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Hon. Penn: Cabinet agreed to set up a Public Defender’s Office

Hon. Penn speaking at last evening's meeting at The Hope.
More roads, among other developments will be upgraded in The Hope.
More roads, among other developments will be upgraded in The Hope.
Cabinet has agreed to establishing a Public Defender's Office.
Cabinet has agreed to establishing a Public Defender's Office.
THE HOPE, EAST END, VI - Cabinet has agreed to set up a Public Defender’s Office, which will help to provide legal services to people who need and qualify for such services, announced 8th district representative Dancia Penn QC at a meeting last evening Friday, October 28, 2011 at The Hope.

Hon. Penn, who also holds the portfolio of Deputy Premier and Minister for Health and Social Development, stated that it’s time that residents have proper access to justice and lawyers to represent them.

“Because of the success of the financial sector many of the lawyers are involved in commercial work, and sometimes only commercial work. We are ordinary people...sometimes people have marital problems they need divorces, need legal separations. They need assistance with matters involving lands, estates, wills, crime...so many areas in our lives we need lawyers for and I have learnt that one of the areas that we need in our country is proper access to justice,” she told supporters.

The office will be a collaborative effort between her Ministry and the Attorney General Office.

Plans for The Hope

Hon. Penn said as a representative, it is her job to address the individual needs of her constituents, adding her doors have been opened and she has always been approachable.

In light of this, the 8th district representative stated that she was pleased to assist young men in The Hope “with small modest start-ups” for their business ventures. “Such interactions have enriched me,” she added.

Also mentioned were the road repairs carried out in the community over the past four years.

“The [main] road in the community in 2007 was in a deplorable state, if there was a need for an ambulance to get there it would have been impossible because the road was so undermined. The residents living up the hill were in jeopardy, but now the road was repaired to a very high standard,” Hon. Penn stated.

Furthermore, other roads in the community will be widened after consultations with residents, Hon. Penn added. In addition to that, the representative said she has already spoken to engineers to review ways to make The Hope road safer for motorists.

Plans are also afoot to construct a community centre in The Hope, the 8th district representative said. She also revealed that negotiations are underway to acquire the land; further stating that once completed the community will have an input of who the building will be named after.

As the incumbent and a Virgin Islands Party (VIP) member, Hon. Penn is facing challenge for her seat from Marlon Penn, a National Democratic Party (NDP) candidate and independent candidates Bevis Sylvester and Nolan Davis.

The general election is slated for November 7, 2011.

9 Responses to “Hon. Penn: Cabinet agreed to set up a Public Defender’s Office”

  • Pasty Rake (29/10/2011, 13:11) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    a little to late Dancee
  • Hope Hill (29/10/2011, 13:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Dancia they say you going loose but my $$$$ is on you
  • peter crumble (29/10/2011, 17:02) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    lets dance with dancia people....this is the biggest/highest lady in the b.v.i
  • My Vote to Dancia (29/10/2011, 20:07) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    In Shakespeare’s “I come bury Caesar,” Mark Antony said “the evil that men do live after them; the good is oft interred (buried) with their bones.” With this in mind, Dancia, I admire you and wish you the best in the upcoming election. Unfortunately, our people often look for the negative even when there is none. They are sometimes so unhappy in their personal relationships that they cannot see outside their misery to say “thank you” or ‘well done” when due. Please be reminded that you cannot please everyone and I for one thank you for taking time effective action in the 8th district and throughout the territory. You are one classy politician—not prone to playing games or lowering your standards running a slanderous campaign. Keep up the Good work!!!!! You got my vote…
  • NDP Attack Dog (30/10/2011, 03:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Dancia did nothing for four years but talk talk talk talk does she understand what it means to represent the 8th district? I think not
    • VIP tommy cat (30/10/2011, 15:50) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      You hypocrite! But the people have send and will decide. There's much more to be done. In fact every year there's much to be done, and all will never be done in 4. So we going put her right back in there to finish up. The cry was that she dead, and she ain't do nothing for the District. What you don't know and see is what matters. So forward we go!
  • killer (30/10/2011, 11:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    we pushing bevis


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