Madam Speaker, I am pleased to present an update on the water situation in the Territory, which I know is uppermost on the minds of many of our residents, who have been suffering from the lack of an adequate water supply for some time.

Good morning Madame Chair,

On behalf of the Government and People of the Virgin Islands, I bid a warm welcome to the leaders and participants of the many Social Security Boards from the Caribbean region, United States of America, and Suriname. 

I have had the pleasure of working on a number of initiatives in education and youth development - from youth employment, the development of our youth policy, the opening of a true technical secondary school, even the launch of our illustrious Territorial song and wear.  But graduands, there is one item that keeps evading me but I will work diligently to realise this before my second term in office ends - how can we get this graduation to last just 90 minutes.

Primary school may have been easy for some of you.  High school, however, can be daunting; you will learn new subjects, and experience new and different challenges.  Whatever your experiences, keep your focus and always remember the values and principles instilled in you by your parents and reinforced by your teachers. Begin to set serious goals for your life and remember that those goals will not always come easy.  You will have to work hard, be determined and I assure you, success will find you.

It is with humility, some delight and some caution, that I approach this new position of Complaints Commissioner for the Virgin Islands. Humility because I thank God, His Excellency the Governor, the Premier and the former Leader of the Opposition for reposing their trust in me to carry out this task. 

It gives me great pleasure to congratulate the members of the Elmore Stoutt High School Class of 2015.  Indeed you all have come a long way, and with your families, friends and teachers, today our entire Territory celebrates with you, this significant accomplishment along your educational journey.

The Government of the British Virgin Islands (BVI) is disappointed with the European Commission’s decision to publish a communiqué and an accompanying annex that seems to suggest that the BVI is a non-cooperative tax jurisdiction.

In 2003, when I envisioned the start of the National Business Bureau; for our future, I saw a BVI where each entrepreneur would have access to a place that supported innovative ideas and assisted with the creation of new strategic business frameworks. 

In the absence of agreement on the recommendation of a Leader of the Opposition from amongst the Members of Her Majesty’s loyal Opposition who were recently elected to the House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands, I have been asked as Governor to appoint a Member to this post in accordance with section 70 (2) (b) by exercising the Governor’s powers of discretion under the Virgin Islands Constitution.

Citizens of the OECS

Historical background