UPDATE: House votes for Hon. Penn to execute FSC IT contract
The motion was passed on December 18, 2012 during the Fifth Sitting of the Second Sessions of the Second House of Assembly.
Before the motion was approved, Leader of the Opposition Hon. Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE said “I would have never thought that I would have to get up and speak on this motion because it is so clear.”
He further stated that this was a common occurrence in the House from many years ago when the House had several carpenters who had contracts with the Public Works Department but came to the House to let others know, so that they were not found working on the Government projects and did not release that information to the House.
"Those who are new boys would think this is a big thing, but this ain’t no big thing, this is a small thing…” Hon. O'Neal stated before adding that he thought the Member had done the right thing in bringing the motion before the House.
“He is being abundantly sure…” expressed the former Premier, “I had the experience of applying for it one time when I was working with ESSO and they had the contract to supply diesel to the Electricity Corporation…”
Prior to this, Third District Representative Hon. Julian Fraser RA noted that if his advice was asked regarding whether or not a member of the House should exercise their right under the provision, he would advise against it, but noted that it was only his belief and the right was provided for under the constitution and had been extended in the past to members. He added that it is a member’s prerogative to exercise this right at any time they wished.
Hon. Fraser further stated that he would not personally indulge in it because of the circumstances out there as a politician.
See previous story posted on December 17, 2012:
Budget debate day & permission for Hon. Penn for FSC contract
- Two days of Budget debate and permission for Hon. Marlon A. Penn to execute paid IT contract with Financial Services Commission
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The 2-day national budget debate started today, December 17, 2012 in the House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands.
This followed weeks of the Standing Finance Parliamentary Committee deliberation where Departments and statutory agencies were required to go before the House of Assembly to justify their budgetary allocation and answer questions from elected officials.
It was on November 15, 2012 when the National Democratic Party (NDP) Government of Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Hononurable D. Orlando Smith presented to the people of the VI a projected revenue collection of $298,729,000 and a net operating expenditure of $252,397,600 for the year 2013.
Days after the budget speech, some members of the Virgin Islands Party Opposition hit the government by calling the budget harsh for the little man and warned that the people are “hunting”.
Permission for Honourable Penn to execute FSC IT contract at today’s meeting
Under the rules of the VI Constitution and the House of Assembly (HOA), any elected member seeking to engage in direct business in public bodies must have permission from the HOA at the most convenient time.
Hon. Marlon Penn, who according to this news site sources within the NDP does not have a contract with the Financial Services Commission, is now seeking permission to do so to help them in the area of Information Technology Services- a field he has specialized in. It will be, if permission is granted by the HOA, a paid contract.
The Premier will be the sponsor of motion in line with section 67 (3) (e) of the VI Constitution of 2007. If permission is granted it would mean that Hon. Penn would not have to vacate his seat as an elected official and representative for the eight district if a contract is signed between him or his company with the FSC.
There are currently other members of the HOA who have been granted such permission to engage in paid work with government bodies, according to the same NDP source.
Hon. Penn is also heading a non-paid committee under the Premier's Office with helping central government to improve and examine Government's move to implement an effective E-Government structure.
At today’s sitting there will be also a few statements from Ministers of Government along with the social development 2010 and 2011, and Public Works 2011 Departments annual reports being laid on the table of the HOA.
The HOA’s fifth sitting of the second session will commence at 10 A.M. at its Chambers in Road Town, the Virgin Islands capital city.
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51 Responses to “UPDATE: House votes for Hon. Penn to execute FSC IT contract ”
Please leave something for the public to make a living on. Penn I like you as a person but I am quickly realizing the NDP party will leave this country in a worse position then the VIP could ever dream of! I used to support you guys but your colors are starting to show.
Does the public know that 20% of the new port project is owned by the BVI Investment club. Who is Mark and Cline Skelton using to hide their personal interest in the Port project???
The stores planned for the port project will put every little mom and pop store out of biz. Why is the development in the marina in VG not leased out??? Failure
Why is Claud skelton spending over $100,000.00 on a bigger office at the ports???
How will the ports survive without Royal Caribbean?
NDP do right by the people
marlon was IT director at fsc before winning elections. how do we know its not the fsc that requested he provide services since he is familiar with their systems? you people hate your own so damn much it's sickening. so what if investment club owns 20% of the development? i wish they could've owned 60%. what are you doing with yourself? are you investing in anything? are you putting proposals together to make the country better? are you putting money into plans to get the country moving? if not why the @#$% you hating on others that are trying to better themselves and country? you all too damn jealous and bad mind in this place. if you think you can do better then do better but hating people will not make life better for u. get over it. ndp don't mind these sick slave minded people. they hate to see their own get anything. wait for the facts before talking $h!t.
I wonder if there will be an outcry if the Jamaicans and others come together and form an investment club. You do realize the money would then be returning to our countries.
You people never fail to amaze me with your crab like mentality.
Would you rather them bring someone from overseas to do the job or you rather Mr. Penn, do like Billy Button and work for nothing. As I read he is already giving his expertise for free to work on the Governments e-Government process. Should this young man not be paid for his expertise? All this hatred and jealousy for our
fellow Virgin Islander.
As for you fishing, you need to go fishing! The people of the district with the progress that has been made in our district since Mr. Penn has been elected. But your selfish and jealous hearts will not allow you to see this. Mr. Penn has much support, once he continue to work for his people, he will be right back there in 2015. So bring who you may, time longer than twine.