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The Premier ‘believes he is the supreme leader’- Hon Penn

- maintains that the VIF&FC being put under the BVITB is illegal
Opposition legislator and Eighth District Representative Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8), right, has accused Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), left, of acting like a 'supreme leader' and ignoring the laws of the territory.
Cabinet of the Virgin Islands announced in January of this year that it had approved the transfer of the functions of the VI Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC) to the BVI Tourist Board (BVITB). Photo: Facebook
Cabinet of the Virgin Islands announced in January of this year that it had approved the transfer of the functions of the VI Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC) to the BVI Tourist Board (BVITB). Photo: Facebook
Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8), 2nd from right, was a guest of Talking Points on ZBVI 780 AM on March 11, 2024. Photo: Facebook
Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8), 2nd from right, was a guest of Talking Points on ZBVI 780 AM on March 11, 2024. Photo: Facebook
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI- Opposition legislator and Eighth District Representative Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) has accused Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) of acting like a “supreme leader” and ignoring the laws of the territory.

He said an example of this is the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC) being put under the portfolio of the BVI Tourist Boad (BVITB) without legislative changes.

Cabinet of the Virgin Islands announced in January of this year that it had approved the transfer of the functions of the VI Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC) to the BVI Tourist Board (BVITB).

‘No Bill has come’ to HoA- Hon Penn

Hon Penn maintains that the legal entity that governs festival activities in the territory is the VI Festival and Fairs Committee.

“No bill has come to the House of Assembly to repeal that Act or to make any amendments to the Festival and Fairs Committee.

“There was a Cabinet decision to send instructions to the AG’s Chambers to make the necessary changes and adjustments to the legislation, because you have to make adjustments to tourism legislation as well…That is a private entity, [and] Government cannot just dictate to the Tourist Board what to do. It has to be based on the statute,” Hon Penn stated on Talking Points on ZBVI 780 AM on March 11, 2024.

Premier ‘believes he can do what he wants’

According to Hon Penn, the statute is very clear on what the BVI Tourist Board’s function is and the Premier has taken it up on himself to ask that monies be transferred from the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee to the BVI Tourist Board, which he [Hon Penn] said is illegal.

“There is a statute that governs the fund that house the monies for that particular portfolio and you cannot just transfer the monies.

“He believes he can do what he wants, he believes he is the supreme leader. You are elected, you have a country of laws. You have to obey the laws of the country. You can’t be the leader of the country and ignoring the laws of the country.”

Asked who will be planning Festival this year, Hon Penn said the BVI Tourist Board does not have the authority to do so.

17 Responses to “The Premier ‘believes he is the supreme leader’- Hon Penn”

  • smh (18/03/2024, 08:50) Like (32) Dislike (1) Reply

    The leaders for the 7th and 8th district don't do sh** in the community. Imagine the school children dem have to be dodging potholes and sh** water to get to school every day. Its a DISGRACE...

  • lol (18/03/2024, 09:02) Like (16) Dislike (4) Reply
    Cry sour grapes. U vex because u not!! Tek dat!!
  • Facial expression (18/03/2024, 09:02) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Is saying )> big youth ) you may not know it , but am the baddest thing around / the man with the pen ) boi go sid DOwn , and stop fooling yourself ????
  • lodger (18/03/2024, 09:25) Like (13) Dislike (4) Reply
    Smurf needs to go sit down his character is compromised he all over meka Barry
  • Guest (18/03/2024, 09:33) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    When cousins fight, friends get injured trying to part the fight.
  • Hrmph (18/03/2024, 09:40) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
    Mr Penn has declined to confirm that he will refuse the Greedy Money if he is not re-elected!
  • Well Sah (18/03/2024, 10:23) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    He is the biggest Clown I've ever seen! If you ask me can he have a election for next month please/thanks
  • Ayatollah Wheatley? (18/03/2024, 10:58) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    WwwwwwwwwwwwwoW!

    Pot calling kettle black!

    Power corrupts!
  • Both of You. (18/03/2024, 11:24) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    East End have two Reps and their little Tuesday Wednesday festival celebration that we once enjoy is no more. They are both failure...For the past two years I have being asking for the Annual festival Calypso show be transferred to East End Village on the Wednesday night the Last night..Close out with a big band big bang.
  • bvibuzz (18/03/2024, 12:52) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    Marlon there watching Showda he better keep his eyes on funny man who wants to be chairman of the ndp thing to tell the dead queen
  • Big Richard (18/03/2024, 14:52) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    No confidence vote now. YES TO UK
  • ASHAMED (18/03/2024, 15:36) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    All you need to stop it and work for one common good and that's the people and the territory. Stop this foolishness. You both can't get the even get the simple little pot holes out of the roads. man go sit down you all don't have no shame! seems like people got to go fix these wells for themselves. Put concrete in all the holes since the asphalt not working out. Patch today rain fall tomorrow back to square one.
  • 6th voter (18/03/2024, 16:19) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    smurf do when brother Carvin pass what you told your cousin that we have the fighting and live together now you back with your BS for power do forget that Sunday. what you was afraid of death you back about river running in the street
  • Interested (18/03/2024, 16:26) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    “Supreme Leader” has a Trumpish/ Hitler sound.Lets be careful out there
  • Schuups (19/03/2024, 10:24) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    When you all had the place for 12 years, it was the same and doing people worse. When you do, just be quiet and welcome the response when the circle comes around.
  • lol (21/03/2024, 17:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply

    Treat people like sh** - you get sh**. You want independence - earn it. Work for THE PEOPLE and not yourself!!!

  • nanny (22/03/2024, 15:40) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    now now, the Premier does not believe he is supreme anything. Not even a supreme cookie. Maybe one third
    of an oreo however. I do know he does not want the police to pay for partially paralyzing my right hand with
    their handcuffs a few years ago. It would be too bad if all of these crackers had a hand cut off to equalize their
    guilt in the matter. Since there is no responsible behavior by the Premiers or Governors since then, and of course
    the police ones don't want a hand chopped off either. Might not look good in those posed pictures for the general
    public and tourism businesses. Someone might SUSPECT something. crap.


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