Governor can force same-sex marriage on BVI with more powers
Governor John Rankin can force same-sex marriage legislation on the BVI with the enhanced powers that he is seeking from the United Kingdom.
That was the concern shared by Eighth District Representative Marlon Penn when members of the parliamentary Opposition faced the media yesterday.
Governor Rankin recently sought additional powers from the United Kingdom, which he said would help to improve the pace of implementation of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) good governance recommendations.
The governor argued, among other things, that there has not been sufficient drive and determination across the various ministries and departments to deliver on the agreed-upon COI deadlines.
But Penn and other Opposition members offered pushback, suggesting that the new powers sought by Rankin were unnecessary and represented a draconian measure to achieve the things he was seeking to implement.
Penn pointed to the BVI’s Police Bill — which he said members of the public have already rejected outright in its current form — and the issue of same-sex marriage, which was enforced by the UK in the Cayman Islands, even after the Cayman people and their parliament rejected it.
“The governor can introduce that legislation (the Police Act) and pass it without any consultation in its current form. You have the concerns that the public has raised in terms of same-sex marriage,” Penn said.
He added: “So the governor of his own volition, if these powers are granted, can unilaterally make the decision to implement this piece of legislation through the House as they did in Cayman Islands after the House in Cayman Islands debated and decided to not to pass the legislation.”
Penn contended further that the new authority being sought by the governor would give him unlimited power.
“From an administrative and constitutional perspective, it’s essentially an Order in Council by another name,” Penn said. “Because if you’re going to give the governor powers to introduce legislation, to take over departments and ministries and to do some of the additional things that he’s proposing to ask for those powers to do, it is going to create an imbalance in the system and give him absolute power.”
The Eighth District Representative said there are already checks and balances in the House of Assembly to hold lawmakers accountable, but pointed out that this would not be the same for the governor once these enhanced powers are conferred.
“If those powers are [assigned] to the governor, it removes that process of the checks and balances, the process of consultation — particularly with the public — the process of ensuring that the public is part of the legislative process and the administrative process, going forward,” Penn stated.
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More fearmongering BS!. Neither the Governor nor our local leaders can stop the UK when they are ready to pass that law. Clearly these guys cannot represent us at the negotiating table if this is their best move.
There are far worse things happening in the BVI than same sex marriage. Who are we to judge? is one sin greater than the next? Let people be who they want to be and move on with fixing the d@#$ country.
Hon Penn, the matters of concern that you raise are very valid and the people are aware of it. The problem is we are so sick and tired of sowande at this point that anything, but him, seems like a better option. I call on any member of the government (except sowande) who have sense to form the government with the opposition. Imagine Lorna is more loyal to the assinninity that we are all witnessing. She can stay where she is. Anybody in government who have sense, you need to make the move and the people of the Virgin islands will thank you for it.
past wig man would be happy
Here’s a question amongst all the scare mongering and concerns over the Governor’s action;
Why is it left to the Governor to insist on the integrity in public office changes. These should be insisted on by all voters, to hold the elected accountable. Why are they watching and not actively supporting change?
Excellent Question!!!
Is this the total substance of what #8 can offer. The territory in a mess, sliding fast and this is what you can think of you mor.n. no wonder we are where we are. You had 4 years to put a team together mor-n and you fail. Out of the lot of you slow man looks like the best. In the land of the blind the one eye man is king.
This good Governor who stood with us and gave us a chance against hickenbottom recommendation. Now we are painting him as the Devil. He could have accepted the recommendation to suspend but he gave us a chance to redeem ourselves and we failed now it is fault. I am sure he is regretting..
You are completely lost.
I don’t think that the Governor is going to address that same marriage thing. That’s a referendum and is solely on the shoulders of the electorate. You are showing signs of fear mongering.
First let me address the bull in the China Shop. Should Governor Rankin have additional powers from the United Kingdom?
In my view, it’s an option that should only be used as a last resort. Should the governor be given these additional powers, it will be a major set back to the semi-autonomy of this country, and any long term quest for independence.
The outcome of the COI resulted in a list of recommendations. There has been apparently some delay in implementing some of those recommendations.
According to government officials, the timeline to the implementation of all the recommendations is not feasible for various reasons.
It seems to me that it will be prudent if the governor, local government and legislature make a sincere final attempt to come up with a new feasible and reasonable deadline to get the COI recommendations implemented before any additional action is taken by the governor.
I understand deadlines were made before but if the government is stating they need a bit more time, it seems to me that should be considered and a new meeting of the minds needs to be negotiated before the governor takes this drastic step.
Now, with respect to the D8 Repetitive suggesting that the governor can unilaterally force same-sex marriage on the BVI, what he needs to know and understand is that no legislation can force people to do what they are not naturally inclined to do.
