Madam Chair, please permit me at the outset to sincerely thank you for the opportunity to address this committee as Member States consider the Question of the British Virgin Islands ahead of voting on the draft resolutions concerning the situations of the Non-Self-Governing Territories.

The Governor’s Office is sad to announce the death of Former Governor of the British Virgin Islands Peter Penfold CMG OBE, who passed away on October 1^st 2023.

Good day to all in the Virgin Islands.

I have been closely monitoring the development of Tropical Storm Philippe, and I have been briefed regularly by the team at the Department of Disaster Management (DDM).

I was saddened to learn that former USVI Senator Alicia “Chucky” Hansen passed away yesterday afternoon after a period of illness.

Today I have published my Fourth Quarterly Review of the implementation of the Commission of Inquiry recommendations.

On Tuesday 26^th September, 2023, the Minister for Education, Youth Affairs & Sports, the Ag. Permanent Secretary and the Ag. Chief Education Officer met with the administration and staff of the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS). 

The Governor’s Office has a fund totalling $30,000 to fund youth empowerment projects in the BVI. The Governor’s Office welcomes applications from organisations, or partnerships across organisations, for projects up to the value of $10,000.

The Governor was in Anegada today together with Deputy Commissioner of Police Amory and members of the BVI Airports Authority. He visited the airport and inspected the wreckage of the plane that was destroyed by fire following an unauthorized landing in the early hours of Wednesday. After the landing, a quantity of illicit drugs was recovered.

The water scarcity that the Valley, Virgin Gorda, has been experiencing is attributed to three main culprits: The inadequate production of water, the inadequacy of the distribution system and Sargassum Seaweed infiltration.

Cabinet Meeting – 30th August, 2023

His Excellency, the Governor John, J. Rankin, CMG, chaired the meeting held on 30th August, 2023, which was held at the Premier's Conference Room, Cutlass Tower.

All Members were present.