Hon Penn calls for political maturity in HoA debates - said legislators will not always agree on approaches but must not be divisive

DUFF’S BOTTOM, Tortola, VI – Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition in the Virgins Islands (VI) House of Assembly (HOA) Hon Marlon A. Penn (R8) has called for political maturity in debates within the House.

Hon Penn made the calls during the 12th Sitting of the 3rd Session of the 4th House of Assembly on October 28, 2021.

Debates drives HoA - Hon Penn

“Mr Speaker, political maturity is where we could debate issues without personalising the issues that we debate… debate is that hallmark of this institution, of the political process,” he said.

“We all are not going to agree on the approach, there’s going to be points in time when we agree on the approach and there’s going to be points in time when we differ,” he said.

Hon Penn said legislators then need to be mature enough not to conflate debating the substance and merit of what is being done, to it being personalised.

He said the VI society has a way of twisting and manipulating words, and in his case, he tried to be crystal clear on his position in the House of Assembly.