Penn refutes having ‘disregard’ in serial delinquency to declare interests
Opposition Leader Marlon Penn has refuted suggestions that his repeated failure to address delinquent behaviour in the House of Assembly (HOA) was an indicator of a pattern of disregard for his statutory obligations.
Penn had countered those suggestions concerning his untimely declarations to the Registrar of Interests while giving evidence before the Commission of Inquiry (COI) yesterday, June 17.
The Register of Interests is a record kept of the financial interests of HOA members who are required to make declarations into it annually. However, Penn has been filing his declarations every four years.
The COI was informed that he submitted four declarations in February 2017 that were due since 2013, and again, later submitted another four declarations in February 2021 for the period 2017-2020.
Questioned by COI attorney, Bilal Rawat, as to whether one can conclude that his level of compliance demonstrates a lack of regard for his statutory obligation, Penn disagreed.
“I won’t accept that. I was delinquent, I have admitted to my delinquency. I have made steps to correct my delinquency going forward and I’m going to continue on that path,” Penn responded.
The Opposition Leader was among a parade of legislators revealed, over the past week, to have been delinquent in their submissions of declarations to the Registrar. However, Penn is recorded as one of the worst offenders.
Penn’s conflict of interest
Penn’s own submissions drew particular scrutiny from the COI given the pattern in which they were submitted and the fact that he was appointed to a committee that has oversight over the Register of Interests.
Penn was first appointed to the Standing Select Committee — also referred to as the Register of Interests Committee — in 2016 and again in 2019 after the most recent general elections. One purpose of committee is to consider reports made by the Registrar.
“You allowed yourself to be nominated to a committee in the Third House in 2016 when you were non-compliant with your own obligations. You allowed yourself to be nominated to a committee in this House (2019), when again you were still non-compliant with your obligations. Did you not anticipate or see that there could be a conflict of interest for you in allowing your name to be put forward?” Rawat asked Penn.
In response, the Opposition leader simply said, “possibly”. And after being pressed for an elaboration he added, “I have no reason”.
Committee only met once in the last few years
According to the Opposition legislator, the committee only met once in the Third House of Assembly in 2016 and has never met since being established again in 2019.
It was further put to Penn that it was ‘beneficial’ to delinquent HOA members if the oversight committee did not meet or take action against persons who declined to declare their interests on time or at all. Again, Penn refuted this notion.
Instead, the Opposition Leader said he never had any nefarious intentions in making his submissions to the Registrar late.
He further informed the COI that he never called for any meetings in the current HOA but can recall discussions being had about the committee’s single meeting held in the previous HOA.
Penn, who earlier said he had no personal objections to public officers’ interests being made public, did not disclose upon his first appointment to the oversight committee that he had not filed declarations for four years.
After some seeming reluctance, the legislator ultimately acknowledged that the system was not working effectively, given the fact that there were no sanctions for him after his repeated delinquency.
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Marlon was a disgrace
There are some politician who hard to catch them wrongdoing. The commissioner of inquiry exposes them. Vote according to their delinquency.
Based on your comment we should vote out every politician except Neville. Obviously all of them were delinquent on way or another. The evidence of impropriety would be in the details of the declarations. So lets keep the main thing the main thing.
All of we Corupt
Marlon wants to tear the government down while he get a past. Not my vote.
I’m not giving Marlon a pass for his delinquencies but a disgrace is a bit much. In fact all of them were delinquent except for Neville, I heard the Premier yesterday and he was worst of the worst.
What I heard from Marlon is contrition and he apologized he his delinquency and moving forward to address. The process need to be systematically overhauled, the issues are systemic for past and current leaders, we need to ensure that their is accountability in the process.
So don’t amplify this worst than it is to suggest that it is Personal problem with Marlon, because of your political motivations. We see your angle all along this thread.
Bunch ah jokes. Ask them why did they all of a sudden declared their interests. Is it because they transferred it to a trusted vehicle (out of the sight if the public eyes) lets not be fooled. They still being dishonest when they say they have no recollection ( just a legal copout)
They transferring to others, but when you apply for a simple ‘dba’ trade license they asking for all sort of qualifications.
