Rising fuel prices are placing increasing pressure on households and businesses in the Virgin Islands, prompting commentator Claude Skelton Cline to call on the government to consider using reserve funds to stabilize fuel costs and reduce the impact on consumers.

Speaking on his Honestly Speaking radio programme on May 19, Skelton Cline said the territory should explore mechanisms to lock in fuel prices amid continued volatility in global energy markets and mounting concerns over the cost of living.

“There’s no reason why we should not be locking in fuel prices,” Skelton Cline said. “We have $120 million in reserve.”

His comments come as residents continue to face higher electricity bills, fuel surcharges and transportation costs, issues he said are affecting families, businesses and the broader economy.

Skelton Cline acknowledged the government’s recent decision to allocate funding to help offset electricity costs but questioned whether additional measures may be needed to shield consumers from future increases.

“There’s going to be a serious monopoly and a further suffocation of this country,” he said while discussing fuel supply and pricing concerns. “We have to start planning. This thing is going to get more and more out of hand.”

The radio host argued that reserve funds could potentially be used to secure more predictable fuel pricing arrangements, although he did not outline a specific policy proposal. He suggested that government officials begin discussions on contingency plans before economic pressures worsen.

“We need to begin to think and talk and lay out a plan,” Skelton Cline said. “The most dangerous place for you to be is to be unprepared.”

The Virgin Islands remains heavily dependent on imported fuel and energy supplies, making the territory vulnerable to fluctuations in global oil prices and shipping costs. Higher fuel prices have also contributed to increased operating expenses for businesses and higher utility bills for consumers.

Skelton Cline said the territory’s dependence on imports leaves residents exposed to external economic shocks and called for greater long-term planning to strengthen economic resilience.

“How many times do I have to come to this microphone and say it?” he asked. “The most dangerous position for a person, a family, a community or a country is to be unprepared.”

A newly erected billboard along the Sir Walter Francis Drake Highway in the Third District has ignited fresh political suspicion that former Speaker of the House of Assembly Julian Willock may be preparing to challenge Deputy Premier and Third District Representative Hon. Julian Fraser, RA, in the next General Election.

The large sign, erected by the Third District Committee led by Mr. Willock, congratulates Hon. Fraser and Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Kye M. Rymer, for the infrastructure works currently underway in District Three.

The billboard reads:
“The Third District Committee, led by Mr. Julian Willock, extends its heartfelt congratulations to Deputy Premier and Third District Representative, Hon. Julian Fraser, RA, and Hon. Kye M. Rymer, Minister for Communications and Works, for the ongoing infrastructure projects in District 3.”

The message concludes with a prominent campaign-style slogan:
“Better days are ahead, and that is why, WITH WILLOCK, WE WIN!”

While the billboard does not state that Mr. Willock is contesting the Third District seat, the wording and branding have fueled widespread discussion that he may be positioning himself as a candidate.

The billboard’s congratulatory tone toward Hon. Fraser and Hon. Rymer, coupled with the slogan “With Willock, We Win,” has added to speculation that Mr. Willock may be laying the groundwork for a future political campaign.

Observers believe the billboard suggests a cooperative relationship between Mr. Willock, Hon. Fraser and the governing Virgin Islands Party (VIP), although there has been no public statement from Hon. Fraser indicating that he intends to retire or endorse any potential successor.

Hon. Fraser has represented the Third District since 1999 and is one of the longest-serving elected officials in the British Virgin Islands.

He currently serves as Deputy Premier and Minister for Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change.

Although he is the leader of the Progressives United (PU) party, Hon. Fraser has aligned himself with the Virgin Islands Party-led government.

Mr. Willock is a businessman and former Speaker of the House of Assembly, having served from 2019 until his resignation in 2022.

Since leaving office, he has remained highly visible in the Third District through a series of community initiatives and outreach programmes.

Over the past three years, Mr. Willock and his Third District Committee have organized:

Back-to-school donation drives;
Job fairs and employment assistance initiatives;
Community meetings;
Water and school supply donations;
Support for youth and sporting programmes; and
Assistance to residents in the Sea Cows Bay area.

These activities have helped maintain his public profile and strengthen his ties to the district.

In previous interviews, Mr. Willock has acknowledged that many residents have urged him to run but he has not formally announced that he will contest the Third District seat. He has said that he continues to serve the people of the district regardless of whether he becomes a candidate.

With the next General Election constitutionally due by 2027 unless called sooner, political activity across the Territory is expected to intensify.

For now, the billboard stands as both a public show of support for infrastructure improvements in the Third District and a powerful reminder that Julian Willock continues to play an increasingly visible role in the political landscape of District Three.