Skelton-Cline: Leaders Do Not Trust Each Other
Former media host Claude O. Skelton-Cline has raised alarm over a perceived breakdown of trust among elected officials after Honourable Stacy R. Mather left the Opposition and The Alliance to join the Virgin Islands Party government. Speaking on his Honestly Speaking programme, Skelton-Cline warned that shattered relationships and cross-party alignments threaten public confidence and governance in the Territory.
Skelton-Cline has sounded a warning about the state of political trust in the British Virgin Islands following the recent decision by Honourable Stacy R. Mather to leave His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition and The Alliance to join the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) government. Speaking on his Honestly Speaking programme, Skelton-Cline said his central concern was not the seat-shifting itself but a ‘‘breach and a breakdown of complete trust among our elected officials.’’ He said many political relationships are now ‘‘contaminated and toxic,’’ and asked how Virgin Islanders can be expected to trust leaders who do not trust one another.
Skelton-Cline pointed to the increasingly mixed composition of the government as a symptom of that breakdown, noting that the administration now includes members from different parties — including PU, NDP and a PVIM/Alliance member alongside VIP representatives. He said such mixing of allegiances raises questions about cohesion, accountability and the ability of government to deliver consistent policy. ‘‘What troubles me is broken relationships,’’ Skelton-Cline said, adding that in a small community like the BVI — where many people are related or familiar with one another — personal ties complicate political dynamics.
He acknowledged that rules around nepotism and related matters exist, but cautioned that the Territory’s unique social fabric requires a system and structure tailored to serve its people while safeguarding good governance. Skelton-Cline also warned that the erosion of trust among lawmakers could open the door to further instability, referencing the prospect of ‘‘a brand new 13’’ as an example of how shifting alliances might reshape political configurations in unpredictable ways.
The concerns come as the Territory continues to navigate post-election alignments and coalition arrangements. For residents, the immediate implications are clear: questions about transparency, the durability of commitments made by elected officials, and the capacity of a mixed-party government to act in the public interest.
Skelton-Cline urged leaders to repair fractured relationships and restore confidence through clear communication and accountable conduct. Whether those calls will produce a lasting change in tone or behavior among politicians remains to be seen, but for many Virgin Islanders the issue of trust is likely to stay front and centre in public debate. (According to Virgin Islands News Online)
Primary source: VINO