Rising fees! Penn accuses gov’t of mismanaging $$ while feeding egos
Opposition Leader Marlon Penn has accused the government of making constant missteps in managing the territory’s finances while, at the same time, feeding the ego of a highly-placed government supporter.
Penn made the assertion while speaking on the NDP radio programme last evening.
“There is no vision, there’s no clear plan for what they want to do in anything,” the Eighth District Representative said.
He further accused the Andrew Fahie-led government of running the country “by the seat of its pants” and suggested that it needed to be more strategic.
“We’re not seeing that, we’re seeing a constant mismanagement of the limited resources we have right now,” Penn said.
Haemorrhaging money trying to feed an ego
The Opposition Leader pointed to the incident of the now aborted injunction filed by House Speaker, Julian Willock, and suggested this was a complete wastage of government funds.
Penn said the government, through the Speaker, was now compelled to pay up to $120,000 in court fees in this matter due to ignorance. The court is yet to decide on the final amount.
He said a very similar situation occurred when the Speaker tried to prevent the Fourth District Representative from taking his seat in the House of Assembly.
This decision, he said, led to the government being forced to pay nearly $500,000 in court fees and damages.
According to the Opposition Leader, this was all done because the government was wasting money while trying to feed someone’s ego.
He also pointed to government’s hiring of Silk Legal law firm and Withers Law at a purported cost capped at $5 million to represent them in the ongoing Commission of Inquiry (COI).
“We could find $5 million to pay attorneys fees when we have businesses closing every day because they’re struggling?” Penn questioned.
Silk Legal represents all non-Cabinet members of the House, including Penn, while Withers represents the Premier and his ministers.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
Boy go sit down your incomplete self you will never be chief minister
Shuggie you seem to have a h@r€ on for Hon. Penn. Why don’t you run then since you’re so complete your unt**y self. Hon. Penn these these cronies deter you and make you loose your focus.
A lot us out here territory wide support you and you know for sure we in east support. This c***n doesn’t speak for us in the East!
VIP and Marlon Penn, NDP and PVIM, Julian Fraser and the PPA, Mark Vanterpool and all of them are the same. The most vicious gets to the top. They are all like fighting chickens on steroid.
bottom line the VIP has got to go
In Bermuda they call the legislators “The Forty thieves.” The BVI doesn’t have that many.
That is Bermuda !! Look how the COI putting them to shame . Want to be PS FS … do not know how to execute their jobs so they look like a set of BS .:: Being on Boaets, heads of department but no clue is to how the protocols of the Dept . Marlon is more knowledgeable than the Premier because he listens , he is growing and takes advise . He does not pretend to know everything but he knows a lot more about finances and growing the economy