Skelton-Cline Demands Halt to Vehicle Purchases
On the June 16, 2026 episode of Honestly Speaking on ZBVI 780 AM, former official Skelton-Cline urged a moratorium on all government vehicle purchases, citing visible use of vehicles at odd hours and concerns over fuel, maintenance and insurance. He called for an enforceable system to govern vehicle procurement and use and asked the public to press the government for action amid what he described as an 'economic crisis.'
Former official Skelton-Cline is calling for an immediate stop to government purchases of vehicles, arguing that the territory cannot afford continued fleet expansion while it faces serious economic pressures. Speaking on ZBVI 780 AM’s Honestly Speaking on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, during an episode titled “What We Know Is Not True Part 3,” Skelton-Cline said he regularly sees government vehicles “everywhere, anytime of the day, by the grocery store, by the rum shop, [all] hours of the night,” and questioned why so many are being bought. “If I were put in charge of something, I would have called for a complete moratorium on the government buying any more vehicles,” he said.
He stressed the recurring costs associated with a larger fleet — fuel and maintenance — and alleged that “government doesn’t have any insurance on these vehicles.” He urged government workers not to take his comments personally but framed his stance by saying the Virgin Islands is in “economic crisis mode.” Skelton-Cline repeated his demand for a “hard stop” on purchases and asked residents to join him in pushing that message to the government.
He also called for an “enforceable” system to ensure proper use and utility of any vehicles currently in the fleet. His comments touch on issues familiar to BVI residents: public spending visibility, accountability for government assets, and the need to balance essential services with fiscal restraint.
Government vehicles are used across departments for health services, utilities, public works and law enforcement, so any freeze on purchases would need careful planning to avoid disrupting core services. Skelton-Cline did not lay out a detailed alternative procurement or fleet-management plan on air, but his call highlights common policy options such as stricter procurement controls, clearer rules on personal use, centralized fleet management and verification of insurance and maintenance budgets.
He also emphasized public involvement as a means of pressing elected officials to act. There was no immediate official response to his remarks. For residents concerned about government spending and accountability, his appeal raises questions about transparency in vehicle acquisition and the long-term affordability of maintaining an expanding fleet.
Primary source: VINO