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'Everyone has to atone for their own sins‘- Hon Marlon A. Penn

- says he will not accept responsibility for policies by VIP Administration
Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) under the National Unity Government says he will not accept responsibility for any policy decisions in the Virgin Islands, that came under the previous Virgin Islands Party (VIP) administration. Photo: VINO/File
The minister was at the time a guest of the December 19, 2022, edition of the Umoja Show hosted by Cromwell Smith on ZBVI 780am, where he mentioned that the people will have to make decisions based on those policies, and on who has a better vision for the future of the VI. Photo: Facebook
The minister was at the time a guest of the December 19, 2022, edition of the Umoja Show hosted by Cromwell Smith on ZBVI 780am, where he mentioned that the people will have to make decisions based on those policies, and on who has a better vision for the future of the VI. Photo: Facebook
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI- Minister for Health and Social Development under the National Unity Government, Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) says he will not accept responsibility for any policy decisions that came under the previous Virgin Islands Party (VIP) administration.

The minister was at the time a guest of the December 19, 2022, edition of the Umoja show hosted by Cromwell Smith aka Edju Enka on ZBVI 780 AM, where he mentioned that the people will have to make decisions based on those policies, and on who has a better vision for the future of the VI.

“We're six months into a coalition government… a lot of the policy decisions that were made under the last administration are policies that are difficult for you to get out from under. I'm not going to accept the responsibility of those policy decisions in terms of how they have [been] implemented or decided to move forward.” 

He said, however, on the way forward, tough decisions will have to be made regarding a vision for the future of the VI.

“What I would accept is how we move forward and I believe that we're going into the season where we have to make some decisions, the people have to make some decision on who has a clear vision and strategy for the country moving forward.“

'I'm not accepting responsibilities' - Hon Penn

With that, the minister added that for the 3 1/2 years that happened under the last administration, persons will have to give account for the stewardship under that period.

“I will give account for my stewardship, but the reality is that I'm not accepting responsibilities… everyone has to atone for their own sins but what I will say is that the focus has to be on how do we move forward to a true economic sustainability for this country.”

He said economic sustainability includes farming, fishing, or the blue economy, and that countries like Grenada can be used as a model.

24 Responses to “'Everyone has to atone for their own sins‘- Hon Marlon A. Penn”

  • here we go again (20/12/2022, 12:18) Like (24) Dislike (8) Reply
    He is a dishonest guy that is always looking excuses for his failures.
  • Eight District woman (20/12/2022, 12:19) Like (21) Dislike (7) Reply
    It is time we in the 8th district get a new and component representative. This fellow is a waste of time.
  • NDP supporter (20/12/2022, 12:21) Like (24) Dislike (8) Reply
    I am an NDP supporter in his district but I will never vote for this guy again. He does not tell the truth.
  • enough (20/12/2022, 12:23) Like (14) Dislike (5) Reply
    He wants us to believe that the only good works happen in government is since he joined them and nothing else. He knows that even those were already in the making. How stupid he thinks we are as a people. His whole political life has been a fraud.
  • hold on (20/12/2022, 12:25) Like (19) Dislike (3) Reply
    Marlon do not go there because so many things went wrong in the country when you were in government with the ndp for twelve years and part of that time you were a minister of government. There's the plane and so much more so don't go there.
  • childish (20/12/2022, 12:33) Like (22) Dislike (4) Reply
    This is how he is...childish. I know that this will be he and Mitch song for the entire election season. Two of them are always shifting blame and only take credit when things go right and may I add that for both of them even inside their parties sees nothing as good or right unless they did it. They are a perfect couple for disaster for any party and the country.
  • Hear This (20/12/2022, 12:34) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
    When they eat big on the plane then get rich and switch.
  • No political party (20/12/2022, 12:37) Like (20) Dislike (1) Reply
    I do not support any specific political party but the fact is that the vip government had a difficult time with COVID for almost 3yrs and they did reasonably well although I did not agree with all their moves. We all are still dealing with the fallouts of COVID especially the economic fallouts and that is worldwide.
  • Just saying (20/12/2022, 12:45) Like (5) Dislike (21) Reply
    You are correct Marlon
    • To Just Saying (20/12/2022, 13:24) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
      He is correct because he has to stand on his dismal record also.
  • Native senior citizen (male) of the British Virgin Islands (20/12/2022, 12:47) Like (3) Dislike (16) Reply
    In reference to the Topic Issue: Hon. Marlon A. Penn, (R8) Minister of Health and Development, I have disagreed wirh you on some past topic issues, but on this topic issue of not accepting atonement for any VIP sin, I am in total agreement with you.
    You chose your your words your carefully as a ghest spoke person on Talk Show Host by Mr. Cromwell Smith, aka Edju Enka.
    You also made some good suggestions.
    I need not say more.
    On a scale of #1 to #10, in my opinion, I scored you #10.
    According to Bob Marley: "Every tub has to sit on its own bottom, every man has to stand on his own two feet."
    Honest is the best policy eveeytime.
    • Two points for you (20/12/2022, 13:32) Like (13) Dislike (3) Reply
      Marlon was part of a government that kept our children in a moldy building after Irma for years and paid their political backer almost $60k a month that was not justifiable but we know why. But at the expense of our children and teachers' health and safety for campaign funds. That can never be forgiven! Also this Blue Economy he is talking about and other areas he is suddenly taking credit for already had all the leg work done before he became Minister so he needs to tell the truth. On a scale of 1 to 10 it would be difficult to rate this dishonest guy as we would have to use negative numbers.
  • please (20/12/2022, 13:11) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
    Marlon in politics for many years and did nothing except talk a good talk and sell us out. We do not want to hear nothing else from him. It is time to move on with someone else no matter who it is at this point. He had the government for years so all he is here saying he could have done then. Just a deceiver.
  • Political games (20/12/2022, 13:12) Like (16) Dislike (3) Reply
    All he is doing is playing political games which is all he does any way.
  • Wait a minute (20/12/2022, 13:16) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
    I have never heard this guy give credit to any elected official or political party for anything unless it is himself. That is not leadership. He is a master at finding faults of others and would destroy the country while doing so to try to get power. He cannot be trusted.
    • Wait a minute .., Trust Andrew … Marlon going home to his house to return to the HOA next day . Where is your honest VIP leader ?? (20/12/2022, 19:32) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Trust the VIP leader ? Where is he after listening to the Debate ? Marlon can drive home and sleep in his house to back the best day

