Power shifting to governor and civil service — Penn
Eighth District Representative Marlon Penn has claimed that power in the territory is increasingly shifting away from elected officials to the governor and civil servants.
Penn made the claim recently while debating the proposed Crown Lands Management Bill, arguing that the shift undermines the democratic essence of the territory’s governance.
The Crown Lands Management Bill aims to bring transparency and community interest to the disposal and leasing of Crown lands. It also governs the administration, management, development and use of all Crown Lands for all purposes.
“The powers that should be reserved for the executive are continuously being eroded and are instead being vested solely in the public service,” Penn argued. “Let’s not be naive to what is really happening around us. So essentially, you’re vesting the power to make almost every decision that the constitution has placed in the hands of the elected government, back into the hands of the civil service and, by extension, the hands of the governor and the Deputy Governor and his team.”
He insisted that this shift places significant decision-making in the hands of unelected officials—many of whom are public servants. Penn suggested that this could undermine the territory’s democratic framework.
Penn commended attorney Anthea Smith for her role in reviewing the reserved powers of ministers but suggested that the substance of her report could have been included in the new Bill.
“She (Smith) was spot on, but somehow her work seems to not have made its way back into this process,” Penn argued. “But the ones that fit the agenda and the ones that align with what the gospel said are the ones that find themselves smack dab within the drafting and the framework.”
Delving into the implications of the governance changes, Penn emphasised the cultural significance of land to Virgin Islanders. “Land ownership is… part of our ancestral heritage and who we are as a people. That’s why we fight so fiercely… to ensure that that right Virgin Islanders have is not eroded,” Penn said. “This bill, as I said, seeks to erode that right.”
“We have to ensure that the legislation we pass improves the lives of our people,” Penn added.
The debate comes at a crucial time when governance, land rights, and public administration issues are particularly pressing in the territory.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
Boo hoo cries our HOA .
Noone to blame but you.
That’s because the legislated powers are somewhat discretionary. The public service’s job is to execute within the framework set out by the legislators.
The legislators are there to make clear, comprehensive law which works for the people. So, do your job. Instead of handing out the spoils to your chosen few, fix the law in a transparent way, in line with the wishes of your electorate, and make the framework work for the people. The public servants then have no choice.
This seems to be much more of an argument about not being able to do what you want behind closed doors than it is about actually achieving the will of the people. All you need to do for that is your job. Get on with it.
When Marlon was part of the Unity Govt as a Cabinet Minister they signed off on all sorts of bulls**t with the UK just for power, now they are here crying and blaming the current Premier. The entire BVI is f**ked!
When the power was in the hands of legislators they did all sorts of crooked and corrupt wickedness. I knew that this was coming and we will pay dearly time has caught up on you….y’all are evil beyond imagination. You have destroyed the country.
If the Hon. Mr. Penn has that impression, he’s not wrong. But the various administrations have allowed the civil service to both row and steer the boat more and more. And the civil service’s main priorities are to preserve their jobs, make themselves indispensable, and to grow their perks and privileges. Thus we’ve ended up in a situation where everything to do with government is bureaucratised to death – red tape tying up the red tape. It’s abusive to the rate payers.
Have you ever applied for an individual recreational fishing license? Fisheries must think the applicant is going to use the BVI fishing license to cross international borders or to cash cheques! The fishing license application is an example of over bureaucratisation of something simple, because it was left to the civil servants to write up, when the only thing that matters is the applicant’s name, address, and paying their money.
Start Mr. Penn… Start NOW to rein in the abuse.
If that’s true, then prayerfully the governor will be more responsible with these beautiful Virgin Islands!
Power hungry Marlon what’s new. Slow news day.
Hon. Mr. Penn has that impression, and if he is without doubt, he must rally like minded elected officials and the community to create legislation that would safe gaurd the peoples personal and political freedoms, human rights, national land security and ownership.
None of those are secure as long as the colonialsit are in charge.
Hence, the soonerevery VIslander wakeand realize that we are in danger of losing everything we have earned since Emancipation, the sooner we should turn our head East toward Self Governance and Determination.
The nay sayers would differ, that is until the wake up with a British boot on their necks.
Hon. Penn knows what he is saying. He is on to something. In the next few Days or weeks everybody will understand what he is saying is true. I call it the wrath of Head Coach. From time he went to the Governor with news about the NDP the BVI was destined for trouble. Now its right here at our Doorstep. You aint see nothing yet. The majority of those Elected Officials should not have been in our HOA which is the Peoples fault. Watch and see. The BVI is in for some Rough Times and it wont finish right now nor not good. Prayers are effective BUT they must be Honest. If things continue the way they are going with the same Leadership Group, The BVI will fall hard. The Order in Council don’t necessarily need to be lifted as the UK is already running things. The Head has to go along to get along.. BVI WAKE UP!! The Writing is on the Wall. Who have Eyes to see, Let them See. The People of the BVI brought this upon themselves now they have to live with the consequences.
Let us put aside what has happened and wipe a clran slate
Marlon is spot on with what he is saying but there are Soooop much Black UNCLE TOM that when we wake yp the horse will be through the barn door
Living in peace and acceptance is one thing
Living as second class citizens in your own country is another thing
We have put our energy to fight on the wrong thing .
Children who are born here must be treated justly .., not wait to get a passport… that we must fight
Not fighting for bVIslanders to compete with non- Virgin Islanders for Crown Lands who own the lands own the country
Bvislanders too greedy that is why it is slipping away from us
I have to agree with “busy bee” was in Mexico once with a friend a county one hundred time the size of the BVI and far more resources, it took $50.00 and ten minutes to get a fishing license because the line was long. The BVI is not being designed for BVIslanders.
Well Mr. Penn, the lust for power is what F up the Territory in a major way.
Is good. Don’t wanna improve the country and make the place livable for the lowest income then I’m glad they blocking y’all from being Thief of our hard earned tax dollars
If the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Mather is the only one in the HOA who see it fit to have a Sex Offenders Registry what do you expect? Three Females in the HOA. All Elected Members have Wives, Sisters, Mothers, Cousins, Aunts and other Female Families and NO other Member is in favour of such an important piece of Legislation? That alone speaks Volume of where the priorities of our people lie. But not forgetting that had it not been for Mrs. Adams, the then ACT’G Governpr, A Convicted Rapist would have attained the Sacred Gift of Residency Status in the Territory. Nothing should be surprising.
does this means that the united kingdom would grant the british virgin islands more human rights or would they dole out human rights abuse and violation? which direction is the united kingdom and the british virgin islands head towards? does this mean that the british virgin islands and the united kingdom would have mutual respect and understanding and friendliness?
Nehemiah chapter 5
The Guv will be large and in charge eventually while the BVI MusicFest government decays into chaos.
Once the UK controls the BVI Treasury then the power shift is complete.