Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

‘BVI women are our worst enemies’- CRC Chair Lisa E. Penn-Lettsome

-says women in power don't inspire a successful female colleague but rather relish in her downfall
Chairman of the Constitutional Review Commission, Mrs Lisa E. Penn-Lettsome has referred to women in the Virgin Islands and West Indies as their own worst enemies for not pushing their female counterparts, but rather, relishing in the downfall of others. Photo: Facebook
Mrs Penn-Lettsome was at the time a guest on Realtalk with Karia J. Christopher alongside Ronnie W. Skelton on the topic of the Virgin Islands Constitution including the need for more women to enter politics. Photo: Facebook
Mrs Penn-Lettsome was at the time a guest on Realtalk with Karia J. Christopher alongside Ronnie W. Skelton on the topic of the Virgin Islands Constitution including the need for more women to enter politics. Photo: Facebook
HANNAH'S ESTATE, Tortola, VI– Chair of the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC), Mrs Lisa E. Penn-Lettsome has referred to women in the Virgin Islands and West Indies as their own worst enemies for not pushing their female counterparts, but rather, relishing in their downfall.

Mrs Penn-Lettsome was at the time one of the guests on Real Talk aired Wednesday, December 7, 2022. The show was hosted by Karia J. Christopher. Former legislator Mr Ronnie W. Skelton was the other guest on the panel.

The discussions surrounded the Virgin Islands Constitution and it was during the issue of women in politics that the remarks by Penn-Lettsome, an attorney, were made.

Women their own worst enemies - Penn Lettsome 

According to Mrs Christopher, while women have a tremendous amount of influence and equality in the home, women still feel they have a long way to go in terms of politics.

Mrs Penn-Lettsome, while adding her voice to the conversation said; however, women remain their own worst enemies.

“West Indian Women [and] BVI women are our worst enemies... Because I think that if you're saying the women have the equality in the home and it's not transposing to the society, what I find is when women are in power they don't pull up young women,” she added.

Mrs Penn-Lettsome explained that women instead tend to exhibit certain behaviours that do not uplift their female counterparts, but rather pull them down.

Women relish in downfall of other women- Ms Penn-Lettsome

“Instead of women inspiring a successful colleague, who's also female, they sought to relish in your downfall or your disappointments,” she added.

Mrs Penn-Lettsome said while the points raised by Christopher are valid, there may still be some need for women to push themselves a bit further as compared to men.

“At the same time when you're doing that it would help if we ourselves would push our sisters, and I don’t find that we do that,” she said.

Whether she was "pushed" by her "sisters" or not, Mrs Penn-Lettsome is an accomplished Virgin Islander.

She holds a Master of Laws from the School of Financial Services of the University of New South Wales, Australia, a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the University of the West Indies, and an International Diploma in Compliance from the University of Manchester Business School and the International Compliance Association.

Mrs Penn-Lettsome is a lawyer with over 25 years experience and recently completed a 3-year term as the Executive Director of International Business with the Government of the Virgin Islands. This follows 13 years as Senior Counsel and Head of Regulation with an international law firm.

She previously held the positions of Deputy Registrar of High Court, Acting Magistrate, Registrar of Companies, Deputy Managing Director of the Financial Services Commission and Acting Deputy Governor of the Virgin Islands. 

Mrs Penn-Lettsome is also a past President of the BVI Bar Association, first chairman of the Financial Investigations Agency and first Secretary of the BVI Reporting Authority and has served on numerous Boards and committees.

