Good morning to all the members of the press.

I thank you for being here as we report on the progress being made in the setting up of the agency and the work that they are preparing to carrying out the recovery of the Virgin Islands following the events of last year.

After the Managing Director of Scotia Bank advised my Government that it was closing its branch on Virgin Gorda effective 1st September, 2018.

Question 1

Madam Speaker, could the Minister for Education and Culture please inform this Honourable House, post Hurricane Irma, what schools were cleaned up from the monies his Ministry received from the emergency response loan that government received from CDB?

It is my pleasure to be here to share in the joy of families, friends, and educators as we celebrate the 2018 Graduates of the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College this afternoon.

We are aware of reports of an incident at USVI at the Cyril E King airport this morning.  We are in touch with US Authorities.

Madame Speaker, there has been a lot of buzz in the Territory over the last few days about my Government’s decision through the Cabinet of the Virgin Islands to grant to nationals of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), access to enter and remain in the Virgin Islands as tourists or for business related matters, without the need for a visa.

Madame Speaker, I wish to update this Honourable House on my recent Asia Mission trip, which was a productive two week engagement with Asian businesses, Government officials and individuals in financial services, tourism, and innovation.

When the BVI Government decided in 2013 to open it’s office in Asia, it estimated that somewhere in the range of 40 to 60 percent of the BVI’s financial services business originated from China and rest of the Asia Pacific region.

Last Sunday we returned home from a grueling but very productive mission to five cities in Asia over a two week period. 

Today is World Environment Day – a chance to consider the amazing environment we have in BVI and the importance of protecting it.