We cannot forget how fragile independent and impartial justice and the rule of law may turn out to be in a society.

I am grateful for the opportunity to give brief remarks on this special occasion marking the opening of the Law Year 2016/2017.

I know there are high expectations of me and I hope that I will not disappoint.

The task is now mine, as Solicitor General, Jo-Ann Williams-Roberts, to address you on behalf of the Honorable Attorney General

I am truly delighted to be here today, to join in this annual celebration of the common cultural and family ties between the people of both our territories. 

The Government of the British Virgin Islands is currently assessing the details of the European Commission’s pre-assessment work that was published today on the forthcoming list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions.

Greetings....

I join with the people of Virgin Gorda today in welcoming the start of this project on the island - the rehabilitation of Lee Road.

I am Myron V. Walwyn, Minister of Education and Culture, and it is with pleasure that I take this opportunity to address educators, parents, students and the general community at the start of the 2016 – 2017 school year.

Good Morning

First, let me also take this opportunity to thank you, Governor Mapp and your team for the gracious welcome this morning. 

My fellow residents of and visitors to the Virgin Islands, the recent announcement of five laboratory confirmed cases of the Zika Virus has understandably given rise to some concerns, but there is no cause for undue alarm. We have been monitoring the spread of this mosquito-borne virus across the Americas and the Caribbean region since local transmission was first reported in Brazil in May 2015. When local transmission was later detected in St. Maarten, Puerto Rico, and the neighbouring US Virgin Islands, we anticipated that it would not be long before the virus reached the shores of the BVI.