London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

‘I support the people to civil unrest’- Hon Marlon A. Penn

‘I support the people to civil unrest’- Hon Marlon A. Penn

In a jaw-dropping response, Leader of the Opposition Honourable Marlon A. Penn has said he supports civil unrest against the Government of the Virgin Islands over the tourism protocols which he has labelled as impractical.

At a press conference called by the Opposition on October 28, 2020, the question was asked by a reporter: “A few persons would have taken to social media stating that they may be forced to take a stance against Government’s recent decisions on tourism by taking a march on the streets of the territory. What are your thoughts as it relates to that?”

Following a response from Opposition Member Honourable Melvin M. Turnbull (R2), who was in favour of a march against the elected Government, Hon Penn referred to the Great March of 1949, although he erred about the cause, stating that it was for Wickham’s Cay.

"The people of the territory, and my colleague [Hon Turnbull] is accurately right, is their right, and do it in a responsible, and people have always done that. In the 1949 march that brought, it was a march against the Government actually, that we dealt with the issue of Wickham’s Cay and where the Government of the day that dealt with the Wickham’s Cay issue. People marched to the Government and had that resolution where it came back to the people of this territory."

The Great March of 1949 was actually against the neglect of the Virgin Islands by the British Empire and brought about constitutional changes while the controversial Bates-Hill Agreement that involved a 199-year lease of Wickham’s Cay and a section of Anegada saw the formation of the Positive Action Movement in 1968 that forced the local government to change its decision.


Opposition Member and Second District Representative, Honourable Melvin M. Turnbull says he has no opposition to a march on the elected government by the people.

‘Civil unrest’


But, according to Hon Penn, the Great March of 1949 saw the people exercise their power.

“So I support the people. I will say publicly I support the people to civil, what do you say, civil unrest,” Honourable Penn controversially stated.

According to the Opposition Leader, the people have a right to express their dissatisfaction via a march on Government if alternatives have failed.

“If the people have a concern in terms of the issue of the day that we need to have transparency, then go to the Government. The business community went through a process where they had a petition, they were responsible in their approach, they wrote to the Government and expressed their concerns in terms of what is happening in the business community and they were able to get a meeting with the Government, even if the government didn’t listen to them, but the fact [is] that they had an opportunity. To have a meeting with the Government is the right of the people,” Hon Penn stated.


Veteran politician and Opposition Member Honourable Julian Fraser RA, was not convinced of any march against government taking place as he said he was confident Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) would listen to the people and address their concerns where possible.

‘No opposition to march on Gov’t’- Hon Turnbull


Honourable Turnbull had earlier stated that he believes the people are the Government and they have a right to march.

“So if that is the feeling of the people, they have the power, the power is not to be relinquished after they vote for persons on election day, the power still lies with the people.

“The people have a right to demand from Government and their elected representative what they want to see happen for their best interest, so if that is the approach that they want to take because they feel dissatisfied with the lack of information and transparency that this Government is continuing to portrait and demonstrate then they have the right to do so, so I have no opposition to that measure or that call,” Hon Turnbull stated.


Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has already said he would continue to listen to the people and see what adjustments could be made to the tourism protocols following advice from the technical and medical experts.

No march will happen- Hon Fraser


Meanwhile, veteran politician and Opposition Member Honourable Julian Fraser RA, was not convinced of any march against the government taking place as he said he was confident Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) would listen to the people and address their concerns where possible.

“I am confident that we will never get to that point. I am confident. I know the premier will do whatever he has to do,” Hon Fraser said, adding that the Opposition sees the tourism protocols as “onerous and unrealistic and if the people feel the same way, and the premier is hearing it, I am sure he will make the adjustments that are necessary.”

Premier Fahie has already said he would continue to listen to the people and see what adjustments could be made following advice from the technical and medical experts.

This includes the 8th day PCR testing for tourists, which will be reviewed.

A press conference was called on Tuesday, October 27, 2020, to get questions and feedback from the media and the public alike and Premier Fahie has said his Government will continue to engage stakeholders as the Territory prepares to reopen to international visitors on December 1, 2020.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×