Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

Hon Penn calls for 6th ministry since current ministries ‘overloaded’

- Said Premier & Deputy Premier have overloaded portfolios
Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition Honourable Marlon A. Penn (R8) has argued that the existing portfolios of at least two ministers are overloaded and is suggesting a sixth ministry to even out the workload. Photo: GIS/File
According to Opposition Leader Honourable Marlon A. Penn (R8), the portfolios of Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1), right, and Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), left, are overloaded. Photo: GIS/File
According to Opposition Leader Honourable Marlon A. Penn (R8), the portfolios of Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1), right, and Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), left, are overloaded. Photo: GIS/File
WICKHAM'S CAY II, Tortola, VI- Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition Honourable Marlon A. Penn (R8) has argued that the existing portfolios of at least two ministers are overloaded and is suggesting a sixth ministry to even out the workload.

“Let’s take the issue of expanding the minister’s portfolio. I think it was part of the last constitutional review where it was being looked at to have a sixth ministry. Right now, the ministerial portfolios are overloaded. You have a minister that has two Permanent Secretaries because of the workload that he has within his portfolio, fishing, farming, education, sports, youth affairs, very overloaded,” he said, referring to Deputy Premier Dr the Hon. Natalio D. Wheatley (R7).

“The Premier himself has an overloaded portfolio,” he added.

More efficiency needed- Hon Penn

The Leader of the Opposition stated that there is a need to be more efficient in government.

“We need to be able to effectively and efficiently execute the duties of the territory for the people of the territory, and I think one of the recommendations that has been coming out of that [Constitutional] review was you need to increase the size of the legislature so you have a formula that speaks to some type of parity in the house,” he said.

The Opposition Leader’s was responding to the attorney for the Commission of Inquiry Mr Bilal Rawat on Wednesday, June 23 2021.

Mr Rawat asked him to expound on his statement on the matter that he initially raised in his Position Statement to the CoI.

In his Position Statement, he said: “Increase the number of Ministers (through relevant amendments to the Constitution) so as to allow for a larger number of Ministers to manage the voluminous and complex ministerial portfolios. This could lead to greater efficiency, effectiveness, and responsiveness as well as greater participation.”

There are currently five ministers and two junior ministers.

15 Responses to “Hon Penn calls for 6th ministry since current ministries ‘overloaded’”

  • hmmm (25/06/2021, 08:33) Like (26) Dislike (3) Reply
    BULLCRAPPPP. if they start working and stop scheming PROBLEM SOLVED.
  • Xxx (25/06/2021, 08:41) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well let’s see what he does as a backbencher under Ronnie
  • is he lying? (25/06/2021, 08:58) Like (11) Dislike (8) Reply
    I always said that when one person is stretched too thin, nothing gets done properly. Why not utilize more persons to assist the heavy portfolios? Could it be that we intend to keep our females at the bottom or we think that they are not as competent to assist the men? So they have Junior Minister..... big deal....... What about the Hon Member for the sixth? Is she not competent to assist? I think so and we should not just have women at the bottom. it is unfair.
  • Honestly (25/06/2021, 09:52) Like (4) Dislike (4) Reply
    I think it's a good suggestion. Some are over loaded with work and would not be able to fulfill much in 4 years. Servant hood comes with lots of pressure and stress many times in the end the servant ends up burn out. Striking a balance would be the right thing to do. Getting more people to help you carry the vision and load is the way to go.

    Soon from now they may also have to consider each outer island having their own representative. That may be the game changer and more hands would be on deck. Just my opinion
  • The Solution (25/06/2021, 12:15) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Set of useless ministers just focusing on their own interest... Switch up. Put all the ministers back bench and put the back Benchers as ministers we will get things done,,. Education doesn't equal results,. Effort, commitment, compassion and pride in work is more of a guarantee for results that all the so called educated fools...
  • say what (25/06/2021, 13:03) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    i think they could to return the district representatives and done this at large crap: use those extra money to put lights on public highways: because of the penn crew bvi have coi

  • jokers (25/06/2021, 18:51) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    YOU NEED AN ODD NUMBER BOO!!!
  • gjfirijxjx (25/06/2021, 21:22) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
  • We don't need more ministers at this time. (25/06/2021, 22:36) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Work overload is not the pressing issue at this time. What we need is better accountibility of the people's finances. And money spent on where and to who most needed. In other words? Value for dollars.
    • .,. (26/06/2021, 13:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      You say that but I doubt you mean it. When money is used in areas or to persons who needs it you will cry foul.
  • workers (26/06/2021, 02:10) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    If each department would show up to work on time and put in a full day’s work instead of walking in at any hour and putting in the bare minimum, a lot more would get done. This whole country is going to the dogs because of abuse from every angle in Government offices. Having to spend so much of our tax payers money paying for legal fees because of the nonsense our representatives past and present, get themselves into, is ridiculous. Our country could have been so much further with infrastructure and other areas. It is really sad the regression we face year in and year out. When will it end? When we are totally broke and become a real third world country? Is this the trial run to get us ready for third world status? FIX IT PEOPLE!!
  • say what (26/06/2021, 07:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    one can only imagine returning national democratic party to run the virgin islands will Russian roulette. i am one that voted ndp all the way in 2011 and the evidence is crystal clear.
  • Rubber Duck (26/06/2021, 08:40) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    When you are shoving big paper files about, completing numerous six part forms and generally using 18th century technology, it’s going to be tough. We don’t need more people, we need modern, computer based systems, on line application etc. if we can do it for Covid arrivals why can’t we do it for for tax paying or car licenses?
  • ReX FeRal (27/06/2021, 12:20) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Vince Wheatley portfolio is overloaded and he's inexperienced in most areas of it.
  • VI Gyal (30/06/2021, 12:31) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Because of the changes they made to the portfolios when they got in makes it that way. I think that other Junior Ministers can be created rather than a Minister. Just do not have any voting rights for the Junior Ministers in cabinet.


Create a comment


Submit comment

Create a comment

Submit comment
Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.