Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) has publicly expressed his support for the Human Rights Commission Bill 2026 during the Continuation of the Second Sitting of the Third Session of the Fifth House of Assembly on March 10, 2026. Photo: YouTube/HoA

The Human Rights Commission Bill 2026 received its second reading during the Continuation of the Second Sitting of the Third Session of the Fifth House of Assembly (HoA) on March 10, 2026. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands

on Marlon A. Penn (R8) has said one of the issues he looks forward to being addressed once the Human Rights Commission is functioning is accused persons being one remand for years before going to trial. Photo: Internet Source

The bill received its second reading in the HoA and is currently in the Committee stage. 

During the bill’s debate, Hon Penn said, “Human rights is one of those things that’s important; it’s one of those things that we need to educate our people on what their rights are and what they are entitled to.”

Bill seeks to protect those ‘marginalised’

According to Hon Penn, for too long and too often, many have been mistreated, maligned, marginalised and pushed aside in the Virgin Islands (VI). 

“Sometimes they don't have to fight to fight, but don't know that they can fight for the protection of those rights. And this bill seeks to ensure that there's a mechanism in place to ensure that those persons, those marginalised persons within our society, have the support and the ability to fight for their individual rights as outlined in the constitution.”

Once passed, the Human Rights Commission Bill 2026 will establish a Human Rights Commission as an independent body responsible for promoting, protecting, and monitoring human rights within the Virgin Islands (VI) and is consistent with the provisions of the VI Constitution Order of 2007, which anticipated the establishment of this body. 

Speedy trials for those on remand

Hon Penn added that another area he looks forward to being addressed once the Human Rights Commission is established and working is the issue of persons on remand for years pending their trial. 

“We learn in standing finance that some persons are in prison up to two years and remain waiting trial for upwards of two years....Persons are entitled to a right to a speedy trial. To hold somebody in a prison for two years without a trial, it's a major, major breach of someone's human rights.”

He added that no matter what someone is accused of, they should have a level of entitlement to be treated with a level of dignity through the entire process until found innocent or guilty. 

“We need some type of commission that would seek to be that watchdog, so to speak, to ensure that the system works for persons who are marginalised in society.”