Talk show host Claude Skelton Cline is of the opinion that neither the Virgin Islands Party nor the National Democratic Party will be victorious in the next general election, under the two parties’ current leadership.
Cline shared those views during the recent airing of his Honestly Speaking radio programme, where he expressed that he believes the territory does not want either Premier Dr. the Honourable Natalio Wheatley or Honourable Marlon Penn to lead their respective parties into the next election.
He said, “I do not believe that the Virgin Islands Party will lead this country to victory in the next general election for who becomes the government. I do not believe that the National Democratic Party will lead this country to any victory in the next general election.”
“Let’s take the National Democratic Party. Honourable Marlon Penn who is a man that I like, who I think is a good man, if I was in the Eighth District right now, I would vote for Marlon Penn. But I believe that the country has already made up its mind relative to Honourable Penn’s leadership and I do not believe that this country is going to accept the National Democratic Party as the next government with Honourable Penn as the leader,” he explained.
Prefers Penn as a representative and not a leader
Cline also made it clear that he believes that someday based on the trajectory of Penn’s political career, the Minister of Health and Social Development would become the leader of the country at some point.
However, he said at present, now is not the time for Penn to lead.
“I like Honourable Penn. I think he is a good representative. Are they areas that need to be strengthened? Certainly. Might he become the premier at some future time in the country? Certainly. Does he have the resources, the tools in which they are shaped and sharp and harnessed? Absolutely. But right now for where we are, even amongst the ranking fine of the National Democratic Party which have not declared anything officially as yet, I think the country has already made up their mind about leadership coming out of the National Democratic Party,” he expressed.
Dr. Wheatley likewise will not lead the VIP to victory
The former government consultant Cline also shared similar sentiments on his views of Premier Wheatley leading the VIP to victory in the next election.
He said, “I like Honourable Dr. Wheatley. An academic bright fellow. I stood on the stage in 2019 and helped him to get elected as a collective. But I do not believe that the country is going to accept and vote for a Virgin Islands Party ticket to victory in the next general election. I do not believe that.”
The 13 elected officials need to be hand-picked
Meanwhile, Cline, who has recently said on numerous occasions that he believes the party system within the territory has failed the people, spoke to the need for the next 13 elected officials to be hand-picked by the voting population.
“I do believe that the next 13 elected officials need to be specifically hand-picked by the people of this country. Not going to look for some family or look for some colour…No!… We are going to have to choose individuals based upon a criteria that we can agree on collectively and if we can’t, at least you can craft your own so we can move forward,” he said.