Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

Dr Arliene T. Penn in! as Coordinator of new VIYP Secretariat

Dr Arliene T. Penn in! as Coordinator of new VIYP Secretariat

Virgin Islands Director of Communications, Dr Arliene T. Penn has been appointed Coordinator of a new five-member Secretariat of the Virgin Islands Youth Parliament (VIYP), with a mission to provide support to its management committee of elected members.

The other members of the Secretariat are House of Assembly (HoA) Clerk Ms Phyllis Evans, Education Officer Mrs Heida Joyles-Selwood, Educator Mrs Janice George-Harris and Director of Youth Affairs & Sports Mrs Brenda Lettsome-Tye according to a release from the Government Information Service (GIS).

Committed to duties in VIYP Secretariat - Dr Penn


Dr Penn said as Coordinator, she is committed to her role of ensuring that Youth Parliamentarians, regardless of their future professional aspirations, are given an opportunity to develop their skills as accountable and responsible citizens, grounded in civic consciousness, national identity, democracy and the rule of law and respect for diversity.

So far, Dr Penn revealed that the members of the committee are currently engaged in virtual meetings assisting with the preparation for the VIYP first debate, which is scheduled for Thursday, March 11, 2021, under the topic, ‘Should the BVI Move to Self-Determination?"

Dr Penn said the main focus as the secretariat is to ensure VI’s youth advocate meaningfully on different platforms and themes that impact young people and the Territory, and for the VIYP to be given an opportunity to understand in theory and practice, the important principles of governance, good governance, democracy, the rule of law, human rights and how the local House of Assembly functions.

“We will do so by tapping into the resources and experts available to us,” she said.


Meanwhile, Committee Chair and Speaker of the House of Assembly (HoA) Honourable Julian Willock said he welcomed the secretariat to help strengthen the important works of the Youth Parliament.

House Speaker welcomes role of Secretariat


Meanwhile, Committee Chair and Speaker of the HoA, Honourable Julian Willock said he welcomed the Secretariat to help strengthen the important works of the Youth Parliament.

“For the next two years, we will have a group of young people, not only supported by the management committee of elected members, but a strong and knowledgeable secretariat, so by the end of the current Youth Parliament cycle, they will help to ensure we have young parliamentarians well versed in the rules of the House of Assembly, how parliamentary democracy functions, public speaking, debating and the ability to contribute meaningfully to the values of our democracy,” Hon Willock remarked.

The Secretariat will ensure the smooth functioning of the Management Committee while coordinating the exchange of information and decisions between the committee and the VIYP.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
×