Lazarus moment! Fraser was politically dead for 12 years — Skelton Cline

Commentator and clergyman Claude Skelton Cline has likened Deputy Premier Julian Fraser’s return to government to a “Lazarus moment,” describing him as having been “out in a wilderness” for the past 12 years before his recent appointment.

Speaking on his Honestly Speaking radio show, Skelton Cline remarked that Fraser’s new position marked a significant comeback in BVI politics after years on the sidelines. “The member of the Third [District]… has been in a political wilderness — politically dead, really, for the last 12 years,” he said. Fraser, who now serves as Deputy Premier and oversees the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA), labour, and immigration, was appointed during a Cabinet reshuffle by Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley. The Premier’s move, reportedly aimed at stabilising the government, was acknowledged by Skelton Cline as a smart political strategy. He described Dr Wheatley as a “thinking fellow” who has managed to stay “two or three steps ahead of everybody” to maintain stability and cohesion. Skelton Cline also noted that Fraser’s new role provides him a chance for a fresh start.