Politicians trying to manipulate JVD and Anegada residents

Commentator Claude Skelton Cline has accused politicians of attempting to manipulate residents of Jost Van Dyke through what he described as political pandering, arguing that the territory’s real challenge lies in the structure of government rather than creating additional electoral districts.

Skelton Cline urged residents of Jost Van Dyke and Anegada to look beyond calls for separate representation in the House of Assembly and instead focus on broader reforms to the machinery of government.

“These politicians are attempting to manipulate you through their political pandering, when in fact we have a far deeper challenge in this country,” Skelton Cline said on his Honestly Speaking radio programme.

The comments come as debate continues over proposals to expand the House of Assembly as part of constitutional reform. Former legislator Mark Vanterpool recently argued that Jost Van Dyke and Anegada should each have their own district representative instead of increasing the number of Territorial At-Large seats.

Government officials, meanwhile, have continued to promote district councils as a better mechanism for addressing the needs of the two sister islands.