Road Town, Tortola - The Virgin Islands and its counterpart Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) have committed to building greater relationships with the European Union.
This commitment was reinforced at the recent Overseas Countries and Territories Association (OCTA) Ministerial Conference and the 2009 OCT-European Union (EU) Forum held in Brussels, Belgium in late March and underpinned by Mr. Maurice Ponga, a French Member of the European Parliament and the only OCT member of the EU parliament.
Director of the BVI London Office Mr. Kedrick Malone, who headed the five member BVI delegation on behalf of Premier Hon. Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE, reaffirmed that the “BVI is a strong believer in international cooperation and a strong supporter of OCTA”. He also emphasised the need for “greater relationships with European Union parliamentarians to help ensure that the voice of the BVI and other overseas territories will be heard in the EU and our positions on various matters will be known.”
Mr. Malone also delivered a speech entitled, “Future of OCT-EU Relations – Enhancing Competitiveness”. He told conference delegates that OCTs agree to the Commission’s assessments of the “need to analyse, promote and implement key drivers to global competitiveness which include education of our nations, political stability, a robust information technology structure, and strategies to build on our islands natural assets.”
The London Office Director also welcomed the EU’s recognition that the BVI meets international standards of tax transparency and co-operation but called for the EU to “make greater efforts to seek wider international recognition for standards that are already in place in the OCTs, especially in relation to financial services, a key pillar of many OCTs economies”. This call for recognition of the BVI’s standards was supported by the United Kingdom Government representative.
The Director of the London Office signed, on behalf of the Premier, two important output documents from the conference: a political declaration and an administrative resolution.
With the signing of the political declaration, OCTA members embraced the concept of the European family and confirmed their desire to a mutually beneficial, comprehensive and unique partnership with the European Union.
The signing of the administrative resolution served to outline the mandate of the OCTA Bureau for which the Virgin Islands was elected as one of eight countries to serve as a member of the executive committee of OCTA.
Trade was among the important agenda items as delegates attended a workshop on Trade and Regional Integration. Two initiatives to aid trade and economic development in the OCTs were discussed inclusive of a four-million euro funded Territorial Strategies for Innovation and a Small to Medium Enterprises (SME) Project.
Other members of the Virgin Islands delegation included Assistant Secretaries in the Premier’s Office Mrs. Elvia Smith-Maduro and Ms. Najan Christopher, Director of Trade and Consumer Affairs Ms. Lizette George and Political/Public Affairs Officer in the London Office, Ms. Averil Henry.
The BVI is one of 17 members of the Association of Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTA), established in 2003. The Territory’s Financial Secretary also serves as the Deputy Regional Authorising Officer under the 10th European Development Fund. The OCTA Ministerial Conference is the highest decision making body of OCTA and comprises political heads of the OCTs.
British Virgin Islands News