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'We are not fools! Speak from facts!' – Caller to Hon Penn

February 22nd, 2022 | Tags: NDP radio Marlon A. Penn fools untruths CDB Loan VIP
A caller to the NDP Radio show held last night, February 21, 2022, called out Leader of the Opposition Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) on what he felt were untruths being spoken during the show about the current Virgin Islands Party (VIP) administration. Photo: VINO/File
Opposition Leader Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8), right, and host Bevin S. George during NDP Radio on February 21, 2022. Photo: Facebook
Opposition Leader Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8), right, and host Bevin S. George during NDP Radio on February 21, 2022. Photo: Facebook
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI- A caller to the NDP Radio show held last night, February 21, 2022, called out Leader of the Opposition Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) on what he felt were untruths being spoken during the show about the current Virgin Islands Party (VIP) administration.

The caller made it clear to Hon Penn that the people of the Virgin Islands were not foolish.

“On your shows before, you saying how the Government was bragging about how many House of Assemblies (HoA) they had, the most HoA, now you all are saying tonight they are not having HoA. We as a people are not fools, we are not foolish, so when you are holding a talk show, you have to speak from facts,” he said.

He then turned his attention to the $65 million loan from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

“I mean you are asking what this Government has done …with the $65 million. Yes, the Government in the past had went out for the loan but they didn’t know how to get the money spent! They didn’t know!”

The caller then pointed out that the Elmore Stoutt High School had been there “sitting after the hurricanes for two years and this Government came in and made sure we had a school by September.”

The male caller then told the Opposition Leader that he did not object to things that his party, the NDP did when they were in power such as redirecting the funds that had been allocated for the East End Sewerage Project towards the Tortola Pier Park Project.

Penn’s response

In response to the caller’s statements, Hon Penn said in terms of the HoA sittings, he said the point was clear that there were Bills that were needed to be passed in the HoA to move the economy forward.

He explained that the host of the show asked when we are going to have sittings for the New Year.

“We are not talking about the past cycle,” Hon Penn pointed out.

Hon Penn said in terms of the ESHS, “The hurricanes happened in 2017, the elections happened in 2019, the works were being done, the funding was secured under the CDB Loan, the designs were done, the tendering went out for that particular project done.”

He then dismissed claims that the Government did not know how to spend the CDB loan.

The current administration utilised the loan to fund a wide range of projects across the territory.

13 Responses to “'We are not fools! Speak from facts!' – Caller to Hon Penn”

  • Heckler (22/02/2022, 08:01) Like (14) Dislike (10) Reply
    Do happy Smurf was called out for his lies!!!
    • Concerned (23/02/2022, 09:29) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      The facts are that meets of the HOA have a cycle and we are close to, if not, violating that cycle
      Secondly, the process was in play to spend the money, every thing that has been done built on that process
      So the Hon Penn was correct
  • ndp (22/02/2022, 08:23) Like (14) Dislike (13) Reply
    The vip put a malicious person to call
  • UKM (22/02/2022, 08:31) Like (15) Dislike (12) Reply
    This government is trying to do a lot of things now because election time is coming up they are campaigning all of them but they should know that we are not fools. tell us what was done in the last 3 years besides a lot of big talks and no action now they are trying to fool us with promises and trying to get a little done one thing for sure we don't even want Andrew Fahie to be in the opposition we know how that went the last time.
    • @UKM (22/02/2022, 09:41) Like (15) Dislike (7) Reply
      every Govt including the current Govt have had their shortcomings or oversights. but to answer your question on what was done in the last 3 years, i will highlight a few. elevator road in sea cow's bay was resurfaced and measures were put in place to address concrete trucks dropping fresh concrete on the road. resurfacing was done in and around the beef island airport. resurfacing of many roads were also done throughout road town. the high school l-shaped building was completed in time for the beginning of the 2019 school year, and the following year, bregado flax was completed. community centers throughout the country were/are being repaired, west end, sea cow's bay, anegada. the administration building is undergoing a complete renovation, and other public buildings on jost van dyke, anegada, and virgin gorda were repaired and handed over. the department of disaster management building is currently under construction. trees were planted all around town to contribute towards green spaces and to make the place aesthetically pleasing. the traffic in the roads in road town were redirected, and most experienced drivers have declared that it has helped tremendously in keeping traffic moving. during all of this, over 1500 persons who have lived in the bvi for many many years finally received belongers or residency. mind, this doesn't include social and community programs put in place to build the people of the virgin islands. i can think of so many other things that have been done, and are being done as i write, that i will need the rest of the day to highlight the rest. that they have made mistakes? yes. that they will continue to make mistakes? yes again. the fact of the matter is that a lot was done before the pandemic began at full speed that it can be argued that much more would have been done if not for the pandemic. i am not a die hard vip supporter per se, but we have to give jack their jacket and they have done a lot.
  • VI Gyal (22/02/2022, 09:14) Like (1) Dislike (6) Reply
    Out of all that time on air this is the only thing you can pull out? What else was discussed?
    • @ VI Gyal (22/02/2022, 12:09) Like (12) Dislike (3) Reply
      Have no idea what was discussed all I know Marlon is not ready for prime time
  • east (22/02/2022, 09:21) Like (14) Dislike (15) Reply
    We sticking with the Brox Bummer
  • The people is in control (22/02/2022, 09:52) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    The people is no longer fools. We have peeped each and everyone cards. Yeah, we got y’all alright, we know what’s good. Don’t come for me if I did not call for you.
  • ndp (22/02/2022, 10:11) Like (7) Dislike (13) Reply
    The vip tried to sabotage our show
  • Real Talk (22/02/2022, 15:14) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    Mitch is the other one who sat quiet with NDP and did nothing for JVD when he was with them,but now he airing his gills. As a district representative use your district funds to help if you see things not getting done.
  • ?? (23/02/2022, 21:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Aruba made the news. Well sah. Think to tell the king


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