Mr. Speaker, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Mr. Speaker, accelerating recovery is very important to your Government.

Mr. Speaker, I will now speak on the Oracle JD Edwards (JDE) software.

Mr. Speaker, I will now speak on the payment of increments for Public Officers.

Mr. Speaker, I am in a good place this morning because finally the Members of the opposition agree that questions and answering the questions asked is critically important in strengthening our democracy, transparency and accountability, especially if we are on our way to becoming self-reliant. I commend them for these questions.

Mr. Speaker, my Government continues to put the necessary structures in place to restore hope and prosperity for all of the people of the Virgin Islands.

Mister Speaker, as the facilities operated by the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) were not spared the ravages of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, repair works have been in progress in the ensuing period. With respect to the Dr. D Orlando Smith Hospital, Annex, and Major Peebles Wing:

Mister Speaker, not unlike the civil societies throughout the world, the current limitations of the Territory’s waste collection and disposal systems pose a serious constraint to the sustainable development of the Virgin Islands. These challenges were exacerbated by the widespread destruction caused by the 2017 hurricanes that ravaged the Territory. 

Mister Speaker I am grateful for this opportunity to provide an update on the progress of the first phase of construction of the new Nurse Iris O'Neal Medical Centre on Virgin Gorda, which has been long anticipated and fraught with setbacks.

Mister Speaker, I am pleased to update this Honourable House on my attendance and participation at the 57th Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), which took place at the PAHO Headquarters in Washington, D.C. between 30 September - 4 October 2019. I was accompanied by Dr. Irad Potter, our Chief Medical Officer, and joined by other Caribbean Overseas Territories as part of the delegation of the United Kingdom.