36 Responses to “‘BVI women are our worst enemies’- CRC Chair Lisa E. Penn-Lettsome”

  • Honestly (08/12/2022, 09:57) Like (100) Dislike (6) Reply
    black people relish in the downfall of other black people!
    • @Honestly (08/12/2022, 10:40) Like (59) Dislike (5) Reply
      1 Million percent in agreement with you. They loveeee to relish on another person’s downfall. Then they sit back and wonder why their lives is in shambles and why nothing is going well for them and blame others. THAT BVI LOVE SLOGAN IS SIMPLY PATHETIC, STOP EMBARRASSING YOURSELVES.
    • @Honestly (08/12/2022, 12:53) Like (22) Dislike (0) Reply
      Now you understand why people including myself keep our business to ourselves and don’t mix or mingle with anyone? I would starve and drink sugar water and eat stale crackers before I ask any of these people for anything!!!!!!. because all they are going to do is talk about you. I ALSO AGREE THAT BVI LOVE THING IS PATHETIC AND FAKE. BVI LOVE LOVE? LOL.
    • All I wil say. Free the people.. (08/12/2022, 13:00) Like (25) Dislike (10) Reply
      I will like to see people with resident status be allow to vote and this should be in the new constitution, it means once you have resident status you have been here more than 20 yrs With a good record. ,
      • Bull$hit (08/12/2022, 14:54) Like (11) Dislike (20) Reply
        Haul your a$$! In the US if you are a green card holder or resident can you vote?.....NOOOO! Amazing how people come to the BVI and want to influence our laws for their liking!! Go kick rocks!!
        • Slow-Andie (08/12/2022, 23:26) Like (12) Dislike (2) Reply
          In the US kids get their passport just from being born there, in the US Green Card holders aren't told their kids can't live with them and the get double taxed to send money home to support their kids.
          The point is, don't use the US as a marker, it makes the BVI look bad. Do what's best for the BVI, and that includes inclusion.
        • guy hill (09/12/2022, 07:11) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
          @bull$hit....I do not know why people always comparing the BVI to the US? The US enforce their laws. We all have the right to our opinions. Green Card holders can vote in State Elections in America. You must be a citizen to vote for the President. They are way different from the BVI. But then again, depending on where you live as a so-called US citizen, USVI, PR Etc, you cannot vote for the president!%&??.Yet a president makes decisions that affect everyone's lives. Life is real.
  • Read (08/12/2022, 10:07) Like (47) Dislike (2) Reply
    Ms. Lettsome is spot on.
  • agreed (08/12/2022, 10:12) Like (71) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mrs. Penn-Lettsome you are so correct, I just think it's not limited to just the women. I think on a whole there is some kind of jealousy whereby some people do not like to see others thrive or thrive more than they do. I see so many people do things here to sabotage people or their business(es). That level of hatred is seemingly attributed to some social ill/sickness.
  • Truth, Truth, Truth (08/12/2022, 10:27) Like (44) Dislike (1) Reply
    And, if any Woman is upset about what she said, you need to simply go and drown yourself. As a Woman, you are supposed to build another Woman up, not continue to kick her down while she is down. Stop the jealousy, the back stabbing, the crude dirty remarks and the stupid cat scratching.
    • Lolllll (08/12/2022, 11:45) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
      Got a lot of B!t(he$ tearing down other women's homes too.

      Jealousy and envy equate to HATRED.
  • vince (08/12/2022, 10:36) Like (21) Dislike (0) Reply
    This was a very impressive and informative interview. Mrs Penn Lettsome and Mr. Skelton knowledge on the issues and the way forward leads me to think that the country is in good hands.
  • jack (08/12/2022, 10:55) Like (4) Dislike (50) Reply
    She need to stick to her role as chair of the constitutional committee
    • @Jack (08/12/2022, 12:36) Like (11) Dislike (4) Reply
      You need to shut the hell up that is what you need to do you DIRTY MALE CHAUVINISTIC DIRTY PIG. Let me hear any male on the street today talking negative about Mrs. Lisa, I will lace you up with my mouth. Keep your mouth shut and take the negative talk in the back room with your other stupid male chauvinist pig buddies.
  • Really (08/12/2022, 10:57) Like (1) Dislike (16) Reply
    These sodomites who the elites put to govern us is full of it. The fake drag women on tv is the real woman worst enemy. You all are trying to wipe out all the real women and have nothing but men switching their genda to be a fake woman because they will never be a woman to me. This world is a devil's world and it's being run backwards. You can go to California if you a little boy and once you get there and say you want to be a girl they government will take you in a your parents have no say. You better Wake up to these wicked agendas. These people don't care about women period and this mRNA Sterling women,kids and men from having kids proves they don't care about women because women is where everyone came from and don't be dumb and say man because only drags take out their ribs to look like a woman. Stay dumb the Bible is pure deception
    • Real (08/12/2022, 11:45) Like (3) Dislike (6) Reply
      how can the bible be pure deception stop ur ignorance and learn sense yes the agenda is there but you have to power in christ to do all things quit complaining and start praying
      • Really (08/12/2022, 13:19) Like (1) Dislike (5) Reply
        The only thing real about you is that your real dumb. If you have a family that's one race and color how do you get all these races? Be dumb. The Bible is used for witchcraft I guess that's good idiot. Stay dumb but don't come to me with no knowledge that the Almighty God gave us free Will and the Bible doesn't idiot idiot idiot
        • Human (08/12/2022, 15:22) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
          @Really

          So how many races are there? Name them. The Europeans invented the myth of race hundreds of years ago, so we should know by now how many specific races there are. You as an assumed expert in race matters should be able to give us the answers.

