Lifting of Order in Council 'not a cause for celebration’- Hon Marlon A. Penn
During a special sitting of the House of Assembly on Thursday, March 18, 2026, in light of the Order in Council being lifted, Honourable Penn shared his perspective on this development.
The order, imposed by the United Kingdom, had been held in reserve while the Virgin Islands government worked on implementing the reforms recommended in the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) Report.
'Step in the right direction'
Honourable Penn emphasised that, while this is not a cause for celebration, it represents a step in the right direction for the territory's progress.
‘’While I would stop short of seeing this as a celebration, I think it's a point of putting us back on track, getting this country back on the right trajectory.’’ he remarked.
He added, “We need to get back on a path where we continue to build our country, build it by us, through us, through our people, electing the people that they want to lead this country and to ensure that we continue to build a nation that generations of Virgin Islanders could benefit and be proud of.’’
As previously reported by VINO, Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) stated that the lifting of the Order in Council is not merely a procedural development but a national achievement and victory and will long be remembered in the annals of VI history.
If the Order in Council had been enforced, it would have suspended significant portions of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007, and direct rule by the UK woukd have been the order of the day.
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8 Responses to “Lifting of Order in Council 'not a cause for celebration’- Hon Marlon A. Penn ”
It was a opportunity to put things right.
P487 and friends wasted it.
Like the report for the airport is wasted.
The Report of the Commission on the Constitution is wasted as they are ignoring it.
No need for financial reports for these guys.
No need to know how Lorna got away with disappearng Millions of dollars.
There is no will from the Elites to build a better place for the people of the VI.
Only ever looking to fill their own pockets just like the Plantation owners of a past time. Explointing people now by suppressing minimum wage and using their power to enrich their own insular elite group.
Definitely not a cause for celebration.
Embracing the findings of the COI and doing something about what is wrong would have been a cause for celebration.
No. What we have is roads for donkeys, no investments, hidden reports, secret projects, lost millions and millions. Admin complex closed so money can be handed out to elite friends.
Celebration no. Not for the people of the VI that are living under this NEW STYLE COLONIAL VI Government.
The Virgin Islands ( VI) ( British) promotion as self-governing is a farce. The UK in a boiler plate constitutional model let the VI have what it wants it to and what it maintains control over. The constitution is a dependency model constitution with its many undemocratic practices; it’s reflective of colonialism. The UK’s action in suspending and reinstating the constitution was deliberate. For example, it instituted the Order in Council in flash but removing it was slow as molasses in Antartica, taking some 6 months. The suspending of the constitution demonstrated that any devolved powers can be easily reverse. The UK does give a rat’s a$$ the locals of the VI think. This is clearly demonstrated by the UK-appointed Governor Daniel Pruce actions regarding the appointment of of the Commissioner of Police. The Governor put his fists on the scale to stop the recruiting, attempting to ensure that there was a fellow White Briton making the cut. In the interim, Deputy Commissioner of Police Jacqueline Vanterpool, a long-serving, qualified local, was appointed to act as CoP. The controversial Governor while complementing her performance as Acting COP, in mid stream reverted her to her permanent position and instituted one of his boys, the former lead of the Gibraltar Police Force. The Governor used his unilateral reserve power to ignore the strong recommendation of the PSIC and other agencies, etc recommendation. The bottom line is that the lifting of the order of council is a mere theater, a temporary action, for the Governor has UNILATERAL to whatever the hell he wants, when he wants, how he wants, where he wants. The Guv is living his best life—- A whsle in a small pond. Fellow Virgin Islanders let’s get too euphoric about the lifting of the order in council. At best,? It is a temporary action. Be vigilant, be vigilate, be smart, unite, shed the self-hatred, stop the destructive appeasement, strengthen your spines in the image of Noel Lloyd, Dolph Faulkner, Christopher Fleming, Lavity Stout, Perin George, stop the selling out through meritorious manumission, etc. Let our forebears rest proudly and easily .