host Cromwell Smith aka ‘EdJu En ka,’ Bishop Cline called on Virgin Islander to look at Global Britain and what that means Virgin Islands, considering how large colonies and countries have reaped resources from Africa.


Be mindful of colonising countries - Bishop Cline


“We ought to be mindful that these large countries, these colonising countries, be it the UK, or France or Germany, or Belgium or the Spaniards… leopards don’t change their spots,” he said.

Bishop Cline continued, “If we are not mindful and vigilant about who we as a people are and where we want to be thirty years from now… then we can fall into that trap,” he said.

According to the Bishop, locals must examine, among other factors, their identity, the type of Governance it wants, and the legacies it wants to leave for the future when making decisions.

He said, if not, history will repeat itself in the territory regarding the future of the Virgin Islander, “we will be high paid slaves,” he said.

Global Britain is the UK government’s mantra for its post-Brexit foreign policy. It was intended to signal that the country would not become inward-looking after Brexit, but on contrary would have a global outlook that went beyond Europe.


Lapse could result in modern slavery


“You’re getting a salary now, but you don’t own the resources, but the salary is just enough to keep you subservient to the master,” he said.

The Bishop hinted that under the Global Britain banner, the United Kingdom understands the importance of the resources in the VI and other OT's and is only presenting part of the story, which is why Virgin Islanders must think more holistically.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
Microsoft, US Lab to Use AI for Faster Nuclear Plant Licensing
Trump Walks Back Talk of Firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Irish Tech Worker Detained 100 days by US Authorities for Overstaying Visa
Dimon Warns on Fed Independence as Trump Administration Eyes Powell’s Succession
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Jeff Bezos Considers Purchasing Condé Nast as a Wedding Gift
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Google Secures Windsurf AI Coding Team in $2.4 Billion Licence Deal
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
South African Police Minister Suspended Amid Organised Crime Allegations
Nvidia CEO Claims Chinese Military Reluctance to Use US AI Technology
Hong Kong Advances Digital Asset Strategy to Address Economic Challenges
Australia Rules Out Pre‑commitment of Troops, Reinforces Defence Posture Amid US‑China Tensions
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
U.S. Resumes Deportations to Third Countries After Supreme Court Ruling
Excavation Begins at Site of Mass Grave for Children at Former Irish Institution
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Defends Attorney General Pam Bondi Amid Epstein Memo Backlash
Renault Shares Drop as CEO Luca de Meo Announces Departure Amid Reports of Move to Kering
Senior Aides for King Charles and Prince Harry Hold Secret Peace Summit
Anti‑Semitism ‘Normalised’ in Middle‑Class Britain, Says Commission Co‑Chair
King Charles Meets David Beckham at Chelsea Flower Show
If the Department is Really About Justice: Ghislaine Maxwell Should Be Freed Now
NYC Candidate Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Antifada’ Remarks Spark National Debate on Political Language and Economic Policy
President Trump Visits Flood-Ravaged Texas, Praises Community Strength and First Responders
×