Penn defends participation in Asia trade mission
Opposition Member and Eighth District Representative Marlon Penn has addressed speculation surrounding his participation in the recent Asia trade mission with Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley, reaffirming his commitment to the territory’s interests.
Speaking in the House of Assembly, Penn commended the Premier for his political maturity and dismissed claims that his presence on the trip signaled any political shift.
“I know the pundits and their affiliates are speculating about why I was there and the decisions I might make. But I want to make it clear—I will always be on the side of Team BVI, whatever is in the best interest of this country and its people,” he stated.
Penn emphasized that the trip was driven by patriotism, not politics. “I will always fight for the people and industries that empower the Virgin Islands. This is not about political empowerment for me or anyone else.”
The delegation also included At-Large Representative Lorna Smith, another Opposition member. Her inclusion raised eyebrows, given her removal from the Premier’s Cabinet last year as Minister for Financial Services. Smith later declined an offer to serve as Junior Minister, citing concerns over the Premier’s leadership.
Despite past disagreements, Smith’s involvement in the mission signaled a collaborative effort to strengthen the financial services industry, particularly in Greater China—BVI’s largest market—and Southeast Asia.
Premier Wheatley underscored the importance of unity in supporting the financial services sector, highlighting the experience both Smith and Penn bring to the table.
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There is no proper reason that Hon. Penn could give for going in this trip. His trip must have costed tax payers at least $13,000. He is no financial services expert and has not worked directly in the actual industry. He worked in the IT department at the Financial Services Commission. Hon. Smith is a different case. She has actually experience in the business of financial services and the Premier credited her for helping him to prepare. Hon. Penn wanted a trip. The Premier wants to woo him over to the VIP so he took him along to convince him. That’s all that was. Penn cannot justify his presence. He has nothing to bring to that trip. He is just like the rest of them. And if you notice, because he was getting a trip he did not ask the Premier any questions during question and answer time prior to the trip. All games people. All games.
I agree with you 100%. What is an IT guy doing on a trip about financial services. If Lorna had just gone alone with the Premier that would have been sufficient. And these are the people like Marlon Penn who wants to get his hands on the people’s money to keep wasting it. Dude took a holiday off taxpayers back and that’s the long and short of that. The person to blame for public fund wasting is the Premier. Marlon just rode another donkey that’s all. Donkey riding donkey month.
To keep him quiet.
them all like free trips
Still don’t understand why they walk with him. Patriotism? Fighting for the industries that empower the Virgin Islands? Please spare us the froth it was a free trip that’s all. Walk with people relevant to the purpose of the trip. Look how nobody questions why Lorna was invited.
Lorna had to be on the trip and it was vital for her to be there. She is well versed and knowledgeable about the Financial Sector. The Premier doesn’t. I would really like to know what the true reason were for Penn to be on the trip. Just me but it makes no sense to me. But, as the saying goes, there is a reason for everything that is done. I guess?
Tourism!!!
dude is f**ls gold, looks like the real thing but is not actually useful
Since you’re more useful why don’t you run and lets see if you could do a better job. Thats all ah you good for, a set of keyboard badmen/women.
Where the BVI needs to go Marlon cannot take it there. I would prefer to stay with Natalio than him and Natalio is no bowl of cherries.
I worked under Marlon when he did his stints as Health Minister and I cannot say that he impressed me as a minister. I saw no drive. He was often not prepared and I got the feeling that he was lazy. I still feel that way. But what I noted is that he liked to give the impression that he had things handled when that was not the case most of the times.
He has ambitions to be Premier but he is not ready for that position. Everybody cannot lead. He will be a good team member but I can’t endorse him leadership from what I have seen.
As a person I like him. And that is where we continue to go wrong. Liking someone should not cause you to support them for an important job like Premier if you know in your heart they cannot do the job. We have to be honest with ourselves.
I will watch from the sidelines and watch all this play out. Choose wisely BVI.
I like this analysis because it is factual , there is no animosity towards the Minister just personal observations. I always thought he had potential but this kind of information makes we want to take a deeper dive.
You hit the nail on the head. Someone being nice does not a good leader make.
Unfortunately, Marlon has always been l**y/laid back and I’m not sure up to this day how they voted him in (probably for the above, he is nice)
But for the BVI to progress we need strong, proactive leaders, not reactive, that are thinkers, not leeches and most of all, actually love the country they live in (cause many of these people do not love the BVI, they love the opportunity it presents for them, more money).