For all the PRIMARY school students who turn in their assignments ON TIME….. as little children in school, you’re doing better than these big hardbacks who are in office who can’t understand and fill out forms
Marlon Penn is a disg***e
“Penn is recorded as one of the worst offenders.” This is who preaching against the government even before them start. Be careful what you ask for. He is worst than the worse.
Delinquent is delinquent no worst in this and as I heard on Friday all of them were past and present. This doesn’t stop him from doing his duties as opposition leader as he should.
All of them need to get there house in order if you ask me. So don’t be here singling out smurf as some political pariah to satisfy your political agenda. He was grossly delinquent he admitted and has made steps to correct moving forward and that is good enough for me. Keep your head up Marlon and continue to represent your district and territory.
People of the BVI … Keep your eyes WIDE OPEN during this COI. This was one piece of legislation that’s purpose was to protect public funds from being misappropriated by legislators to benefit their close family and friends. From its inception, not ONE of them has taken this seriously…. They passed it to make it seem as though they cared, but in reality, it was just a piece of paper to them that meant nothing…. the forms were very simple and still they could not complete them….. there can be only 3 reasons for this, 1. They were unable to (and therefore would be incapable of running the country) 2. They felt that this legislation was unimportant (though a very important piece of legislation for the general population, it was not beneficial to them personally – therefore not necessary to abide by the law) 3. They had something to hide…….
Finally someone who understands that this is more than “JUST A FORM!” When will we wake up? The attitudes towards the declarations speaks volume and shows exactly what is wrong with the BVI. This is not about white v black, UK v BVI, it’s about common sense and doing things properly. Now we can see how things have gotten out of control here.
Well sah, if I don’t fill in the form for 6 years , I don’t have to tell about my company that gets government contracts and uses the money to build hill side houses for my family and cronies instead of fixing the roads and the schools and when the COI is coming I get rid of my shares and trade license and write down that I have nothing.
What a disgraceful joke. Poor representation and disregard for the law not once twice but filing every 4 years. Makes no sense whatsoever.
Poor Victoreen, can you imagine the BS the poor lady had go through while dealing with both NDP & VIP. MS.Romney, I dont know you personaly, but you didn’t deserve all that stress.
Poor Victoreen? You mean poor the people of the Virgin Islands. This disgrace wants to ruin the BVI.
I do know the lady. She is an honest, straightforward, very nice and caring person and the way these self regarding couldnt gaf politicians have treated her is disgraceful.
You are 100% correct. She is exactly the way you described her. They need to apologize to her.
He could never be premier
Your comments are always person against Hon. Penn. Time will and always tell. I’m not lost on Hon. Penn I know him personally and know his intentions for his community and territory are genuine and this one indiscretion won’t deter me from supporting him.
He without sin cast the first stone as a country we must just continue to hold our leaders accountable. Hon. Penn cares about this territory and its people and mark my words will be the leader of these Virgin Islands.
One indiscretion??? Try EIGHT!!
It appears the majority of those politicians before the COI past and present were in breech of declaring their interest from day 1, and even 3 months later.
One even testified and admitted to the fact they had not filed their interest close to over a year in one instance, and I believe 2 in the other.
The former Registrar of Interest appears to have done her job to exhaustion and frustration writing delinquency letters over and over again to lawmakers who testified to all sort of lame excuses as to why they were not compliant with the law.
How can people who write/create the laws fail to follow laws and expect the rest of us to follow them? What kind of example are they setting? Do they think they are above the law?
A parade of shame for these lawmakers former and current who appeared before the commission and admitted to being in breach of declaring their interest timely, and who said they had problems filling out a form.
For Christ sake, how hard could it have been to simply state I own this business, this piece of land or whatever?
I think the former Premiers’ admission that they collectively were in agreement to keep their declaration of interest private and unknown to the public says it all.
They mindset was to keep their interest unknown to the public, so it follows with that mindset, there is no rush or need to state what you prefer to remain hidden.
