Good morning and my customary welcome to the Fourth Sitting of the Third Session of the Fourth House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands.

In 1949, after a major demonstration led by pioneer Legislators such as Mr. Theodolph Faulkner, Mr. Isaac “Glannie” Fonseaca and Mr. Carlton deCastro, it was realised that the wish of the Virgin Islands people was to have a representative Government that could be changed from time to time and it would better suit the needs of the community.

Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members of the House of Assembly, invited guests, those viewing online and listening via radio, good morning.

The Speech from the Throne outlining Government’s Legislative Agenda will be delivered by His Excellency the Governor Mr. Augustus J. U. Jaspert during the First Sitting of the Third Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HOA) on Thursday, November 5.

On Thursday, 5^th November His Excellency the Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert is expected to deliver his final Speech from the Throne.

The Virgin Islands Youth Parliament (VIYP) will be re-launched on Tuesday, October 20 and re-assigned under the ambit of the House of Assembly in keeping with the Commonwealth Parliament best practices.

Mr. Speaker, I dedicate my presentation today to expressing my sincere thanks to the Government and people of the Virgin Islands for the confidence that they have placed in me to perform the role, duties and responsibilities of Attorney General. In doing so, I will talk about who I am, how I got here and what I am going to do.

His Excellency the Governor, Mr. Augustus J. U. Jaspert, acting in accordance with the advice of Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie, has prorogued the House of Assembly effective Thursday, October 1 until such a time a new session is appointed.

Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie said that it was the ‘dawning of many new mornings in our beloved Virgin Islands,’ as he described the swearing in of Attorney General, Honourable Dawn Smith to the House of Assembly.

The public is invited to listen to Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie’s debate contribution during the Fourteenth Sitting of the Second Session of the Fourth House of Assembly on September 29.