Soundbites without strategy! Penn bangs Premier on rising prices
Opposition Leader Marlon Penn has condemned the apparent short-term approach by the government to introduce a task force aimed at addressing price gouging in the territory.
Penn said he wants to hear a long-term strategy from Premier Andrew Fahie which takes into consideration the effects of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The Premier spoke recently about implementing a task force to address issues in relation to rising prices at the pump locally, but he also warned that the task force will be working to address price gouging at establishments as well.
But Penn, while speaking on his party’s NDP radio show last evening, said there were already tools at the government’s disposal to address the issues and cited adjustments to a tariff on fuel as one of these.
He also mentioned a 100 per cent increase on wharfage which was recently imposed at the ports and said this drives up the cost of living for consumers and pushes inflation through the roof.
According to Penn, people are even afraid to open their electricity bills because they are uncertain about how rising fuel costs will affect them personally.
Gov’t waging war with businesses
The Eighth District Representative referenced adjustments made to fuel tariffs by Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley and said these directly linked to savings for consumers in that country.
Bringing that reference closer to home, Penn said in order for those types of decisions to be made, the government needs to have a certain level of engagement and discussions with businesses in the industry.
However, the Opposition Leader suggested that the Fahie-led Virgin Islands Party (VIP) administration has a habit of waging war with local industries without first having a conversation with them.
“We need to have a clear strategy and that’s what we continue to ask,” Penn argued. “We are hearing these soundbites that are coming out of the Premier and his team, but we’re not hearing a plan.”
He continued: ”We’re not hearing a strategy that is going to have some kind of real impact on the everyday lives of our people in the territory – particularly at the pump is one thing, but [also] at the grocery store. We need to have a clearer strategy, not just what is seemingly a war that’s being waged on the business community, but have a dialogue with the business community.”
“Let’s come up and work collectively towards a solution that could help ease the pain on these issues in the interim and the medium term and look at something more long term in terms of how we’re going to move forward as a territory,” Penn added.
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A Captain of a rudderless, crewless ship, barking criticisms that lack the very substance he’s calling for! You too Sir, are all ‘soundbites’ and offer no solutions!
Just about to say that too. Marlon’s solution is to oppose everything government says or do. This rhetoric is so childish and annoying. Literally anybody can do what Marlon is doing right now. Listen to what Government says and just disagree and criticize. Every politician that ran for election and failed in 2019 can do that.
His job is to oppose and call out the Government on all the BS they are doing and did since taking office. That is why he is the leader of the opposition. When FOY did it nothing was wrong right?
He offered solutions to the price gouging perhaps comprehension is not part of your process .
Don’t be blinded by your political basis
Legislation is only a policy.
We need practical applications of the policy when we go to the pump
When we shop
When we pay electricity bills
so will you so kind as to break it down for us to overstand , what is right with what the Mr fahie said and what is wrong with what Mr penn said ( please ?
Marlon has said nothing, that’s what’s wrong. He is not proactive. He has no opinion of his own he piggybacks and just says the opposite of what Fahie says. It is a stupid strategy to get those that oppose Fahie to join his bandwagon but to someone like myself who just want us to get a candidate that can do the job well, it is insulting. This opposing Fahie for opposing sake and hoping that we will vote for him and his team because we hate Fahie is lame. We dont want any of them back. Go look work somewhere else. 2023 we need people with sense and solutions and these current guys on all sides dont seem to be ready for the task.
His criticism is focused and cogent, unlike those apologists that fawn over every government PR boast. This government has never had a strategy. For anything, apart from disgraceful attacks on the Governor, unconscionable speeches against the electorate for criticism, and complacently overseeing, aiding and abetting the destruction of the economy.
And now he gone London On A $15K ticked to do more of NOTHING on the government’s dime. Shameful
Marlon is shameful and lazy he could never be our premier to be honest he has nothing to offer