Even when the registrar of interest sent repeated letters, it appears to have not gotten some of their attention requiring her to reach out to the governor for help.
Listen up public: They did not want you the public to know their interest from day one.
Shame.
The million dollar question is why? Im not satisfied with many of their answers.
Boy Penn ya see you there tearing down VIP, Feeling the UK going put you in a good position! Ha the jokes on you, you feel the UK nice?
Think again i been telling yall this aint a fight of VIP or NDP…. We fighting for the BVI!
I bet after you see how you were handled in yiur sitting during the COI, yuo saw that the UK is out for blood.. WAKE the F UP!
Self interest over doing the right thing is his middle name. Mr. Self Interest will throw anyone under the bus for power and he will kiss the UK yahoo if that what it takes. The cunning fox got a taste of UK today. I am almost out of pop corn with this dodgy clown of wasteful opposition.
All legislators were delinquent even the speaker as we heard today,Everyone of them.
Please do not victimize Marlon alone.They all should be ashamed of themselves.
Nah not every one of them. Smith was on time for all of his.
I think you are missing the point here. Penn is just a great pretender. We just cannot feel sorry for all the stupidity these wannabee leaders make until they get caught red handed.
No I get the point that you’re a Marlon hater. This wasn’t about Marlon it is systemic problem that needs fixing because everyone past and present except for Neville were delinquent.
So fight your political battle with Marlon in East End or on another issue. Not here!
The speaker was in a class by himself. He is the real di****ce.
Willock make a mockery of his self today. He came up as a big b***y but under the COI they were just laughing underneath. He claimed he declared his interest on time and challenged that the COI was looking to find something on him. Poor a** think that he’s so educated and smart that he thinks he had a three months grace period not knowing the three months was a three months breached.
Talking to the people as if Tortola belongs to him, telling them they can’t come in another mans country and demand where a meeting should be held; it don’t work so was his words’. He talked his guts out, he held office and still is the owner of businesses and yet claiming he had nothing to do with them but was getting calls from clients for his business, got jobs for security services as if he was paid.
It was comedy. When the session did not start on time, I was thinking there had to be some drama going down in the background. He did not disappoint.
To say he was a hostile witness was an understatement. He came out swinging with his insistence about reading his statement. He really wanted to show himself today. He killed me when he said we were equals to the commissioner, and insisted the commissioner came to his office.
At one point the Commissioner just looked at him like he was a mental health patient. Meanwhile while he was carrying on, the lawyer to the commissioner somehow tried to duck his head thru his binders to keep a straight face.
It was crazy. I thought he was going to get up and walk out if not tell them to go to you know where.
I had a good laugh, and I am sure other people had a good laugh too, but imo, he made himself looked like a self-important fool. Poor he.
@Listener
His own belligerence worked against him, causing him to make incredible statements that often had nothing to do with the intent of the COI, or the questions asked. Then they re-fed him some of the questions in new ways until he eventually answered but in a rambling incoherent way. He was a real embarrassment to the BVI.
YEP
I do not agree with you here. You act like a coward and the UK will walk all over you. Nothing wrong with standing up to those guys even if it means for one of us to look like a fool. Do you have the balls to walk into an English courthouse like a fearless warrior?
It’s stogies season people. What a comedy of events. Everyone of them Knew EXACTLY what they were doing. I will put it this way: Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, humpty dumpty had a great fall, all the king’s horses and all the king’s men, couldn’t put Humpty together again.
Willock was not elected.
Cline was not elected
They were both.picked for their positions by Andrew Fahie.
Their shenanigans were as they are now
Remember that…they are favored by Premier Fahie..
What did anybody expect from a representative of a district that had severe sewage issues for years and simply accepted that his party took money that was allocated to fix the sewage problems. He was so content with his constituents being totally disrespected that he endorsed the NDP for another term. He criticizes government every chance he gets while he has been the biggest breach in the HOA. No wonder they didn’t hold any meetings because he would have to hold himself accountable.