CoI: Hon Penn labelled ‘seriously delinquent’ with Declarations of Interests
During the Virgin Islands Commission of Inquiry, Hearing Day 13 on June 17, 2021, it was revealed that Hon Penn breached Sections 3 and 7 of the Register of Interests Act 2016, by filing 4 declarations spanning 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 on the day, February 21, 2017.
Hon Penn then did the same four years later, filing 4 declarations for 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 on February 16, 2021. The second instance came even after constant correspondence from the Registrar of Interests for him to be in compliance with the act as a statutory obligation.
Register of Interest Act, 2006
According to Section 7 (a) of the Register of Interests Act, 2006, "Where a member fails to make a declaration within a period of 3 months from a date on which the duty to make that declaration accrue, the Member shall be in breach of the provisions of this act, and the Registrar shall within 14 days of the knowledge of such breach, submit to report of such breach to the committee," he said.
At the CoI hearing, it was revealed that the Opposition Leader, who also previously served as a Minster and held a leadership role [Deputy Chairman] in a political party, continued to be extremely delinquent with his declarations despite his senior role in the House.
Hon Penn also failed to comply with requests made by the Commissioner via a letter, particularly, a request to provide reasons why he failed to make timely declarations to the Registrar. Hon Penn in response to questioning; however, admitted that he could have complied with the request.
Register of Interests Standing Select Committee
In addition, the CoI heard that Hon Penn allowed himself to be nominated to the Register of Interests Standing Select Committee in 2016 and in 2019 while being delinquent regarding up-to-date and timely submissions of his declarations to the Registrar.
Hon Penn said that while on the Register of Interests Standing Select Committee, he only recalled one meeting of the Committee to date.
Part of the purpose of the Register of Interests Standing Select Committee is that should no declaration to the Registrar be made by a HoA Member by the first yearly due date and after a further three-month delay period, the Registrar would have cause to make a report to the Committee according to Section 7 of the Act.
This, according to CoI Counsel Bilal Rawat, could have been a conflict of interest for Hon Penn to allow himself to be nominated to the Standing Select Committee since it would serve in his interest to not have the committee meet given his non-compliant status.
Penn denied a 'lack of regard' for HoA obligations
Following the accusations, Hon Penn did not accept that he showed a ‘lack of regard for statutory obligations imposed to all members of the House of Assembly.”
In addition, as a Senior Member of the HoA, the Opposition Leader declared that he has no ‘explicit statutory obligations’ to encourage other members to file their declarations of interests on time; however, he said he believes leadership comes with responsibilities.
Hon Penn; however, made a public apology for his previous breaches of not adhering to his statutory responsibility and said that going forward all of his statutory oblations will be filed on time as required by law.
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16 Responses to “CoI: Hon Penn labelled ‘seriously delinquent’ with Declarations of Interests”
What has become clear is the universal contempt for the declaration of interests rules amongst legislators since the rules came in. Marlon Penn is no worse than any one else.
Drinks all round.
Boy Penn ya see you there tearing down VIP, Feeling the UK going put you in a good position! Ha the jokes on you, you feel the UK nice?
Think again i been telling yall this aint a fight of VIP or NDP.... We fighting for the BVI!
I bet after you see how you were handled in your sitting during the COI, you saw that the UK is out for blood.. WAKE the *** UP!
This particular member Mr. Penn is always quick to condemn and attack any utterings forwarded by the opposition all the time with dirty hands.
He needs to go period.
Our present government were so caught up with Irma and the lock down, ...