Penn highlights economic stagnation in TPP’s unusual quietness
The usually bustling Pier Park in Road Town has become an emblem of the BVI’s economic struggles.
Eighth District Representative Marlon Penn painted a stark picture of the situation in the House of Assembly, noting the silence that now pervades the once lively area.
“You can hear a pin drop,” he said, comparing the scene to an old Western movie where tumbleweeds roll through deserted streets.
Penn suggested that this lack of activity underscores a broader issue of economic stagnation that has gripped the territory.
He pointed out that financial difficulties are reflected in daily life, with even simple pleasures like buying a cup of coffee becoming a luxury many can no longer afford. “I said, ‘This is the Pier Park? People even can’t afford to buy a coffee? Things so bad in this country? [In] the summertime? Not even a coffee people could afford to buy? I’ve never seen it like this,’” Penn lamented.
Penn described how small business owners and residents are finding it challenging to keep their businesses open and make ends meet. He noted the unusual quietness during what should have been a festive time, saying, “Normally during this time, people [are] hustling and bustling… But you could hear a pin drop in the Pier Park and… in and about town.”
Penn criticised the government for returning $50 million to the treasury instead of investing it in the economy. “It’s telling now on the economy,” he said. “The businesses are feeling it… absolutely nothing is being done in the country, and the people are feeling it.”
Penn argued that the lack of government action has left businesses struggling to survive. He mentioned that some truck drivers have resorted to converting their vehicles into taxis because traditional business opportunities have dried up. “The truck man dem got them truck park up and decide to convert the truck them into taxi,” he shared.
“We need to get the economy going again,” Penn urged. “The business bureau needs to function in a way that could really help people and businesses. The businesses need some type of injection of cash to get them moving again. Many of them are struggling; they need some level of support.”
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Has he only just noticed that the park is quiet out of season when no cruise ships are in? How many years has it been in operation?
That’s not true. I’ve been to the park many times when ships aren’t in and the coffee shop and other areas are busy. Hon. Penn is right, I’ve spoken to business owners and they things are worst now then any other off season. The economy is taking a nose dive and even a blind man could see this. The government is failing to stimulate the economy.
I tried to warn people of this. The math just wasn’t adding up.
The fault is too high rents, too restrictive regulations, the territory’s abysmal conditions that have chased away high end tourism, including the higher end cruise ships.
Why is there a statue of Cyril Romney at the pier park??? Absolutely unnecessary and self-serving to that single family. Why would visitors be interested in seeing the likeness of a sc**p as representative of our territory…
It must be removed
Ahhhhh….. well known as …… “Mr. 10%”. But that was OK when he was Chief Minister.
whoever runs the tpp isn’t good at business, they should always be planning activities that would draw people to the park especially during the times when ships aren’t coming
These places, like airports, are geared toward the vacationers wallets and purses. It’s a proven fact that travelers will spend more money on vacation for simple items than they will at home. $10 beers, $25 hamburger and $40 bottle of island rum don’t not cut it for we who live here full time. So no tourist this time of year means no business, nothing new.
The islands could also do with a lot less trucks.
I heard Hon. Penn complaining about the take away the 3 days in East End /Long Look and put it to 3 hours. But quite surprisingly Hon. Penn is the same one who took away the festival ground that the Hon. T. B. Lettome give for festival for the celebration to be held in the district. Hon Penn took that same piece of land and give it away to football why selfishly because he wants it to be said and known that a football stadium and track was done in the 7th & 8th district under his tenure in government. Today they are scrambling for land to have festival even to date none can’t be found because they now have to pay for leasing land, to present no land is there. The Politian’s to darn wicked now he there bawling Penn stop bawling you created your own monster.
This is so true Long Look and East End gone to the Dogs
The fact that the ground is being used otherwise has nothing to do with the festival. Festival was happening since this and the now Premier has made it clear to he intend to end the festivities in east end. That’s it and that is all. That space had become a dumpsite and I’m glad they did something productive with the property.
Stop talking rubbish! The Greenland field is owned by Government and don’t have to be leased by anyone. So if they so want to hold activities they could be held on that facility. You seem to have an issue with Smurf, I heard him on the issue of festival and he was spot on.
don’t you think that the uk government should take over to provided jobs and careers and professions and to improve the economy in the british virgin islands that is based on tourism and offshore industry. how in the world did the british virgin islands ended up being destroyed with infestation of drugs and crime? be careful with facebook youtube twitter linkedin and google and microsoft internet explorer and all other forms of online search engines that are being used by criminals to commit crime. don’t you think by now that scotland yard in the united kingdom should take over.
If you understand history, you would never write the fart you writing? Since when must we embrace the return of what we been emancipated from? We must learn to paddle our own canoes through the many dangers, toils and snares. We shall overcome.
Our reputation as the drug fueled murder capital of the Caribbean is not helping.
You cannot be seriously referring to the BVI as the “drug fueled murder capital of the Caribbean”? Like really, if so you must have another definition for Caribbean, because as far as I am aware the factual position is that while crime in the BVI is far too high, the BVI is actually nowhere close to even being considered as being the “drug fueled murder capital of the Caribbean”. Get out of the comment section disrespecting the BVI, sensible people recognise your comment as a very underhandly subversive tactic.
That is just the way we run things around here / if you look at the left side of our premier when he is speaking , in the back of him on the wall ,you will see a picture of our former coach picture on the wall , so we are expecting to be celebrating him soon on heroes day . our new Coach has been busy with his free jamz , so he hasn’t found the time to set a date as yet / meanwhile we have a canary on his yello throne singing * free the Drew * his master / instead of putting on his wig and his gown and going up to the states and and DEMAND that he be FREED