‘We as Virgin Islanders, we are the ones who are the greatest impediment to our own progress and advancement. Why? it appears that we don’t like ourselves,” he said on the March 22, 2022, edition of his talk show.

“We behave and we speak to each other, and we treat each other in ways that are disrespectful, that is marginalising, that tears down, that pulls down. We block the progress of each other,” he added.

Skelton-Cline further said that Virgin Islanders malign and suppress each other without realising that they are doing it for themselves.

Claude O. Skelton-Cline said Virgin Islanders malign and suppress each other without realising that they are doing it for themselves.

Locals hindering selves

“The hard truth is that until and unless we are willing to own our part in hindering our own advancement, we are not going to be able to fight the real enemies that confront us."

The man of the cloth then questioned when did Virgin Islands stop liking each other, celebrating each other and pushing each other forward.

Turning attention to Virgin Islanders in high positions of power and authority, he said these individuals must learn to empower others.

"The reasons why you come in these posts is not to subjugate, is not to punish [and] put down everybody else who you supervise and manage," he added.

Empower others - Skelton-Cline

He further said that those in positions of power must empower others and that persons must be able to continuously sharpen their skills for the job.

"Too many of us as Virgin Islanders are in key positions of authority and power but we are exercising and we are conducting our business in mediocre and subpar ways," he added.