Look Mister snake in the grass. If you get to know this guy you will realize he is an insecure sleeeze ball.
Waste of time. Ambition is not all. You must have substance. Marlon is not it.
Wow! Did my eyes just deceive me on what I read in this article? Patriotism? Fight how pal? What contribution did you actually make while on this trip apart for self-aggrandizement and freebies on the tax payers money?!?
This is what a leader does while their constituents suffer daily? Are you the best suited person at this critical juncture in geopolitics to lead any party much less a country?
I see your TRUE colors shining through Smurf. Another user/abuser of the Public purse.
Marlon stop talking piss. You had no reason to be on this trip. You are just like the government members. You like to travel on the public purse. You brought nothing to that trip. Everyone know this.
13k for a useless trip and some people don’t even have food to eat in the BVI. Some people have no where to live. Some people can’t pay their mortgage. Some people don’t have jobs. But a u**less politician could spend 13k of tax payers money to go on a trip to Asia to just walk around to satisfy his need to feel important. Something has to change in this country. No difference between Marlon and Natalio.
I dont know what ayo see in him tbh.
I doubt that trip cost only $13,000…
This current bach of elected officials are fleecing this country dry, true to the original intent of the governing party..
“If I do join VIP as a Minister in Cabinet, it will not be for political mileage but rather for the betterment of the BVI, TEAM BVI ALL THE WAY!”
I hope everyone is seeing now that it’s clear the bickering and bantering from the Opposition at times has nothing to do with a better BVI but rather jealousy. Everything the Premier does is a problem but once he includes them, it’s all good. The division that we are currently witnessing on the political scene is more to do with jealousy, envy and pettiness than a better BVI. Everyone wants the Premier seat and will sell their mother and father to get it.
The Premier is doing exactly what you are accusing others of. That’s why he is soliciting members of the opposition to jump ship.
What good for the goose is good for the gander.
Some got the seat by accident
Everone know a bit about politics and it give them the leway to be a politician. You should see whete some of dem live
Thet cannot balance a budget in their hime , no
Lroper house how can they run a country
They cannot rule their children
How would they rule a nation
They not faithful to there marriage commitment
How can they be loyal to a country
They over charge for projects
How can they be trusted with miney
All you make fod vomit
The premier learning fast… he just make it so that this one can’t ever criticize wasteful spending on travel again. Them so quick to take things for free.
I will say Lorna a senior citizens in contrast to natalio who could be her grand child, and she allow that little boy to fire her and insult her in a tantrum because she Lorna a financial expert call out the wastage of monies paid to Vybz Kartel and other parties, and she a big woman walk back into that little boy command to go show off herself in her financial expertise, it doesn’t matter she lends a hand it won’t build BVI, because natalio Wheatley a non financial person who never run a candy shop will wreck all that money into parties and flying around the world while BVI people suffer and water infrastructure, Lorna just too self serving and want the nation to think that natalio can’t do without her, then to Marlon, natalio realize that Fraser is not a man going take any bullshit so he shopping around preparing a security in case his party falls, Marlon is egotistic like natalio, look natalio gets a hard on off of power, why is he so desperate to hold on to power, he sold us to UK so he can have power, none of his team members deserves any status as him, so he rather bring over opposition members to sit in high position to the detriment of his team members, it’s about his survival and not the country, this lady Lorna like she in love with young men, cause I don’t see how I would return to my vomit or that terrible embarrassing moment this little boy natalio beating he chest about he fire her, she will embarrassingly make history as the lone female and deputy premiere at that to get fired, it’s a clique thing in the parliament,they really don’t want the people to go forward and develop themselves.
Agree 100%
You are also 100% with respect to Lorna. That’s why she would not commit to any party but will ride the coattails of the party that best benefits her.
The House of Cards aka the BVI is slowly crumbling.
Another couple thousand dollars of the taxpayers money on First class plane tickets, first class accommodations and a free trip to Asia for Marlon. Did anything came out of the trip to the land of the kangaroos?
I support him being there. He is an intelligent person and part of the opposition so there is no one sided story about what occurred over there.
I agree with his leadership style because when it matters he represents us. He does not have to huff and puff and be disrespectful to be a leader.
It is a compliment the only bad that you all can say is he looks lazy he is too nice and blah blah
This is how low we place our standards. You seek content with a lazy Premier. We are really in a bad way as a people.
UNCLE PENN , IS SAYING ) > HEY YO BOI NEEDED AH LIL VACATION , AND BIN CASE U DIDN’T KNO – I DUR PAY TAX TOO