General elections are constitutionally due by mid-May and Skelton Cline has been putting forward names for months — including a number of women whom he suggested should play a greater leadership role.

The commentator made the pitch for his uncle, Ronnie Skelton, while contending that current Eighth District Representative Marlon Penn may not be the person to lead the territory in its current ‘climate of crisis and chaos’.

Skelton Cline, while appearing on the Honestly Speaking show said Ronnie Skelton and former Deputy Premier Dr Kendrick Pickering were tried and tested and are steady, familiar hands who have the necessary life experience and wisdom to lead the territory. 

The clergyman explained that his uncle has served as both a Minister of Finance and Deputy Premier and has engendered a level of trustworthiness and credibility. He said this is the reason his name keeps popping up as a suggestion for leader of the territory. 

“Ronnie’s strength is that he’s a doer,” Skelton Cline said. “He’s demonstrated both in his private and professional life to be a good steward.”

“He doesn’t have the gift of articulation, he can’t talk like his nephew – he can’t do that because everybody doesn’t have that gift — everybody has their own. He can’t speak at public speaking like Dr Natalio Wheatley. That’s not his gift,” Skelton Cline said.

Skelton Cline further said the BVI doesn’t need flamboyance and articulation at this moment, but seasoned, familiar, tried and tested hands coupled with some others. 

He dismissed suggestions that both Skelton and Dr Pickering were in leadership before and their records may not stand up to scrutiny.

“In this current climate, that’s what’s being called for. These are not perfect people, we are all flawed. We are all flawed, but we must look at what’s before us,” Skelton Cline said.