Dear All,

Christmas is a celebration! 

I thought hard about those first four words.  I paused because it may be difficult for some of us, after the events of the last few months to see this Christmas as a time for celebration.   

Merry Christmas Virgin Islands. As we come together with family, loved ones and friends, let us reflect on the many blessings God has bestowed upon us, despite a very challenging year.

Greetings, I am Dr. Kedrick Pickering, Deputy Premier, Representative for the Seventh Electoral District and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour of the Government of the Virgin Islands. 

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for gathering here today to witness what is indeed a historical event in the advancement of both the National Bank of the Virgin Islands and the BVI Social Security Board. 

As you are all well aware, a curfew has been in place across the Virgin Islands since the passage of Hurricane Irma in September.   Since the Curfew was first imposed between the hours of 1800 and 0600, the National Security Council and Cabinet have kept the need for a curfew and its hours under constant review, working with the advice and the guidance of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF).  This has seen a gradual reduction in its hours.

Madam Speaker, as the Government of the Virgin Islands continues to work tirelessly to address the needs of the people of this Territory in the aftermath of the destruction caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, I bring before this Honourable House updates on initiatives being spearheaded by the Ministry of Health and Social Development. 

Madame Speaker, I address this Honourable House to report on the progress made in the massive job of cleaning up our beaches and clearing the same of any marine debris which accumulated along our shores.  

Madame Speaker, immediately following the passage of Hurricane Irma, on September 11 I held a meeting with the Territory’s insurance providers and one with the Territory’s banks at the NEOC, which was at the hospital at that time. In that meeting, insurance companies assured the Government that they are ready to address claims and I was surprised that two companies had already started their claims process during those very uncertain days.   I also received assurances that their re-insurers were prepared to pay out claims. 

Madame Speaker, I am pleased to provide this update to this Honourable House on the progress of the Territory’s recovery from the devastations of Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

I wanted to take the time to clear up the misrepresentation of events in support of our clean-up and recovery efforts. Financial Services and tourism are the twin pillars of the Virgin Islands’ economy. Our financial services sector accounts for 70 cents of every dollar of our GDP. It is how Government makes an income to pay civil servants, our law enforcement officers and our teachers. It is how Government can support the provision of services such as electricity, garbage collection, roadworks, health services and importantly, education.