The Cabinet of the Virgin Islands acknowledges the interruption of the publicising of Cabinet decisions in 2020. However, the Cabinet remains committed to good governance principles of transparency and accountability.

I want to say Good Day and God’s Blessings to everyone, especially to our incoming Governor, Governor Rankin. On behalf of the people of the Virgin Islands and the Government of the Virgin Islands, I say welcome to the most beautiful place in the world. A place where you will find that there are 68 islands and islets. A place where everyone, as they used to say in the show Cheers, knows your name.

Good day and God's Blessings to all the people of the Virgin Islands, from Districts One to Nine.

Good Afternoon, my name is Julian Willock, the Speaker of the House of Assembly.

Good day and God's Blessings to everyone. I am happy to see us moving forward with this project to construct a new fit-for-purpose building which will house the Department for Disaster Management (DDM) and the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), two crucial components of our disaster management apparatus.

I extend Greetings here in the Virgin Islands, throughout the Region and the World.

Since the declaration of the COVID-19 virus as a Global Pandemic, with the unswerving support of Cabinet, the House of Assembly and the formation of the Health Emergency Operations Center, as Minister for Health and Social Development, with the support of dedicated professionals throughout the public service and the team at the BVI Health Services Authority, we have been managing the COVID-19 situation and response in this Territory.

As you are aware, the world and the Territory continue to manage the effects of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic and the Government of the Virgin Islands has taken many measures to control, prevent and suppress the spread of the virus. As such, effective  December 1, 2020, the Government implemented a protocol wherein arriving passengers to the Territory on (Day 0), are required to quarantine for four days only, and following receipt of a negative COVID-19 PCR test, persons are allowed to move freely within the Territory. Persons travelling from the United Kingdom and the Dominican Republic are required to quarantine for fourteen days.

I would like to begin by thanking Mr. Rodriguez for Mexico’s leadership over the course of their term as Chair. Mexico ably led the work of the Presiding Officers under the very difficult circumstances presented to us all by COVID-19.

I would like to begin by thanking my dear friends, Luis Felipe and ECLAC Executive Secretary Alicia Barcena, and the Government of Colombia, for convening this timely Ministerial Forum for Development in Latin America and the Caribbean.