I would first like to apologize for the length of my presentation this morning as the relevant subject matter is not only very important to the Territory, but as the old adage goes, in order to know where you are going you also need to know where you came from.

As Junior Minister for Tourism, I am pleased to be here this morning on behalf of Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie as we turn a new leaf in renewable energy in the Territory, specifically for the people and businesses on Anegada.

Please see document attached

I say good day and God’s blessings to everyone here at home in the Virgin Islands as well as to our wider financial services industry family all around the world.

Las Islas Vírgenes son conocidas como un crisol de diversas nacionalidades, lo que hace que nuestro Territorio sea verdaderamente diverso.  Un gran porcentaje de las personas que residen en las Islas Vírgenes Británicas son nativos de otros países, y muchos han residido en nuestras hermosas islas durante varios años y lo han convertido en su hogar.  

Mister Speaker, the Government of the Virgin Islands continually monitors the evolution and progression of the COVID-19 pandemic as infections spread with increasing veracity in our region of the world. We remain committed to keeping the public engaged and informed, and I am grateful for this opportunity to present yet another progress report on the Territory’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to renew my appeals to the members of the public to bear with their Government as we develop and implement the measures to further stabilise their social and economic situation and to put the foundation in place for their future.

Mr. Speaker, I thank you for this opportunity to address this Honourable House on the favourable response that your Government has been receiving from the commercial banks operating in the Territory, with respect to relief measures for the people of the Virgin Islands in this COVID-19 era.

Mister Speaker, I am pleased to present an update on the support being provided to vulnerable households by the Government of the Virgin Islands to repair and rebuild hurricane-damaged homes.

Mister Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to provide an update on my Ministry. Over the past months I have provided updates as they relate to physical projects, but today I want to speak on the ministry’s legislation and policy framework which is currently afoot and will improve the operational efficiency of my Ministry.