‘I was sick to my stomach over radio show’- Hon. Marlon A. Penn
Mr Leonard, who is the owner of Bobby’s Supermarket, closed his Road Town store branch a few months ago for renovation- a story first published on Virgin Islands News Online.
Disrespect for local businessman by radio show-Hon. Penn
After this news site’s own research and collection of the tape, we can confirm that the freshman legislator was referring to the popular Morning Ride Show carried on ZROD 103.7 FM with host Paul ‘Gadiethz’ Peart, who is a Jamaican national.
However, it’s important to note that the Member of Parliament did not call the show’s name or indentified the radio station during his presentation.
Hon. Penn told the House of Assembly that “we are now joining with others to destroy our own people…I do not know how else to say it.”
He said the show was at the time speaking about the issues of the closure of Bobby’s Supermarket and was disrespecting a local entrepreneur, Mr Leonard, who had taken risks to try and create services and entertainment in the Virgin Islands.
Hon. Penn said the discourse “sickened me” when the conversation on the same radio show was about whether Mr Leonard, who he claims comes from a prominent family, was “broke” or not.
He said on the morning of the show in question he was driving to Road Town with his son when he heard the various accents calling into the same show derogating and destroying Mr Leonard and his family. Hon. Penn said “all Mr Leonard has done was contributed to the people of the Territory”.
Hon. Penn blasted the radio show in defense of Mr Leonard and spoke to the history of how the business got started and where it has reached today. He said the tone of the radio show about businessman Mr Leonard not only sickened him but “I was really hurt by it”.
He said he was not against freedom of expression or speech, but we have to be responsible, “the Leonards are our people, they are one of us...they took a risk in this country...BVIslanders do not operate this way...that is not the BVI, I want my son to know….” Hon. Penn said with much passion.
More disrespect this time over Festival-Hon. Penn
Hon. Penn said on another occasion on the same radio programme, he listened to another conversation over the money owed by the Festival Committee to vendors. He claimed that the show was casting aspersion on members of the committee that they had taken the money to go on a vacation and not pay the persons owed.
He said people were calling into the radio show and “supporting this argument…it bothered me, the tone of this type of discussion…”
The first term legislator told the HOA on October 14, 2013 that he now sees why no one wants to join any committee because “if you put yourself out publicly you are suggested to be corrupt, ..a thief…all kinds of things about your character...these are people who come from reputable families”.
He said sternly that “we cannot allow people to come into our country and destroy our people and their character...we cannot slander and destroy the good name of our people, and suggest all kinds of things about them.”
Hon. Penn told Parliament that “we cannot continue to use the public airwaves to destroy our people…something has to be done and I have a problem with this type of discourse and the type of aspersion and tone must stop”. He said “you can be critical and speak the truth but we should not speculate as people are listening and the children are listening…we are passing on a legacy of hate”.
He said we are trying to build a nation and to do that we have to work together, however, we will not agree on everything.
Neither the host of the Morning Ride Show on ZROD 103.7 FM, Paul ‘Gadiethz’ Peart nor the owner of the Radio Station, Rodney Herbert could be reached for comments up to post time.
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111 Responses to “‘I was sick to my stomach over radio show’- Hon. Marlon A. Penn”
I totally agree with you and I support Marlon's take on this....I am not a born BV Islander
@ agreed! I disagree, let the island people say what the hell they want. Our own people in here cutting our @$$ and we cant say jack sh£^. I always feel much better for a stranger and outsider to cut my @$$ rather than my own, so marlon, shut your @$$ too and leave the island people dem alone. We catching more hell from our own dan dem, so shut all ayo tail. ayo in there day by day, selling out our country and we cant say jack $"£^. ayo in there overlooking locals, bringing in island people to head over us, giving dem positions they cant get in there own country, and giving us a reason to run from our own home land (we will soon be extinct) and you have the nerve to be in there bitching about the same power ayo in there giving the island people dem????????? stttttrrrrupes.
no NDP going go but that p*** hs to go too
I you done let this man feel like he is thing . dissing Elton on his don't make sense show . bulls..t
If he was in JA, as he walk out the studio he would have gotten dealt with right away!
A matter of fact, he would be too smart to even make those kind of comments about JA people in JA!
I hate when JA people make other JA people look bad!
