Claude Skelton Cline
Commentator Claude Skelton Cline has warned that the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) government is “in trouble” due to what he described as a failure to respond to the needs of the electorate.
Skelton Cline said the administration’s challenges stem from its handling of issues affecting residents, particularly the rising cost of living and the absence of clear policy responses.
“Your government is in trouble. And you’re in trouble because you’re not paying attention to the pain and the hurt that the people have,” the commentator stated.
He added that the government appeared focused on its own agenda rather than addressing the concerns of the public. “You are doing what you want to do. But you’re not paying attention and attending to the pain that the people are having. And that puts you in trouble,” he said.
Skelton Cline pointed to several areas of concern, including high food prices, rent and shipping costs, and what he described as a lack of mechanisms to protect consumers. He also criticised the absence of action from key institutions, stating, “There’s no protection for the people on the cost of living… There’s no mechanism in place.”
Misplaced priorities
The commentator further argued that the government’s priorities were misplaced, particularly in relation to development planning. “You imagine we’re going to pay for another design for Road Town… we have about three, four designs from three, four governments that they ain’t never been executed,” he said.
With reports surfacing of the opposition National Democratic Party’s (NDP) regrouping efforts, Skelton Cline dismissed this as a cause for concern for the VIP.
According to Skelton Cline, the VIP’s political challenges are driven more by voter dissatisfaction than by opposition forces. “You’re not in trouble because the NDP is forming… You are in trouble with the people of this country,” he stated.
He warned that with a general election constitutionally due by mid-2027, the government still has a limited window to address public concerns. “You still have a window to take some action,” he said, urging the administration to realign its priorities.
Skelton Cline insisted that tangible results would be critical to restoring public confidence. “Nobody argues with success… begin to address the tangible needs of the people of this country,” he said.
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