Specifically, a heterosexual person is not going to suddenly wake up one day and say they are going to marry a person of the same sex now that the governor technically has the power to make gay marriage legal in the BVI.
The truth is that even if the governor was to obtain these additional powers, there has to be some legislative process to make it happen unless the constitution is suspended.
No governor would want to implement any legislation on his own as that would not be democratic, and he would need help to do so.
The governor is on his way out the door, and he simply does not have time to do much anyway. It will be up to the next governor to follow thru.
At any rate the reason people would not be running down to the magistrate office to get married to the same sex even with additional governor power is simple:
People of a different sexual orientations than the majority population do not choose their sexual identities no more or less than a heterosexual person choose theirs. It’s not a choice to be straight or gay contrary to what some people say.
I have stated ad nauseum on this forum that I believe everyone should be allowed to live their one and only short lives in truth whatever their truth is. Love is love in whatever shape it takes, and some people should focus more on their own lives rather than that of others.
You cannot change who people are. You can only change your self. So the D8 Rep need to stop worrying about things he cannot change.
In my view, he and is fellow legislators should focus more on trying to implement the COI recommendations before their greatest fears are realized.
The Governor is not overly concerned with same sex marriage. He is concerned with the lack of transparency and criminal activities associated with the BVI government.
Give us a break with this. Like children who don’t want to be disciplined by their parent. They think we are all uneducated simpletons.
Cat out of the bag, NDP administration had warnings of the issues of this last COI in 2012. Marlon, you guys did us dirty. Both NDP, VIP and PNP are all to blame with where we are, per Calvin Malone. So these fear monger tactics are very lame: they were lame when S!0w W@nde and the A$$ C!0wn Brigade does it and it’s lame when you do it too
We are Christian society. No to same sex marriage. Yes to fornication, bun, drug dealing, thieving and corruption. Give me a break!
those are not approved nor supported either.
Lots of adulterers and fornicators are worried about gay marriage..
In the first place, we should not have reached to this point
Second- The leader made a deal with the UK
Third- Whether we like it or not the governments on both sides called fior COI
Fourth- Even though we dont like it The governor is still in control –
Fifth- We are a UK -OT
No matter how calculated and want to control our elected representatives still all agreed to carry out the implementation…
He should have taken the offer by the UK to get all the help he needed to implement them.
We do not even understand the UK laws that guides us . Listening to a lot of misguided rookie young leaders who do not lisyen
He should have negotiated with thr governor before he started slinging shits
The opposition having their own press conferences shows the division in thr country . We are not dumb. We would have understood your position but showing solidarity.
A lot of incompetent, irrationally, irresponsible decisions.
love and let live. let the gays have their marriage.
You think the UK is going to start making all us queer?
This is SUCH a NON-ISSUE in the BVI. I do not know a single gay person here.
Give the Governor the additional powers then WHAT? LEAD FOLLOW OR GET OUT THE WAY. TAKE BULL TO THE DIP.. YOU CANNOT MAKE IT DRINK.
You cannot leave those that create the problem the bvi is facing to fixed it all you politicians all three parties are the same so it’s time that the uk fixed it.
You cannot leave those that create the problem the bvi is facing to fixed it all you politicians all three parties are the same so it’s time that the uk fixed it.
Hon. Penn, I too understand what you are saying But I will make these Statements. While I didn’t agree with what the Governor is seeking to do, after careful consideration I have a change of Heart. I am well aware of the Recommendations the Governor has alluded to. If you think about them closely you would understand why the majority of those Recommendations are left undone. In some cases this Puppet Government is afraid to do what they were elected to do. Make Laws and Policies in the best Interest of those they represent.They are not prepare to make some hard Decisions that may not be favourable to Some But Beneficial to others. They don’t want to ruffle some Feathers. By the Governor getting this additional Power, He will Pass those Legislations without Fair or Favour and let the Chips Fall where they may. Another side to this is The Government, even after a COI are back to feeling comfortable doing wrong things which could very well warrant another COI and there is NO One Honest enough among them to say different. They are operating like Business as usual. I Don’t give the Governor wrong in wanting to do this BUT the innocent will suffer for the Guilty. People of this Territory, I urge you to Read and listen to the Recommendations or Legislations that this Government is afraid to tackle or wilfully ignoring to deal with and some things that are covered, Only then you would get a clear Picture of why the Governor has chosen to go this Route. The only way this Territory will be fixed If another Unity Government is formed and the corrupt Bunch is set aside. SOME Elected Representatives mean well for this Territory and its People BUT SOME need not be in our House of Assembly and the Governor and the UK know this. Pay keen attention to the Activities that go on in this Territory, Then you will understand what I am talking about.
I can’t wait to marry my amazing guy in the BVI.Cant wait till the Brits pass this