‘I am not just going to toe the party line’- Hon Marlon A. Penn
Recently, the Backbenchers of the NDP Administration have been holding their own meetings in their respective districts without the Ministers of Government, a story first and accurately reported by this news site on November 2, 2017.
Now, Eighth District Representative and Junior Minister for Trade and Investment Promotion, Honourable Marlon A. Penn has been talking tough that he will not be siding with policies for the sake of the party, once he believes they are not in the best interest of the Territory.
Hon Penn was at the time a guest on the online radio show, Fresh Radio Vybz with Paul A. Peart aka 'Gadiethz', on November 8, 2017.
‘Not just going to toe party line’
Mr Peart had asked Hon Penn what were his views on transparency and leadership.
“We have to put people and the country above politics or party and I am going to be a voice for the people. I have always been very straight forward with my position and views,” Hon Penn remarked, adding that he will not blindly follow the policies of his party.
“If I don’t believe it is in the best interest of the people I am not going to support it…and I am not just going to toe the party line just for the sake of toeing the party line. We have to now look at the holistic rebuilding and development of our country and our people. They must be at the forefront of that development and I would continue to fight to make sure that is the case,” Hon Penn, the popular second-term legislator among the grassroots, stated.
On the question of transparency, of which the NDP has been widely criticised for lacking, Hon Penn said everyone has their views on how the Territory should be run but he agrees on the issue of transparency.
“We should also be transparent when in public office. As Honourable [Andrew A.] Fahie likes to say, ‘you can’t be private in the public.’”
Walkthrough by rebel Backbenchers to continue
Meanwhile, Hon Penn also stated that the Backbenchers walkthrough the districts will continue this week, adding that they have already visited Huntums Ghut in the Fifth District, which is represented by Honourable Deloris Christopher and in Purcell Estate in the Sixth District, which is represented by Hon Alvera Maduro-Caines.
The ‘walkthrough’ will continue this week in either the Second District, which is led by Hon Melvin M. Turnbull or the Eighth District. Residents, he said will be informed via social media or radio on the date, location and time.
The move by the Backbenchers to have their own meetings in the various districts further confirms that the NDP has serious in-house issues.
In the Westminster form of Government, one of the principles that hold it together is party discipline.
The Leader himself, Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL), survived a coup de ‘tat last year after party spokeswoman and former Legislator Eileene L. Parsons OBE led an effort to replace him as Minister of Finance with former Finance Minister [2003-2007] Hon Ronnie W. Skelton (AL), who also holds the Health and Social Development portfolio.
Persons can tune in to Fresh Radio Vybz by clicking on the link below:
26 Responses to “‘I am not just going to toe the party line’- Hon Marlon A. Penn”
What about the wars and crime in white countries in the past and now. Look at Russia and USA. Because the propaganda machine spreads that blacks cant get along or do anything or never contributed anything to civilization people like you like the good little slave swallows it and spreads it.
However I do agree with you that we have to stop making politics a popularity contest and vote for who will choose country over self. We had some good choices in the past but bad mindedness put us in the position we are in.
@ fool: who did you I live in a cave: a six bedroom. 3 bathroom came and I have this cave at the age of 18 and still maintains up to this day: all of my children have their own caves as well( so why will I want to leave... as a matter of fact for the past 2 month all of my caves had 24 hours of light day/night) and none of my children stood in any had outline( so please go @#$% Yourself)
He does not have the balls to replace mark and myron with marlon and mitch or with alvera
Proud to see young BVI blood in the halls of government: I know personally knows Penn, Gandfather, Grandmother: his father and his mother even know the youth man before he was born.....rafter than blogging piss more youth of this territory need to get in learship positions; you might not get it right each time but keep on keeping on: Marlon very proud of you but black folks still have that slave mater(DNA).....just an update for the micro minded jerks out there!!!!