Penn: Bureaucracy is driving investors from BVI
Opposition Leader and National Democratic Party Chairman Marlon Penn has warned that government bureaucracy is discouraging prospective investors from establishing businesses in the Virgin Islands.
Penn said investors must approach several agencies separately to determine the approvals required to operate, instead of receiving assistance through a centralised system.
“So you’re a businessperson who’s coming to the territory to open a business that’s going to invest $10 million. This investor has to go all around the place to every different agency to try to figure out ‘what do I need to do as this investor’. They’re not going to stay,” Penn stated.
He made the remarks during an NDP radio programme while discussing the cost of operating businesses and the need to attract new capital to the territory.
“Anyone that has money to invest is not going to come into the territory and be bombarded with the bureaucracy that is presented with government,” Penn stated.
Penn said he had spoken with three businessmen about their concerns and argued that the territory was not attracting enough new investment.
“There’s no new money coming into the territory,” Penn stated.
He said the former Trade Commission was intended to examine the business climate, identify opportunities in sectors such as marine services and retail, and recommend policy changes to the government.
Penn said the commission would also have been able to secure independent international funding. Its proposed investment agency and related legislation were intended to manage inward and foreign direct investment while assisting existing investors, he added.
“The Trade Commission had as a part of its component an investment agency. We did an Investment Act,” Penn stated.
He said the proposed agency would have created a one-stop shop for local and overseas investors, reducing the need for applicants to move between government departments.
Penn’s comments followed a recent acknowledgement from Junior Minister for Financial Services, Economic Development and Digital Transformation Lorna Smith that doing business in the territory remained difficult. Smith told a marine industry forum that the Immigration, Labour and Trade departments needed to respond more quickly and sensibly to businesses.
Penn previously criticised the government’s decision to abandon the independent Trade Commission after Smith described the proposed body as expensive and unnecessary. During debate on the Consumer Protection Amendment Bill 2026, Penn argued that the replacement model would increase bureaucracy and centralise authority under the minister. “You wouldn’t have the level of bureaucracy that you have now, where licences are taking forever to be processed,” Penn stated at the time.
Penn said the proposed arrangements were intended “to create a level of efficiency to improve the cost of doing business in the territory”.
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yea cause a 10 million isnt enough for getting the ministers and gov officials to push it through for you
Because you have been in power for over a decade
From the 3rd district AKA Swamp Frazer is causing this s**t
So, what are Marlon’s plans to address this? Just talk about it? Vote for me, make me Premier and I’ll fix it? That’s it? Come on Marlon, this is why 99% of the people cannot imagine you as Premier of the Territory or leader of anything, you are always flaking and posturing. Give us some substance and some level of comfort that you are truly invested and not just going through the motions. In order to address the issues that have been pointed out, it starts with heavy handed, deliberate LEADERSHIP! Some Senior Civil Servants operate as if they own their departments and this is the biggest issue. How will Penn solve this when these things are under the Governor? Another paid talk shop on the radio with zero substance.
The BVI sholud come to a place whete economic global expansion is needed
People here are so simple minded all they can see people coming to take over the island . They are soo blinded by this, they are loding the bigger picture
Watch and continue in this vein soon the government will be begging other national to come in
Np
One is saying to disrespect the locals in the bvi but every
Production
Global progress
Economic growth
Manpower Development is dependent on global economic investment
The premier just visiting India people have problems
He visit Guyana people have problems
We do not exist in a vacuum. Our prejudice will be our own demise
I’ve been saying for years that we need a “Tourism Czar”, but none of the problematic departments would be interested in giving up any authority over their individual bailiwick – Labour, Immigration, Customs – the three roadblocks to progress.
Same is true for Trade and Investment. Neither Labour, Immigration, Trade, nor HM Customs would be in any form interested in giving up power and authority.
Come up with a solution Marlon.