Ian B. Penn appointed Deputy CIO
According to the NDP source, the acting appointment took effect from January 20, 2014 and is for one year.
Mr. Penn’s Background
According to this news sites research, Mr. Penn first joined the Immigration Department in 1987 and has moved up the ranks and was promoted to senior immigration officer in 2000.
The Virgin Islander enrolled at the H Lavity Stoutt Community College in 2004 and studied Business Administration where he graduated in 2007 with an Associate Degree.
After study leave, Mr. Penn returned to the Immigration Department and in January 2008 was appointed to act as Deputy Chief Immigration Officer.
Mr. Penn left the Department in 2008 and went to law school in the United Kingdom where he earned a Bachelor’s of Law Degree from the University of East London.
On his return to the Virgin Islands in 2012 from law school, he did a short stint at the Office of the Director of Public Persecution and has now been named Acting Deputy Chief Immigration Officer effective last week, according to the same NDP source.
Guy M. Hill
The current Acting Chief Immigration Officer is Mr. Guy M. Hill. Many believe that following the ending of the retirement vacation leave of the former Chief Immigration Officer, Dennis Jennings, Mr. Hill should be appointed to the post of Chief Immigration Officer.
However, the NDP source told our news site, that decision is up to the Premier and Minister of Immigration Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, in consultation with the Permanent Secretary.
Mr. Hill is a Virgin Islander and is very qualified for the post of Chief Immigration Officer and is known to be very disciplined in upholding the immigration laws of the Virgin Islands.
33 Responses to “Ian B. Penn appointed Deputy CIO”
I wish Mr Hill and Mr Penn all the best. I think that they can make a difference!
Having worked with Hill for some time, I personally think that the Government would do well to switch those two officers as there is need for a cool head and rational thinking at the top position. If this is not done Dr. Smith could be in for two years of pains.