2. They seem to have a real problem with media.
3. Y don't u people speak about the real issues affecting us, u guys make a bunch of statements and complaints about nothing when the real problems here are ignored
all I can say gadhietz leve the people business alone drink milk don't count no cow. you see how u make bad for Jamaicas if u don't go to fowlroost they caunt £$%^ an u
I think Mr. Penn is right. That program is a disgrace.
Every dog have he day to say roof roof. Dem like the shock and ahhhh factor, BOL! Leave him. R****y need to take control of he station.
I have been saying this for a long time. We must not tolerate these type of nonsense in our country.
Tell the talk show host to talk about the Jamaican man that got electrocuted and loss is 2 hands.
The Leonards have contributed in a meaningful way and have given jobs to your same country people... so just shut the hell up Gadietz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The bvi is not my place a birth n i feel very ashamed sometimes to say to a origanal bvilander im not from here i love this country to death n its all i know i hate when expats or locals make it bad for people like me who loves this beautifull @$$ country...stop tha $%^&!!
Why do people listen to his foolishness in the first place.
All of the penn's are getting nervous because B*** p*** is the first nail in there casket of fraud and m**** ain no saint with that big a*s house he building up di hill.
Come on haterss we trying to reach 150 comments.lol D funny thing is all ayo who jumping on gadiethz does Still turn around and listen to he show so hush up haters!!!!! CAN'T STOP D MORNING RIDE SHOW d voice of d voiceless When E*** up and down ill treating d workers by not paying them nobody ain going talk about that but is gadiethz ayu gah strength for FALL BACK HATERS!!!!!!
Your own Jamaican Icon Peter Tosh warn you. Who don't hear will feel.
Why you people keep listening to paul and his rubbish? I never listen to zrod not in my car or my house. If the world was coming to an end, and zrod was the only radio station reporting that information i would know,because i dont ever lister to this station. P...l is full of himself he thinks he i larger than life.
Tell him try that in Jamaica. People should respect people aand know when to say what. Don't throw stones if you live in a glass house.
Let me take this opportunity of freedom of speech to write a blog according to law and to please call on the editor of this democratic news site to edit and to publish my blog,because as long as Her Majesty-the queen continue to approve the existence of the V.I Constitution,I will blog with respect for others,their family and their character and private life:
It is my right under the LAW to agree with the distinguished Hon.Marlon Penn to express his disgust in Her Majesty's House,while defending Mr. Elton Leonard; over what he heard on this talk-show:
Mr.Elton U.P Leonard is an Honorable citizen of Her Majesty,who provides employment for many other citizens and work-permit holders in the free and democratic territory of the BVI:
I am sure,like any other business;he does face economic challenges and may have to make adjustments where necessary to accomodate the situation.
But his business is not a public office under chapter 1 interpretation 2(1) of the V.I Constitution;therefore Mr Leonard is not required by law,to explain to the public,the reason for closing his business:
Consequently,a talkshow host does not have the lawful authority under section 23-freedom of speech to publish any information about Mr.Leonard's business and the status of his economic standings in the BVI and to allow other persons to make similar comments:
While it is true,that Her Majesty-The Queen,bestowed upon Her citizens and residents, Freedom of Expression-as a Fundamental Right,under section 23 of the V.I Constitution, these freedoms are not to be abused and confused with slander, Libel and respect for personal privacy!
Even some of you bloggers want to use this democratic news site-VINO to personally attack others; but fortunately,the editor of VINO,and the responsible workers there,have shown,in some edited bloggs,that they are conscious of their responsibility to protect the character of persons,especially persons who are not in public life!
I support Hon. Marlon A Penn,with his public condemnation of the show, a show which allegedly rediculed an honorable citizen of Her Majesty,Mr.Elton Leonard.
News in brief: On 15th August 1999,at about midnight,in roadtown tortola BVI,as a proud serving royal member of Her Majesty's Police Force,I witnessed an armed-robber-thief robbing mr.Leonard of his hard earned money; and in the process of rendering assistance to him,as part of my oath to serve and protect,I was gunned-down in the line of duty!
The lord-god protected Mr.Leonard from bodily harm,while the lord-god protected a saved my precious life:
Mr.Leonard continue to do business,helping others to have a job,and allowing visitors to get a work-permit and subsequent temporary resident status. He is a good man.
We must stop using the media to degrade others in this beautiful and peaceful country BVI, and many of us do not understand the meaning of freedom of speech under the Constitution;so once its a "Long-tongue-speech" we say it!
Long live Bobby's,you helped others:And may the good-lord continue to protect the residents of the BVI.