          You admit that witchcraft is real, so you are therefore implying that there is a supernatural dimension we cannot see. So who, or what occupies this dimension? Circling around, if everything we see is physical, how do you explain witchcraft?

          By your logic, the THOUSANDS of books in the bible and elsewhere are the results of massive conspiracies. Do you think the Americans and Europeans (who could not even predict how Russia would respond to blatant provocation) - are capable of such deep conspiracies?

      • Two Way Mirror (08/12/2022, 14:59) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
        Why was the Book of Enoch excluded from the Bible? Why was there a separate slave Bible? It is ALL a cohered effort to deceive the masses.
  • Native Senior Citizen of the British Virgin Islands (08/12/2022, 11:40) Like (2) Dislike (7) Reply
    In reference to the top issue, She lied. She lied. She lied.
    Satan the Chief liar is the one that is our worst enemy. Human whether male or female is not, truth.
    Don't talk her words as truth. She are as human as we all are. Mental and physical education do not elevate humans to God position of eternal Judge.
    The truth is the truth. Neither lies and humans opinion of others should be accepted as ultimate truth.
  • Really? (08/12/2022, 12:02) Like (9) Dislike (6) Reply
    I hope she is not speaking from experience. Who has she cheered on or encouraged even?
    • @Really (08/12/2022, 16:27) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
      When I just came into the Civil service I worked in her unit. Mrs. Penn-Lettaome was always pleasant. She spoke few words to me, but I highly regarded her words to me. She always had a listening ear, and she never turned or spoke to me or anyone I knew out of anger. At one moment she even gave me a Mariah Carey number 1 hits CD...at that time I was always playing soft music at my desk. She amongst other women in that unit left an indelible impression on me, one that helped foster me to become a much better version of myself...so many years ago. Thank you Mrs. Penn-Lettsome!
  • I am disappointed... (08/12/2022, 12:22) Like (10) Dislike (5) Reply
    ...in the comment. Did she do a survey? Are all BVI women alike, including her? Are all women alike for that matter?
    • @I am disappointed … (08/12/2022, 18:21) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
      NO, not all BVI women are alike, you can usually tell the smart ones by the way they speak and articulate themselves. Now, on the other hand, there are the ones that is Complacent and plain out dumb.They can’t think for themselves. They are comfortable in a little house the man build and put them in and stay on a dead end job instead of working towards advancing themselves.

