Resign Before You Disgrace Our Country
Veteran legislator Ronnie Skelton urged elected officials to resign if tempted to act against their oaths, saying misconduct by leaders brought international scrutiny and hardship to ordinary Virgin Islanders. His remarks came in the House of Assembly as lawmakers marked the lifting of the UK Order in Council on March 13, 2026, and reflected on the fallout from the 2022 arrest and subsequent conviction of former Premier Andrew Fahie.
Veteran legislator Ronnie Skelton delivered a blunt call for accountability in the House of Assembly, urging elected officials who feel tempted to engage in wrongdoing to step down rather than "bring the whole country to its knees." His comments came as lawmakers marked the lifting of the UK Order in Council on March 13, 2026, a measure imposed after the Commission of Inquiry that followed the 2022 arrest of former Premier Andrew Fahie.
Speaking from the floor, Skelton reflected on the political and personal consequences of the crisis that followed Fahies drug-related charges and subsequent conviction. He argued that the actions of elected leaders, not outside forces, precipitated the international fallout and the imposition of the Order in Council. "We brought this on ourselves.
Nobody brought it on us," he said, placing responsibility squarely on the shoulders of those in public office. Skelton warned that misconduct at the top had tangible effects on everyday Virgin Islanders. He recalled stories of travellers being singled out and searched abroad, saying, "When we were going through the US: 'Are you from Virgin Islands?' they'd be searching you.
Every one of us are subject to some level of inhumane treatment. And one of us caused it on all of us." For Skelton, that shared harm underscores the need for personal restraint and an acceptance of consequences when officials breach public trust. While he directed strong criticism at local leaders, Skelton also condemned the UKs use of the Order in Council as heavy-handed.
He described the intervention as damaging to the territorys progress: "Whenever the British is in control, this country suffers. If you check the pulse of the country, you'll see we are going no place it is not good for business, it's not good for the social fabric of this society." At the same time, he welcomed the lifting of the Order and urged that such a step never be repeated. "If we want to practice certain professions, or craft, I don't think we should try to bring a whole country to its knees," Skelton said, adding that when officials feel tempted to act against their pledges they should "probably resign." His remarks framed the recent political upheaval as a cautionary lesson for current and future leaders about the stakes of public office and the wider consequences of personal misconduct for the British Virgin Islands.
Lawmakers in the House used the anniversary of the Orders removal to debate both local responsibility and the territorys relationship with the United Kingdom, with Skeltons speech highlighting the need for stronger ethical standards and accountability to prevent a repeat of the events that led to international intervention.
Primary source: BVI News