Skelton Cline Urges National Strike Over Deepening
Political commentator Claude Skelton Cline has criticized residents and businesses for failing to show sufficient outrage over escalating utility bills and the rising cost of living across the Territory. Declaring the economic situation a state of emergency, Skelton Cline warned that fuel and electricity costs are set to climb even higher and suggested a national strike to force meaningful action.
Political commentator Claude Skelton Cline has accused residents and the business community of failing to show meaningful outrage over soaring electricity bills, ongoing water supply issues, and the Territory's deepening cost-of-living crisis. Speaking on his Honestly Speaking radio programme, Skelton Cline argued that while residents are quick to complain, their frustrations have not translated into organized action.
He declared that there is simply not enough outrage from the community, the business sector, or the public as a whole to force decision-makers into delivering long-term relief. Skelton Cline contended that casual discussions across the Territory have failed to produce results, remarking that residents frequently gather on the radio, under mango trees, by taxi stands, and under tents to voice dissatisfaction without ever taking decisive steps to hold leaders accountable.
The commentator's remarks follow widespread public shock over unusually high August electricity bills, alongside recent indications that water rates may also face upward revisions. While the government recently announced temporary relief measures covering August and September electricity bills, officials have acknowledged that ongoing subsidies remain financially unsustainable for public coffers.
Warning that financial pressures on households and businesses will intensify, Skelton Cline forecasted further price hikes across essential commodities, including diesel, pump fuel, and electricity generation. Characterizing the current situation as a state of emergency, he suggested that the Territory should consider industrial action, questioning whether the public is serious enough to call a national strike and shut the place down to demand urgent policy interventions.
Skelton Cline also revisited warnings he issued in April, stating that he previously advised the BVI Electricity Corporation to lock in fuel prices and establish strategic reserves to buffer residents against global market shocks. He criticized utility leadership for ignoring hedging opportunities and reiterated concerns over the Territory's dependence on a single fuel supplier, arguing that the lack of market competition continues to eliminate competitive pricing for consumers.
Primary source: BVI Platinum