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Hon Penn loses patience over VIF&FC financials he never inquired of own NDP Gov't for 3 years

- detailed Festival Report to be laid in HoA in 2 months, says Dr Wheatley
Tension flared in the HoA over Hon Natalio D. Wheatley's inability to answer questions relating to the Virgin Islands Festival & Fairs Committee as asked by Opposition Leader Marlon A. Penn. Photo: VINO/File
Chairman of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC) Mr Carnel D. Clyne. Photo: VINO/File
Chairman of the Virgin Islands Festival and Fairs Committee (VIF&FC) Mr Carnel D. Clyne. Photo: VINO/File
A financial report for the Virgin Islands Festivals and Fairs Committee was not brought to the House of Assembly for years by the ousted National Democratic Party (NDP). The current Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government says a report is being reviewed and will be tabled in the HoA in two months. Photo: VINO/File
A financial report for the Virgin Islands Festivals and Fairs Committee was not brought to the House of Assembly for years by the ousted National Democratic Party (NDP). The current Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Government says a report is being reviewed and will be tabled in the HoA in two months. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - When the Fifth Sitting of the Second Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) of the Virgin Islands continued yesterday, February 25, 2020, Opposition Leader Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) was peeved that Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) was unwilling to answer certain questions relating to income and expenses of the Virgin Islands Festival & Fairs Committee until a detailed report is laid in the HoA.

Hon Penn had asked for a detailed breakdown of each expenditure proposed and actual expenses for Virgin Gorda, East End/Long Look, Road Town and Carrot Bay festivals for the year 2019 and list which expenditures are paid and unpaid.

Further, he wanted, "(b) A detailed itemised list of funds collected at all festival-related activities conducted during the same period [and] (c), include the total amount proposed and actual expenditure after the conclusion of the 2019 festival," according to the HoA Order Paper.

War of Words 

According to the Minister, while his answers to the first questions were in route and a preliminary financial report made available, he said with regards to questions C and B, the answers should be deferred until a 130 page VI Festival and Fairs Committee Final Report is laid in the HoA. 

Hon Penn; however, was unsatisfied with the answer and remarked, "Mr Speaker with all due respect, what the Minister expect to lay on this table and what I'm asking in question, has nothing to do with each other, I am asking for a detailed report on the festival," he said.

Hon Penn indicated that at the previous sitting of the House, the details were not provided and that the expenditure would have nothing to do with a report, "The question needs to be answered and the information needs to be provided to this Honourable house," he said.

Hon Wheatley remarked, "What he is asking me for, is the Festival and Fairs Report, the details that he is asking for, that is the report, and the report will be tabled in the House of Assembly, customarily as reports are laid in the House of Assembly. Under his administration, it was not laid, so I can see why he would doubt they would come here," Dr Wheatley stated. 

Report not tabled in three years 

According to the Minister, the report has not been tabled in the House for the last three years and while it has been completed, it would need to go to the Cabinet before reaching the House in just under two months.

"The member, I know he is concerned about the expenditure, not so concerned that he [didn't] prompt the previous Minister to get reports before, but he has suddenly become quite interested in it," Hon Wheatley said while asking for more patience until the official report is laid.

Hon Penn charged that Hon Wheatley was 'throwing shade' in the House and accused him of disrespecting the Standing Orders for not answering the questions, even as the Minister indicated that the financial information would be made available in two months.

NDP didn't do their work - Hon Wheatley 

Hon Wheatley responded that he has been doing his job, hence the report is now being finalised after three years of none under the NDP, "They didn't do their work, the report exists, I'm reviewing the report and it would not be in the public interest to share information that perhaps is not accurate."

He said the Opposition Leader has gone three years without any reports, therefore, it remains baffling as to why he cannot wait a couple of weeks for the full version.

12 Responses to “Hon Penn loses patience over VIF&FC financials he never inquired of own NDP Gov't for 3 years”

  • trap (26/02/2020, 20:48) Like (23) Dislike (5) Reply
    Wheatley laid the trap and Penn walked right into it! Nice work Hon. Wheatley.
  • hypocrite (26/02/2020, 21:03) Like (24) Dislike (6) Reply
    The opposition leader behaves like a real hypocrite, he should just resign
  • lmao (26/02/2020, 22:22) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
    Let the bull dogs continue to fight each other for alpha position.
  • watcher (26/02/2020, 23:35) Like (5) Dislike (7) Reply
    I like how the speaker was impartial on this
  • pi-assing (27/02/2020, 00:33) Like (8) Dislike (15) Reply
    wheatley is very childish with his answers because marlon wasnt the opposition leader when the NDP was in power
  • Xxx (27/02/2020, 07:20) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
    I was told it’s an east end thing so leave them show off when the lights are on
  • Sometimes (27/02/2020, 08:01) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Grown men acting worse than little kids poking and acting the fool. I am waiting for the fist fight to break out up in the House of Cards very soon.
  • Truth Sayer (27/02/2020, 09:28) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
    It matters not who was what in a past Government. When a question is asked in the HOA, Ministers should answer the questions truthfully and to the best of their ability. Remember all members of the HOA are representing people and the people are entitled to have answers.
    • I agree (03/03/2020, 06:52) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      I do agree with you, but I want the truth with the information, I don't want something halfassed to be honest, so I'm fine waiting a little while for the report.
  • voter of the 6 (27/02/2020, 11:45) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    WHERE WAS MARLON FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS WHEN IT WAS NOT BROUGHT TO THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY?
    • @voter of the 6 (27/02/2020, 12:14) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
      The question is why didn't the THEN leader of the opposition ensure that his questions were answered pertaining to it "allegedly" not being brought to the House in the past 3 years? He should've done his job then just as the current leader is now doing is.
      The roles are swapped, shoes are on the other feet, whether the previous administration provided such is not the matter at hand. The matter at hand is now the current leader is fulfilling his remit to ask the relevant questions in the House and seek a response.
      I don't recall Fahie every letting up on Doc when he (Fahie) was leader of the Opposition. Dr. Wheatley just need to provide the answers and guh siddung!


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