Skelton Cline Backs Recall Law
Commentator Claude Skelton Cline has urged adoption of a recall mechanism to allow voters to remove underperforming elected officials before their terms end, citing recommendations from the Constitutional Review Commission and a dissenting opinion in the House of Assembly. He also called for public scrutiny of other constitutional proposals and for residents to engage their representatives ahead of constitutional negotiations with the United Kingdom.
Commentator Claude Skelton Cline has publicly thrown his support behind introducing recall legislation in the Virgin Islands, saying voters should have a formal way to remove elected representatives who are failing to carry out their duties. Speaking on his Honestly Speaking radio programme, Skelton Cline pointed to recommendations from the Constitutional Review Commission and a dissenting opinion reached during the House of Assembly’s deliberations on constitutional reform.
He said the issue deserves serious public attention before the next round of constitutional negotiations with the United Kingdom, set to begin next month. "As I understand it, they were for persons being able to have a mechanism in place to recall elected officials, which I think you should," he said, arguing a recall provision would strengthen democratic accountability by giving constituents an avenue to act between general elections.
Skelton Cline criticised what he described as resistance among some lawmakers to such a measure, saying some members appeared to prefer remaining accountable only to themselves rather than to voters. "The prevailing notion there was the other folk said that they want to steward and be accountable to themselves.
They don't want the public to be able to recall you if you ain't doing nothing," he said. Beyond the recall proposal, the commentator urged residents to familiarise themselves with the CRC report and the House’s response. He highlighted other recommendations that he believes warrant closer public scrutiny, including differing rules that apply to public officers who seek elected office.
Skelton Cline agreed that central government employees should resign before contesting elections to preserve political neutrality, but questioned why employees of statutory bodies are often allowed leave or deferrals to run for office. He suggested the public should ask elected representatives to resolve such inconsistencies as part of the territory’s negotiating positions.
He also warned Virgin Islanders to anticipate the kinds of leverage the United Kingdom might use in talks and to press leaders to pursue constitutional reforms that advance the territory’s interests. Skelton Cline urged direct engagement with representatives so public views are reflected in formal positions during the upcoming negotiations.
As discussions with the UK approach, his call adds to growing public debate on how best to balance political accountability and stability in the BVI’s governance framework. Residents are being encouraged to read the CRC report and the House response and to bring their views to the attention of their elected officials.
Primary source: BVI News