Skelton-Cline Calls On Businesses To Lead
Talk show host Claude Skelton-Cline has challenged the Virgin Islands corporate community to take a stronger, more proactive role in steering the territory's economic future. He urged business leaders to stop relying entirely on government administration and work collaboratively to drive national development. The commentator also reaffirmed his call for the full operation of a Trade Commission to ensure proper oversight.
Prominent talk show host Claude Skelton-Cline has called on the Virgin Islands business community to step up and take an active role in steering the economic landscape of the territory, urging corporate leaders to shift away from decades of relying strictly on government-led initiatives.
Speaking on his weekly radio show, Honestly Speaking, Skelton-Cline challenged local entrepreneurs and business executives to become more vocal and invested in national development rather than focusing solely on individual commercial gains. He stressed that a strong, organized private sector is critical to building a diversified and sustainable economy.
According to Skelton-Cline, the territory has operated under a model for the past four to five decades where the central government has carried the sole responsibility of directing commerce, industry, and economic policy. He argued that this paradigm must change if the Virgin Islands is to successfully navigate modern financial challenges and foster long-term growth.
He urged corporate entities to unite and establish a collective platform capable of engaging directly with policymakers to help guide the territory's commercial direction. In his view, a passive business community only slows down economic progress and weakens private-sector resilience.
Skelton-Cline also reiterated the critical need for a fully functional Trade Commission to provide regulatory oversight, protect consumer interests, and create an equitable environment for local businesses. He has frequently addressed the state of the commission on his program, questioning delays in its establishment and calling on government leadership to prioritize commercial oversight.
As the Virgin Islands continues to address economic diversification and business development, the call highlights ongoing public discussions regarding the balance of responsibility between the public sector and private industry in shaping the territory's financial future.
Primary source: VINO