Penn not sure if he’ll decline Greedy Bill benefits
Eighth District Representative Marlon Penn has stated that he cannot say whether he’ll decline lump sum benefits that legislators are due under the Greedy Bill once he retires.
The “Greedy Bill”, formally known as the Retiring Allowances (Legislative Service) (Amendment) Act 2023, caused quite a stir in the community after promising massive payouts to retired legislators who serve anywhere from one term to five terms.
The law also changed the definition of “salary” making it legal for former legislators to get even more funds.
Speaking on the Talking Points radio show earlier this week, host Damion Grange asked Penn: “The Greedy Bill payout is due and leading up to the election you said you wanted it to be repealed, are you going to take your payout from it?”
Penn chuckled, then answered: “Well, the law was passed, we made the adjustment and legal advice made it very clear that you can’t take away a benefit that was accrued to someone.”
Grange pressed for a more direct answer: “We understand that, are you taking the money?”
“I can’t speak to that,” Penn said quickly. “I’m not retired yet and I’m so far from that. I’m still in my 40s.”
After the April 2023 general elections, elected leaders repealed some sections of the bill that had upset the public. They decried the bill that was passed under the Andrew Fahie administration and some even suggested that declining the benefits under the bill would show that elected leaders are truly against the controversial law.
However, to date, it isn’t clear whether any current or retired elected leader has declined their benefits under the law.
Recently, Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley revealed that under the controversial law, more than $2.5 million is expected to be paid to politicians who were not returned to office at the last election.
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You can take it and give it to poor and needy , but that will be an UP HILL battle / so stop playing holy , none of us ain’t / we got free pot holes / we got free sewage to walk in – etc what have you all done for your people ( besides ripping them off ) to deserve anything
It’s a problem when elected leaders pass laws that benefit themselves and no-one can do anything about it. A committee outside government should be set up to rule on such matters. It’s taxpayers money they are giving to themselves – it stinks!
Does the earth revolve around the sun, does bears $h..t in the woods, are VI roads riddled with pot holes, is violent crime rising in the VI, does the UK-appointed Governor have unilateral power….etc? Of course, the Hon Marlon Penn will collect from the Greedy Bill as others have collected and are now hypocritically and conveniently complaining about it. Did not the Hon Penn and most others enthusiastically support the Greedy Bill, voting for it? There was little or no pushback at the time. Does he not feel it is an entitlement, his birthright, it is justifiable because people force him into politics, etc? Politcians are self serving and all their actions are about self-interest? Politicians like to cast themselves as victims, playing the victimhood card often. During the political campaign there a was faux push, narrative about repealing the Greedy Bill. Election over, the repeal melted as quickly as butter in the equatorial sun, did it not? Both government and opposition members are as quiet as church mouses on the issue. And when they do speak on the issue , they double speak. They are eagerly hoping that the electorate in time will move on, forgetting about the issue. Whose fault is it? The fault lies with the electorate, for they are disengaged from the political, public affairs, etc, process. Feeding at the trough, they overlook the lack of , poor performance, etc, of elected and appointed members, permitting lessness. Again, the Hon Penn will collect from the Greedy Biil. We cannot let ourselves be distracted by the shiny objects over there or over here, which keep shifting to distract us from the real issues. We must focus the substance, not style , flowery language, soaring, long, empty speeches, etc. . We keep letting politicians overpromise and underdeliver election after election. Let’s be vigilant, holding people feet to the hot fire.
Ty Marlon show those fools who support yall politicians that you guys really don’t care about the country.
Yall only care about yourself families and friend.
Just like the bill Greedy
But some of you still think the what the UK is bad
Thank you UK for putting fire under these crooks and those are in misbelief I pray hope that your eyes will open to see the nonsense the country put up with
Fix the place man.
Who does turn down free money?
Most people with any ethics would turn down free public money if it was obvious that it could be used for greater benefit of their community. Mr. Penn here is just being coy about the law that was passed for the benefit of legislators while laws that benefit the greater community are of lesser interest.
Imagine wanting independence only so you can have more power over the people. BVI should be paying close attention to Haiti and what is happening there now. Many from Haiti may soon try and migrate here or the US. Look at how independence can become when your president can get assassinated and economy turned upside down. Use the tools you have now the people have been asking for clear changes. And government is only looking to see how they can have more power or more money. Anyone who accepts the Greedy Bill is not for the people of BVI but for themselves. Remember being Greedy is a sin.
Don’t bring Haiti into this. If you all had sense you would understand what is happening there is nothing to do with the ‘simple’ things that you are speaking of. That is a deeper issue, glaringly obvious yet ignored by the masses!
What simple things? Please explain how you’d understand the topic better than me. Haiti gained independence from France. And there last president was assassinated most likely from the CIA. Because Haití is a goldmine for resources. Haiti has the world’s second largest iridium deposits. Iridium is used for things such as nuclear weapons. BVI should be aware of this for two reason. One illegal immigration as many will soon leave Haiti because of gangs. Two Haiti is a good example of what happens when independence meets a major world power. If BVI were to ever try to become independent which is very unlikely closest thing I see that could happen is BVI could be sold to the US same as those other islands were sold.
All of them voted for it. They voted for it because they wanted it! All of them wutless alike.
Well, from his notion, he will accept. Bunch of greedy sons of men
Marlon knows exactly what he is going to do. He is going to take the money with a smile. Set of greedy mother f**kers.
He’s not sure, guys
These set ah shameless greedy dogs ran with one thing in mind, fleece the government and country dry while giving the public shitty roads, infrastructure and more.
High way robbery being delivered through legal legislation.
People work for years are still waiting for their earnings. Where ir gone? In politicians bank account.
People work for years and now retired and still needing and waiting for the increments.
Where them gone? In elected officias pockets and bank accounts.
Who it is use to say about another group of of men in power, ” thisis the worst government ever.”
The same one who piloted theGreedy Bill.
Who begging them for their money because they need it? The people, retirees, senior citizens and the poor. And what are. they doing? Paying themselves.
Worst Government Yet!
This is so disgusting you all are the same in/out the BVI is worst than Haiti
I rebuke your negative comment in the name of Jesus. More than likely you live in the BVI, but why would you stay on a place worked than Haití? Sound like u need to relocate.
It was since the reign of the NDP that the increments were promised by all four of their administrations…
It was after the last fooling off of the civil servants and the people that the people got fed up and voted them all out.
Four administrations and zippo for civil servants and the people.
This current administration has done the same thing and is utilizing the same tricks and stunts.
Now they promise funds will be given in 2027. Come 2027, they will tell the people something else, but to be sure, the people will not be getting any money.
Thus, the people will have to give them the NDP treatment for dishonesty.
Then, who will be elected to look out for the people? Remains to be seen.
Is saying )> yo boi inna state of limbo , ain’t no guarantee I ain’t gonna take it % and it ain’t no guarantee I won’t * simple as that
Surely the pigs will eat their belly full then eat again as long as food sharing.
Shame on him and who votes for him again.