Madam Speaker thank you for the opportunity to update this Honourable House on an initiative on which the H Lavity Stoutt Community College is about to embark. It is nothing new to hear about the development of Centres of Excellence around the region.  In fact Madam Speaker, it was an initiative for the development of such a facility that the Marine Studies Centre at the College was built. However Madam Speaker, that initiative was not fully realised and programmes in the area never fully materialized.

Madam Speaker the Territory of the Virgin Islands has entrusted the Ministry of Education and Culture with the responsibility to educate our youth and prepare them to be model citizens who will in turn, work and advance the Virgin Islands.  Within the Ministry we have realized that to effectively do this, we must pivot when necessary to ensure that we are providing our students with a quality education, fitting the times, opportunities and circumstances of this modern age.

I am very pleased that you are able to join us this evening as we continue on our journey to strengthen our financial services sector.

The main objective of this mission is to maintain the BVI’s position as the leading offshore jurisdiction in the Asia Pacific region and gain support for the continued use of BVI offshore structures in Asia.

The Leader of the Opposition and Member for the Third District to ask the Minister for Communications and Works the following questions:

Madam Speaker, I crave your indulgence as I rise to  update this Honourable House  on the progress being made to strengthen  the systems in the Treasury Department and in particular  the financial reporting  by the Government of the Virgin Islands.  

Madame Speaker, elected representatives of the House of Assembly, ladies and gentlemen, good morning. 

We cannot forget how fragile independent and impartial justice and the rule of law may turn out to be in a society.

I am grateful for the opportunity to give brief remarks on this special occasion marking the opening of the Law Year 2016/2017.

I know there are high expectations of me and I hope that I will not disappoint.