“You're doing some things that's causing you to lose the game when these other so-called parties and these upstarts are coming after you....
The governing Virgin Islands Party (VIP) is being warned that a series of avoidable mistakes, including the West End seawall project and the abandoned parade route change, are causing self-inflicted political damage.
Claude Skelton Cline made the remarks during his radio programme this week while criticising ongoing works in West End, particularly the construction of a seawall that he said is altering the character of the area and obstructing motorists' views of the sea.
According to Skelton Cline, the project is an example of the kind of "unforced errors" that are frustrating residents and handing political ammunition to the government's opponents.
“They are fixing the road in West End and they say that they're fixing the seawall,” he said. “Looks like they went down five feet and come up five feet with a sea wall. That is now blocking the line of sight in part of the road drive to and from West End.”
He argued that the project has unnecessarily changed one of the defining features of the area.
“This is some shiggity. You are messing up the character and the contours of what makes the Virgin Islands and Tortola in particular, special and unique,” Skelton Cline stated.
“You drive across a little piece, losing line of sight of the ocean, of St John, except to look at the mountains. Why are you all doing that?”
The commentator questioned why the government did not preserve the existing aesthetic while carrying out the necessary protective works.
“You would think in the preservation and protection, while you can still secure the seawall and protect from any surges, you would think that we would restore what has been lasting for the last 50 years. No, what do we do? Go down there, put up some concrete,” he said.
“What is wrong with us? Basic, fundamental things, simple things.”
Skelton Cline stressed that his criticism was not rooted in opposition to the government but rather concern that the administration was undermining its own political standing.
“I want to say to this government, and you know, this government is my government, it's all of our government. I helped you all get elected in 2019,” he said.
“And I want to see you continue to be successful, but I'm going to tell you all something. You all are making some unforced errors.”
He warned that such decisions are making it easier for political challengers to gain traction ahead of the next election.
“You're doing some things that's causing you to lose the game when these other so-called parties and these upstarts are coming after you,” Skelton Cline said.
“You are doing your own selves in with some unforced errors.”
He went further, arguing that the government's political difficulties are self-inflicted.
“Your opponent is not beating you. You're beating yourselves,” he stated.
Skelton Cline also linked the West End controversy to the recent public backlash over plans to move the annual Emancipation Festival parade route, a proposal that was eventually reversed following public opposition.
“It's like the same craziness you were going to do, move the parade,” he said. “These things are unforced errors. I am glad you put it back.”
Calling for changes to the West End project, Skelton Cline urged the administration to reconsider the design and preserve the area's natural character.
“Go break down that wall, for God's sake...Stop doing nonsense.”
Claude Skelton Cline made the remarks during his radio programme this week while criticising ongoing works in West End, particularly the construction of a seawall that he said is altering the character of the area and obstructing motorists' views of the sea.
According to Skelton Cline, the project is an example of the kind of "unforced errors" that are frustrating residents and handing political ammunition to the government's opponents.
“They are fixing the road in West End and they say that they're fixing the seawall,” he said. “Looks like they went down five feet and come up five feet with a sea wall. That is now blocking the line of sight in part of the road drive to and from West End.”
He argued that the project has unnecessarily changed one of the defining features of the area.
“This is some shiggity. You are messing up the character and the contours of what makes the Virgin Islands and Tortola in particular, special and unique,” Skelton Cline stated.
“You drive across a little piece, losing line of sight of the ocean, of St John, except to look at the mountains. Why are you all doing that?”
The commentator questioned why the government did not preserve the existing aesthetic while carrying out the necessary protective works.
“You would think in the preservation and protection, while you can still secure the seawall and protect from any surges, you would think that we would restore what has been lasting for the last 50 years. No, what do we do? Go down there, put up some concrete,” he said.
“What is wrong with us? Basic, fundamental things, simple things.”
Skelton Cline stressed that his criticism was not rooted in opposition to the government but rather concern that the administration was undermining its own political standing.
“I want to say to this government, and you know, this government is my government, it's all of our government. I helped you all get elected in 2019,” he said.
“And I want to see you continue to be successful, but I'm going to tell you all something. You all are making some unforced errors.”
He warned that such decisions are making it easier for political challengers to gain traction ahead of the next election.
“You're doing some things that's causing you to lose the game when these other so-called parties and these upstarts are coming after you,” Skelton Cline said.
“You are doing your own selves in with some unforced errors.”
He went further, arguing that the government's political difficulties are self-inflicted.
“Your opponent is not beating you. You're beating yourselves,” he stated.
Skelton Cline also linked the West End controversy to the recent public backlash over plans to move the annual Emancipation Festival parade route, a proposal that was eventually reversed following public opposition.
“It's like the same craziness you were going to do, move the parade,” he said. “These things are unforced errors. I am glad you put it back.”
Calling for changes to the West End project, Skelton Cline urged the administration to reconsider the design and preserve the area's natural character.
“Go break down that wall, for God's sake...Stop doing nonsense.”
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