Beautiful Virgin Islands

Sunday, Jul 06, 2025

Penn calls on gov’t to ‘reveal the real state of the BVI’s economy’

Penn calls on gov’t to ‘reveal the real state of the BVI’s economy’

Opposition Leader Marlon Penn has challenged the Andrew Fahie-led government to make the real state of the BVI’s economy public.

He said it is vital for the people to have this information so the territory can make any necessary budget corrections, find ways to cut costs, develop achievable revenue streams, among other things.

“At this stage of almost six months of COVID-19, it is imperative that the government report to the people on the state of the economy. Among the existing mechanisms to monitor and measure the performance of the economy, as well as from all new programmes, we have a wealth of information available,” Penn said via a statement on Thursday.

He continued: “We need to understand how much our economy has diminished. We need to know how many jobs have been lost, we need to know how many businesses have been closed. We need to know how much our revenues have declined, we need to know how much money we have spent, and the list goes on. And if there are any silver linings, we need to know this too.”

Long term plan needed


The Opposition Leader said unity is crucial at this point and with this information, the territory can better manage its finances, implement budget corrections where necessary, and find ways to cut costs even if it is temporarily.

Penn then called for a long term economic plan for the territory to help the BVI to co-exist with COVID-19.

“It is critical that in all our plans that our economy remains central. The preservation of life and health is impossible without the preservation and development of our economy.

I have previously offered a number of suggestions, some specific to sub-sectors, others relative to financial stimulus, and other support. The ideas are boundless from me, other members of the Opposition, the business community, the general public, other countries and nations. We just need to commit to the process and apply the resources to achieve it,” he said.

He added: “A clear and well-articulated national plan will help to restore confidence about the future, enhance our peace of mind, allow us at an individual and collective level to proceed in putting our own plans in place to rebuild our lives and our livelihoods.

It will provide a clear road map for what we are to expect and how we are to react as we enter the various stages of this crisis, without panicking ourselves or creating panic in our community.”

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
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
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
×