Mr Roy W. Penn, owner of Wellness by Natural Means, who operates his business on crown land at Paraquita Bay. Photo: Roy W. Penn

The aftermath of a deliberate fire allegedly set by the farmer who occupies land close to Mr Roy W. Penn in Paraquita Bay. Photo: Roy W. Penn

A deliberate fire allegedly set by the farmer who occupies land close to Mr Roy W. Penn in Paraquita Bay. Photo: Roy W. Penn

A deliberate fire allegedly set by the farmer who occupies land close to Mr Roy W. Penn in Paraquita Bay. Photo: Roy W. Penn

Speaking to Virgin Islands News Online (VINO), on September 30, 2025, Mr Penn said, “ I've been doing what I can to try and get along with her, but she seems like she doesn't want to be gotten along with…it's crown land, but I'm allowed to be here, I was given permission to be here.”

He alleges that the farmer claims the issue stems from his burning waste materials by the roadside. 

“This is not about burning. This is not about me doing anything to anyone. This is about this woman wanting to get me out of here.”

Mr Penn said it’s common practice to burn on the land, but due to him not having a lot of space, he parks his vehicle and also burns on the roadside when necessary. 

“In Paraquita Bay, everybody burn, including the Department of Agriculture. So people burn, there's smoke out there, I don't know where it's coming from, but I can smell it…it’s common practice.”

Access to water cut off 

According to Mr Penn, the farmer has allegedly cut off his access to water. 

“She cut the water pipe, and she capped it…and I didn't know why I wasn't getting water, so I kept calling the water people, and finally they came out and they, they uncovered it where she capped it, and they showed it to me…Since that time, I've never gotten water. She said, as long as she is here, I would never get water.”

To have water at his building, Mr Penn has been storing rainwater in a tank for use over the past seven years.

The water company, he said, is aware of this situation and seems unable to assist. 

Authorities seem unable to help 

Authorities at the Department of Agriculture and the police also seem unable to assist Mr Penn, according to information he provided. He told our news centre that he has called the authorities several times. 

“They are not doing anything to assist me. All they seem to want to do is appease her. And while they are appeasing her, this is emboldening her. It's making her more bold.”

Following a recent incident, Mr Penn said the farmer got angry. 

“She said she's gonna smoke me out. She went and got some car tyres and some pallets. She put them next to the building, and she set them on fire…After she was done, I took some pictures, and I called the police.”

The police eventually came out and talked to both of them; however, Mr Penn said that based on the conversation with them, it seemed that they did not believe him. 

“They talked to me as though I was the one causing the problem. I have to reiterate that I'm not causing the problem; the problem is being caused to me.”

A public plea

With this situation ongoing for so long, Mr Penn decided to go public by reaching out to our news centre. He added that he believes his situation is newsworthy, as he wants people to know what he has been enduring for years. 

Mr Penn said he has thought of taking legal action against the farmer, but has been advised by family who are lawyers not to take the matter to court. 

“I don't really have the funds to go out and file a lawsuit and go that route, and if I ever do, I sure will, but as of right now, this is how it is.”

He accused the authorities, saying, “Rather than they doing anything about it, they are just merely emboldening her to go further and do even more.”

The name of the female farmer was not mentioned since our News Centre was unable to reach her at the time of publication.