Mr. Speaker, I now wish to update this Honourable House on what is happening at the Virgin Islands Shipping Registry as it marks the transformational period for shipping in the Virgin Islands.

Mister Speaker, thank you for allowing me to give an update on the Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD).

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for allowing me the opportunity to address this Honourable House.

Mr. Speaker, on 25 February, 2019, the people of the Virgin Islands went to the polls in peaceful, free and fair elections and elected a new Government.

Mister Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity again to address this Honourable House and the people of this Territory. Today, I want to give an update on the lay-off period and severance pay matters for employers and employees of businesses in these Islands.

Mister Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to inform this Honourable House of the publication of the BVI Environmental Atlas.

Good news people of the Virgin Islands.

The Government of the Virgin Islands, through the Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie, Premier’s Office and his International Affairs Secretariat, has just received good news from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

Mr. Speaker, I rise to second this motion. Mr. Speaker, it is a very important one that the Attorney General has brought forward. This Government in its wisdom has brought to the table, as one of the actions that we as a Government would like to move forward with, in the spirit of cooperation and transparency.

Mr. Speaker - As this Honourable House is aware, on 19th January, 2021 the former Governor, His Excellency Augustus Jaspert, appointed a Commissioner, Sir Gary Hickinbottom, to hold a Commission of Inquiry, to inquire into whether corruption, abuse of office or other serious dishonesty in relation to officials whether statutory, elected or public, “… may have taken place in recent years.”

I extend greetings to everyone in the Virgin Islands, the Region and the World. COVID-19 was declared a GLOBAL PANDEMIC on March 11, 2020.

His Excellency, the Governor Mr. John J. Rankin, CMG, chaired the Meeting held on 24th February, 2021, which was held at the Financial Services Commission’s Conference Room.