  • True. I will agree. (08/12/2022, 12:55) Like (33) Dislike (2) Reply
    Men too. But the women terrible, It's like a ladies competition in the BVI to see who is more intelligent, who can speak better why shein that big position and not me It always seem like those living in America do many years when they return with their Yankey accent always get the edge over the local with their cultural accent..I always wonder why. I live in America and that's where you find the most fake, dishonest well spoken people,, also seems like because they have that American they are better than those at-home and most time they get the top positions and they failed miserably ..Home grown women stop thinking those returning with their fakes, dishonesty and nice Yankee tone are better than you all. They are not....
    • Wait hold the blank upf (08/12/2022, 14:44) Like (7) Dislike (9) Reply
      First of all twit, what is a yankey accent. I lived in America for 20 years and I still have my local accent but I know how to speak properly. When I am around my people I speak the local accent, when I am in a business or professional setting I speak properly. Common sense would tell you if you live in America for a few years you are going to pick up the dialect if you go to school, work and interact with Americans. Hate it when people talk stupidness about people that lived in America come back home yanking, what is yanking? Speaking properly? THE PROPER WORD IS FORK, NOT FARK, THREE, NOT TREE, BONE, NOT BOONE, CLOTH NOT CLART, HORSE, NOT HARSE. GIRL, NOT GURL.
  • Agreeable One (08/12/2022, 13:02) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mrs. Penn-Lettsome is dead on! She is correct. BUT it also holds true for us blacks in general. One of the many reasons this is a when one of us do well it takes away any excuse from others to excell so there is a tendency be comfortable in acting out that anger or resentment on our own. All people are gifted and we need both men AND women to be 100% themselves in any arena.
  • History teacher its Mrs L Smith who did her in (08/12/2022, 13:35) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    Maybe she is getting flashbacks from her experiences with Lorna when she she was supposed to be Deputy governor or head of fsc
  • Mustang (08/12/2022, 14:02) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Counselor, it not BVI;men, too. Furthermore, it is a regional problem. BVI people in general are BVI people worst enemy. The territory is highly polarized and deeply divided. BVI people hate to see other BVI people progress; they prefer outsiders over their own. They suffer a destructive case of self-discrimination and self-hatred. There are some tinge of racial tension but the big problem is along social lines. Virgin Islanders self-hatred and destructive and short-sighted attitude and behavior and bad mindedness are a weighty drag on national growth and development. It is time to shed the colonialists conditioning programming of divide and rule. It is time for national unity.
  • Peaches (08/12/2022, 14:23) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mrs. Penn-Lettsoe you hit the nail on the head!! We too jealous and bad-minded! We downpress each other on jobs and the like. How can we prosper in this Territory?
  • Forbidden Truth (08/12/2022, 16:16) Like (3) Dislike (4) Reply

    So why this She treated E***** D***** the way she did and not help bring her to her flowering? Sometimes you have to tell some people shut their darn mouths.

  • Yes my dear (08/12/2022, 17:02) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    People on this little 2x4 hilly little Island that can be covered by riding a donkey in less than an hour love to rejoice and relish on others down fall. That is normal behavior here in the BVI. That is one of the reasons they are called wild bush people on the outside.I may live among them but I stay as far away from these people as I possibly can. To much, bad minded, jealous, backstabbing evil people. They get a climax over another person’s down fall until their downfall kick them in the face. Hate to say it, but I can’t stand the majority of these wild looking bush people. The animals living in the wilderness have more manners and respect towards each other.
  • it is (08/12/2022, 18:39) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    COMPLETELY EVIL WHEN ONE RELISH ON ANOTHER MAN OR WOMEN DOWNFALL, JUST PLAIN OUT EVIL!!!!!!!!!!. KEEP YOUR PERSONAL BUSINESS TO YOURSELF AND STAY AS FAR AWAY FROM THEM AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN. AND THAT INCLUDES SOME FAMILY MEMBERS AS WELL.
  • the real deal (08/12/2022, 19:36) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply

    It all started during slavery days and culminated with the burning of Road Town by the people from the rural areas. The building that is called the fireproof was one of the few that was not destroyed in the inferno. This terrible hatred of people from Road Town is rooted in resentment for the colonial masters and Road Town as the seat of their power. This is one of the major issues that still festers under the surface until this day. It is not spoken of openly but is acted out in many weird ways. This division is at the heart of the problems that have destroyed this little country. Any Tortolian of the older generation will tell you this if they are honest. It has destroyed the fabric of our country and the domino effect continues to ripple. I personally do not see any improvement for the future as this has become part of the BVI DNA. People here will hold it against you for life if you pass them one day and not say hello. Foreigners cannot understand the depth of evil that this little so called christian community continues to carry around even in this 21st Century. This is the cancer that is eating this country...some petty ignorant sh** that is passed from generation to generation spawning evil and corruption. This is what needs to be cured before there can be any real progress towards BVI Love. People need to stop faking it and admit the truth and deal with it and stop destroying those that are courageous enough to speak out. There is no way that what obtains at present can have a happy ending.

  • guy hill (09/12/2022, 07:23) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    I do not know if it is Human nature or pure "wutlisness" in "some"of our people. While the comment is in reference to "BVI WOMEN" IT is also a comment that can be referenced to "some" BVI Men. Of experience I speak.
  • @ E LeNerd (09/12/2022, 18:08) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Perhaps , great historian , can you shed some light on what the lady said / or are U still practicing the moonwalk like his holiness cSc ???? both of nyou have a way with words


Create a comment


Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.