'It's a slippery slope'- Hon Penn on HoA exemptions for Hon Malone
Even though his National Democratic Party (NDP) has been accused of lacking transparency and accountability over its 8-year administration, Hon Penn made the calls at the Sixth Sitting of the First Session of the Fourth HoA, on September 2, 2019, during the process of Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) moving a motion for Hon Malone to be exempted.
Care & Caution
In his warning, Hon Penn said, “We have to be very careful when we are members of the executive where decisions are being made on matters of this nature, in terms of involvement. Just simply stepping out of the room doesn’t remove you from executive responsibilities and your involvement in the Process.”
According to the HoA Order Paper, Honourable Malone as HoA Member is a Director in the company known as “Island Block Corporation, Ltd,” desirous of providing paid services for the rental of its properties to the Government.
The company will continue renting to the Ministry of Transportation and Works and well as the Deputy Governor’s Office, storage space for three departments.
Further, the Minister as a Director of Caribbean Basin Enterprises (BVI) will continue to provide services to the Government including his Ministry, the Ministry of Health and Social Development for operations of a sewerage treatment plant at the H. M. Prison; commenced 2009.
As per the rules of the HoA, through the Motion, Hon Malone must disclose to the house his interest in the company else risk vacating his elected seat.
'Slippery Slope' - Hon Penn
According to the Opposition Leader, he said in principle, what is being laid out is concerning since it seems as though Mr Malone’s contracts were automatically renewed.
“We don’t know whether the contracts are over $100,000, meaning that if they over 100,000 they might need to go out to tender. If they are under $100,000 the decision has to be made by the Ministry responsible.”
Hon Penn disclosed that in the case of the contract at the Ministry of Health and Social Development, it would be the responsibility of the Ministry to make a decision on that contract awarded even though the subject Minister is the leader of the said ministry.
“This is not about; as is being portraited or being spun or being weived, as an attack on anyone or trying to [damage] anyone’s character, its an issue of the institution,” he said.
Hon Penn noted that legislators should avoid putting themselves in situations where, “it is being perceived that we are doing things that are not above board,” while at the same time providing transparency and fair opportunities to members of the community.
"It is a slippery slope I believe," the Opposition Leader said while noting that even though the contracts were going on for several years, it doesn't suggest that there is a right to continual renewal.
NDP Gov't was not transparent
It should be noted that when the NDP was in Government with Hon Penn as a sitting member of the House, one of its legislators, Myron V. Walwyn, through two of his companies, had been providing services to Government without permission from the House of Assembly.
This only came to light after some Members of the Opposition challenged the breach of the Constitution; however, Mr Walwyn was never made to vacate his seat.
The two companies in question were MVW International Ltd., and The Pub (2012) Ltd, which was found to be beneficially owned by Mr Walwyn.
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26 Responses to “'It's a slippery slope'- Hon Penn on HoA exemptions for Hon Malone”
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led the way to the Panama (lol BVI ) papers and CBR lost his seat in a special election in relation. Money Money, history of money, how to get more of it and keep it.
On the other hand, should one’s personal business operations be a hindrance to attracting the best and brightest talent/skill to the HOA to serve the territorial needs(residents), promoting its continued growth and development?