      Trust dat
  • Okay now (20/12/2022, 13:22) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply

    So under vip who for the last three years has to deal with the worse pandemic in over 100 years he is saying nothing good has happened not even direct flights from Miami to BVI, or the new High School buildings, or the new JVD school that is building, nor most of the handling of COVID and the economy where we did better than most of the world, and so on. Yes, we all agree all was not perfect but neither was it perfect for his 12yrs in the government with the 7.2mill dollar missing plane and money, over priced pier park, Georgie Hill project with thousands of dollars over run, fooling off of wo****, and his list can go on and on.

  • hmm (20/12/2022, 15:42) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    The lord knows that he has a lot of sin to a tone for so he must know.
  • Native senior citizen of the Britsh Virgin Islandsb (20/12/2022, 15:47) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Votes of dislikes do not discourage from agreeing with a person when they have atone spoken truth courageously. Hon. Marlon A. Penn stood for the right, many have badmouthed him.
    According to biblical scriprures Jesus Christ spoke the truth, the Jews had Him crucified by the Romans. They freed Barabbas a robber, instead.

    I don't hate those that disagree with me. They have the right to their own opinions, but I prefer to agree with people who are not afraid to speak truth among many political crooks, that are living in the BVI.

    Pick your choice of the following listed below:
    a. Like
    b. Dislike
    c. Abstain
  • What a shame (20/12/2022, 15:47) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    The fight the BVI and all the Caribbean Overseas Territory under the UK has is not a fight against each other and each other's political parties but one to irradicate colonialism and their strategies that have us continually fighting each other through only seeing the worse in each of us rather than the best while they make us feel that they are our only saviors. This guy has swallowed their bait hook, line, and sinker. Leaders like this will keep us in the Caribbean in bondage forever. WHAT A SHAME.
  • I agree 100% (20/12/2022, 16:03) Like (9) Dislike (7) Reply
    VIP was corrupt to the core . From top to bottom..Big to small. I agree with you Marlon set the record straight and keep your good name clean...
    • @I agree 100% (20/12/2022, 16:56) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
      Now you are speaking things that are not factual. First the COI matter spanned about 40 years of government which included all past and present governments. If you do proper research, you will find that most of the concerns raised in the one man, pre-authoured report, named many issues that were under Marlon's administration and under the Governor with a few under the Vip. We know the governor can never be touched because he is above the law, so it leaves everyone else.
  • Mustang (20/12/2022, 19:19) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Here is a news flash for the Hon Marlon Penn. The policies passed by one government is legally binding on a succeeding government until they are change. What Smurf should do and have the responsibility to do is adroitly execute the policies. This will earn you political chops my friend. Success can be attained by executing a policy or programme developed by someone else, not necessarily one’s own. One case make a better case for themselves implementing someone policy; it demonstrates one’s administrative skills. With the type of attitude being demonstrated, this coalition government is in trouble. Luckily, the experiment has a short-life span. Some of these guuides are patriots on paper. Unit cohesion is foreign to them. They are about self-interest. Surprise, that. Edju en Ka was not more forceful in calling out on his statement.,But they are East men.


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