Pastor warns Virgin Islands has made political power its god

Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline has warned that the Virgin Islands has elevated political ambition to the status of religion, with the pursuit of office now overshadowing faith across the community.

Speaking on his radio programme Honestly Speaking on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, in an episode titled "So You're Still Not Ready", Skelton-Cline linked the territory's fractured families and communities to what he described as "political molestation" rooted in self-interest.

"Politics is our religion, politics is our faith," he said. "All of it is idolatry. Politics in these Virgin Islands trumps our faith."

Skelton-Cline traced the problem back over the past decade and earlier, pointing to a steady rise in selfishness that has driven division. He observed that nearly everyone now harbours ambitions to hold the highest office.

"Everybody feels that they should be Premier of this country," he said. "It's almost, well, if she can do it, or if he can do it, then I can do it too, and it's my time, and it's my turn."

The pastor noted that the Virgin Islands Party stands apart as the sole political organisation to maintain stability and consistent backing for its leadership, while other parties have been marked by internal power struggles and instability.