In a recent statement the Leader of the Opposition and District 8th representative Hon. Marlon A Penn has said that he hopes the COI report, would be a catalyst for change in the territory of the Virgin Islands.
Penn began by saying, “My Fellow residents of these beautiful Virgin Islands, as Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition I know that as a people, it is with great anticipation that we await the Commission of Inquiry Report and recommendations from Commissioner Sir Gary Hickinbottom.
I believe that the Report will lead to one of the most pivotal periods in our history. I therefore welcome it along with its recommendations, anticipating that they will be for the advancement of our territory., and improve the quality of our public administration of good governance in the future.”
Penn continued, “Albert Einstein, one of the greatest scientific minds surmised that “we cannot solve our current problems, with the same level of thinking that created them.” Therefore, we need new and bold solutions for our modern challenges with sophisticated updated and innovative implementation strategies. My sincere hope is that the Commission of inquiry report and its subsequent recommendations will provide us with such strategies.
My firm belief is that good governance is the cornerstone of the confidence of our people as we travel the challenging path toward self-determination. Without our confidence in the honest, accountable transparent administration of good governance we will forever be relegated to the quagmire of dependence.
The efficient and effective administration of public affairs; the proper stewardship of our national resources; the creation and maintenance of our much-needed infrastructure; the provision of essential health care services; the effective management of our education system; and an adequate safety net for the most vulnerable in our territory will go a long way toward the maintenance of our peoples’ mental wellness and improved quality of life.”
COI; catalyst for change
Penn also spoke to the change that is needed in the Virgin Islands. Stating, “I sincerely trust that the Commission of Inquiry report and recommendations will be the catalyst that will enable us to achieve those noble goals.
Our public administrators must continually strive to implement actions for the common good and make certain that there is proper and effective utilisation of resources; we must stamp out all forms of corruption, potential immoral conduct and more importantly instill a sense of fairness and equity that will respect the voiceless and bring comfort to the less fortunate and most vulnerable in our community. With this as a guiding principle I welcome the opportunity to work towards greater accountability and good governance and ensure transparent policies are implemented, thereby securing our country’s democracy for future generations.
My fellow residence of these Virgin Islands, rest assured that as Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition I will continue to advocate for the best interests of all the people of our Territory.
The development and success of this territory to date has been built on the strong foundation of fairness, honesty, integrity, hard work, and faith. So today, I ask that we stand on the principles of our ancestors – the same principles which underscore our commitment to good governance, accountability, and transparency. I ask that we stand together as one people determined to work together for the upliftment of each other and the betterment of us all.
We cannot, must not, will not let the vision for these beautiful Virgin Islands as espoused by our late, Great leader, Hon. H. Lavity Stoutt to grow dim, blurred and corrupted, leaving us to perish on the path to greatness.
May God Bless these beautiful Virgin Islands.”