The Governor in a Thursday, December 10, 2020, statement blamed scrutiny and cross-examination by the UK for the seven-month delay in assenting the VI Cannabis Licensing Act, 2020 and the Drugs (Prevention of Misuse) Amendment Act 2020.

The delay of the bills was seen as a hold up of potential revenue and an opportunity for the Virgin Islands to get moving on its medical marijuana industry.

Governor Jaspert claimed this cross-examination was to make sure the bills were in compliance with international laws; however, according to Skelton-Cline, the explanation is nothing but a crafty scheme by Mr Jaspert and UK public servants in the Home Office, to project themselves as the guardians of the VI.

Gov suggesting AGs are clueless - Skelton-Cline

“This statement suggests that you and I do not know what it is that we're doing, that our Elected Government do not know what it is that they're doing, that our Attorney General [Baba F. Aziz] at the time and now currently a lady [Dawn J. Smith] do not know what they're doing,” he said.

The commentator explained that the bill would have been adequately scrutinised at various levels and for the UK to now say it is reviewing it, after it was already passed in the House of Assembly, is a slap in the face to local legislators and all involved in shaping the bill.

“That a bill, a piece of legislation on the BVI laws, where we are our own jurisdiction, can go through Cabinet, go through the House of Assembly, go into Committee, have the legal eyes and ears on it so that whatever jurisdictional or regional or international law that they may be, that it would all be set down and passed under and in compliance with that construct,” he said.

Gov more than just a person in the office - CSC

Skelton-Cline noted; however, that the Governor is more than just the individual currently sitting in the office, rather, a representation of the UK and those who want to dictate to Virgin Islanders what they can and cannot do.

“So the governor writes this statement, craft this piece of correspondence where he and the UK want to show themselves in the public eye, that somehow we are the Guardians of you Virgin Islanders.”

“We are the ones who are going to care for and look out for your best interest, because the people you have elected clearly are incompetent and or don't have the capacity and so, therefore, we will come in the middle… now,” Skelton-Cline said.

Elected Gov't being discredited & undermined

He said the statements and plans laid out by the Governor were designed to discredit and undermine the constitutions of the Virgin Islands, “Their actions are the complete opposite of their words, this is part of the challenge of being a colony,” he said.

Further, the man of the cloth said the UK is suggesting, “You cannot decide for yourself, you cannot determine for yourself, you need a parent, you need an overseer, you need a Guardian to look out for you, because you all don't know what's in your best interest and you all don't understand international law, so we need to stand in the gap for you.”