Madame Speaker, I rise to update this Honourable House and the Citizens of this Territory on the proposed development of the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport.

Madam speaker, I rise to inform the House about an exciting and important project led by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour that is now underway in Cane Garden Bay and Brewers Bay titled the North Shore Integrated Coastal and Watershed Stabilisation Project. This project is one that will help to ensure the economic value of these two communities, safeguard life and property and maintain the social fabric of the citizens and the wider BVI community. 

Madam Speaker, I wish to address this Honourable House on the matter of the interim closure of Rosewood Little Dix Bay Resort.  

Members of the media good afternoon.

It is always good to meet with you one-on-one to share information and at the same time respond to your questions. 

Honourable Premier and Minister of Finance and Tourism, Dr. D. Orlando Smith, OBE, Deputy Premier Dr. the Hon. Kedrick Pickering, other Ministers of Government, including our junior Ministers for Tourism and Trade and Investment, members of the private sector and the team from BVI Airways and the press, good morning and welcome.  As a habit, as Chairman of the BVI Tourist Board, I rarely speak on a tourism matter after the Hon Premier and Minister of Tourism, after all, when he speaks our role at the Board is to move to implementation. 

Ladies and gentlemen,
Yesterday, senior managers of Rosewood Little Dix Bay, Virgin Gorda, one of the leading hotel properties in the British Virgin Islands, informed me that on May 1, 2016 the hotel will begin a complete resort renovation, marking the most extensive renovation and beautification project in its more than 52-year history. 

Yesterday afternoon, Ms. Jackie Brown owner’s representative of Rosewood Little Dix Bay Hotel advised me that she was calling a meeting today at 2:00 p.m. 

The evolution of our society has always hinged on improved technology.  The development of the printing press allowed more people, centuries ago, to learn to read, to become independent thinkers. Those books and pamphlets instead of being handwritten were printed for the masses and inspired revolutions that advanced our society. 

Every year for the last decade, more than 400,000 persons visited the BVI, and that number is growing. 

Let me first take this time to wish one and all a very happy new year. My prayer for you in 2016 is that the Lord continues to bless your lives, and for all of us in this Territory to work collectively to advance, what I believe is the greatest place to call home, the Virgin Islands.