Madam Speaker, whatever our yardstick, the month of September 2017 will long live in the annals of our history. No person has been untouched by the passages of Hurricanes Irma and Maria.  We each remember them in our own way and have prepared and responded to the aftermath as best we could.  

Madame Speaker, as a Territory we have just experienced the most devastating hurricane ever seen in our region. It has negatively impacted our lives but there are positive things that arise from this situation as well. In the words of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel, "you never want a serious crisis to go to waste". This crisis provides an opportunity for us to correct some things and we must seize the opportunities. 

Madam Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to make a brief statement to this Honourable House and the people of the Virgin Islands as I express our sincere gratitude to those persons who have assisted us or made pledges to assist our schools in one way or another.

As a result of representations made to me following the meeting of the Congress of the Virgin Islands Party on 30^th November  2016........

The public is invited to tune in to JTV Channel 55 at 6:30 this evening, Thursday, December 17 to view the Swearing-in Ceremony of the Junior Ministers of Government held yesterday.

Honourable Archibald Christian and Honourable Marlon Penn have been appointed as Junior Ministers in the Government of the Virgin Islands.

At the First Sitting, after an election process, a Speaker and Deputy Speaker will be elected in accordance with Sections 4 and 5 of the British Virgin Islands Standing Orders. An Oath of Allegiance will then be taken by the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and all elected members.

Madame Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to share with this Honourable House an update on our scholarships for students who are differently-abled. Madame Speaker in March 2014, I informed this Honourable House of an initiative of the Ministry of Education to offer two scholarships per year to assist students with special needs to seek secondary education outside the Territory.

Madame Speaker, I am pleased to introduce to this Honourable House the Ministry of Education and Culture’s (MEC) Apprenticeship Programme - another initiative to help our young people find employment. As you are aware the Ministry of Education and Culture has made the employment of youth a top priority since 2012 when the Youth Employment Services (YES) was established.

Thank you Madame Speaker for giving me the opportunity to make a brief statement on ongoing works to refurbish a number of recreational facilities in the Territory. As a Ministry Madame Speaker we recognize the importance of having the right social environment for the youth of the Territory.