Penn calls for law allowing removal of non-performing elected reps
Opposition Leader Marlon Penn said he wants what is known as ‘recall legislation’ to be implemented for non-performing legislators in the BVI.
A political recall is a process by which citizens can remove elected officials from office before their term is completed.
Penn listed this among a number of measures he felt would add to good governance and constitutional advancement in the territory. It was part of a written position statement he was invited to send to the Commission of Inquiry (COI) recently.
Speaker should be elected Member of the House
Penn also called for a policy mandating that the Speaker of the House of Assembly (HOA) become an elected member of the HOA.
He said this measure would allow HOA speakers to only be answerable to voters. This, therefore, would create greater accountability over the current system where speakers potentially have an intrinsic allegiance to the governing party that appoints them.
Governor should not Chair Cabinet
Penn also advocated for constitutional changes that would allow greater self-government by elected officials. He said these changes would include removing the governor as a sitting member of the Cabinet and installing the Premier as chairperson.
Additionally, the Opposition Leader said Junior Ministers should be allowed to attend Cabinet and be part of the deliberations, even though they may not have a vote.
Penn said he also felt there was a need to increase the number of government ministers to allow for greater management of the voluminous and complex ministerial portfolios.
Bicameral parliament
He also offered that there should be a bicameral parliament in the BVI to provide for greater scrutiny of bills and government policies.
A bicameral parliament is one that contains two separate assemblies who must both agree when new laws are made. The UK parliament is bicameral because both the House of Commons (the lower House) and the House of Lords (the upper House) are involved in making legislation.
Penn said he felt this could lead to greater efficiency, effectiveness, and responsiveness as well as greater participation in the BVI.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
Starting with you !!
All the present politicians all need to be removed from office and not allowed to serve in government again. The Territory needs fresh people to serve BUT, the new ones need to be educated and be able to handle the duties they are elected to perform. No more cronies and controlling families. The Brits need to take over while this is being done. Too much money disappearing. No financial audits for years. This alone shows the incompetency of these people.
Are u crazy. U see all the corruption going on in the UK. What do you think will happen? As they say money is the root of all evil. Tax payers revenue will now go to all their comrades in the UK for the big projects. Small BVI companies will not be able to compete. Now you will really find out why the other Caribbean islands had to push for their own independence.
You think it’s bad now just wait. History is literally just repeating itself.
Psychology is a boss says the sewage monster. How can we ever forget the many years our children and grandchildren children still walking in stinky sewage water all about district 8. Go siddung mehson.
You guys are not following the laws that are there now and you want new ones?
WE FOR THAT MOVE CAUSE OF THEM DONT DO NOTHING AND STILL WANT VOTES
I like this very much, especially the recall.
Is he asking to be removed before the COI concludes its’ investigation?
Marlon we don’t need any laws to remove non performing elected officials. You will be removed at the ballot box, but when an elected official behavior and non productivity is glaring to the public, that official should have the decency to relieve him/herself of their duties. Lmao another LAW for you politicians to violate? Nooooo!!!
Julian Fraser OUT
Marlon was a member of the ruling government for 8 years. Marlon was even part of cabinet briefly. Why didn’t Marlon make these suggestions when he had a bit of power? This is why people speak so negatively about politicians. Marlon was a good man before politics now he blow wherever the wind carries him.
He (Penn) will be the first to go…
LETS GET THE BALL ROLLING. THE ONES THAT IS IN QUESTION. FRASER, TURNBULL, SOWANDE, DE CASTRO, FOY, V, WHEATLY AND MALONE.
yes fraser needs to goooo!!! never again. Home and rest watch news
From the story of the Sea Cows Bay fraud a few Fraser’s need to go…
To Balo.
Ms. S. Webster for Premier, no question ask.
Would this include getting rid of embarrassing d**b speakers?
All these politicians need to stay quiet. The more they talk, the more they appear incompetent. They should buy pots and donate or clean the streets, either way, they just need to shut up!
Marlon…. Remove the governor from the cabinet meetings? REALLY? The COI has shown a GREAT NEED to have the elected ministers overseen as they cannot be trusted, we can’t even trust the opposition to let the people know what is going on or to hold the ruling party accountable – YOU ARE NOT DOING YOUR JOBS, BUT YOU’RE TAKING OUR MONEY…. there is no way in H*** we will be agreeing to remove the governor from the cabinet meetings. SIT DOWN.