Hon. Penn: Cabinet agreed to set up a Public Defender’s Office
Hon. Penn, who also holds the portfolio of Deputy Premier and Minister for Health and Social Development, stated that it’s time that residents have proper access to justice and lawyers to represent them.
“Because of the success of the financial sector many of the lawyers are involved in commercial work, and sometimes only commercial work. We are ordinary people...sometimes people have marital problems they need divorces, need legal separations. They need assistance with matters involving lands, estates, wills, crime...so many areas in our lives we need lawyers for and I have learnt that one of the areas that we need in our country is proper access to justice,” she told supporters.
The office will be a collaborative effort between her Ministry and the Attorney General Office.
Plans for The HopeHon. Penn said as a representative, it is her job to address the individual needs of her constituents, adding her doors have been opened and she has always been approachable.
In light of this, the 8th district representative stated that she was pleased to assist young men in The Hope “with small modest start-ups” for their business ventures. “Such interactions have enriched me,” she added.
Also mentioned were the road repairs carried out in the community over the past four years.
“The [main] road in the community in 2007 was in a deplorable state, if there was a need for an ambulance to get there it would have been impossible because the road was so undermined. The residents living up the hill were in jeopardy, but now the road was repaired to a very high standard,” Hon. Penn stated.
Furthermore, other roads in the community will be widened after consultations with residents, Hon. Penn added. In addition to that, the representative said she has already spoken to engineers to review ways to make The Hope road safer for motorists.
Plans are also afoot to construct a community centre in The Hope, the 8th district representative said. She also revealed that negotiations are underway to acquire the land; further stating that once completed the community will have an input of who the building will be named after.
As the incumbent and a Virgin Islands Party (VIP) member, Hon. Penn is facing challenge for her seat from Marlon Penn, a National Democratic Party (NDP) candidate and independent candidates Bevis Sylvester and Nolan Davis.
The general election is slated for November 7, 2011.
.png)
Follow Us On
9 Responses to “Hon. Penn: Cabinet agreed to set up a Public Defender’s Office”