ROADTOWN Tortola BVI, May 29th, 2012 – Revitalising the Territory’s tourism and financial services product continues to be critically important to the Government of the Virgin Islands.
As such, Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE is travelling to London, United Kingdom, today for several tourism and financial services business meetings and to attend events scheduled for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, after which he will travel to New York for meetings with the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO).
Premier Smith will be absent from the Territory from May 29 to June 9.
While in London, the Premier will attend meetings covering a broad spectrum of topics including financial services, yacht registration and tourism matters.
In addition, the Premier, as an invited guest by Her Majesty the Queen and head of Government will represent the people of the British Virgin Islands in celebrating Her Majesty’s 60 years of service at several events including the Thames River Diamond Jubilee Pageant and the Diamond Jubilee Concert and Thanksgiving Service.
While in New York, the Premier will attend the CTO Invest Caribbean Now Power Forum in New York, part of the CTO’s annual ‘Caribbean Week in New York’.
According to the CTO website, the event hosts various conferences and other activities geared towards marketing the destination and encouraging investment in the region. In addition to the Power Forum, the Premier will attend the Caribbean Travel and Cultural Fair, the CTO Executive Committee Meeting, the Caribbean Marketing Conference, along with several other meetings and award presentations.
In his absence, Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr. the Honourable Kedrick Pickering will act as Premier and Minister of Finance in accordance with Section 55 (1) of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007.
The section states: “If the Premier is expected to be absent from the Virgin Islands for more than forty-eight hours, the Governor shall authorise the Deputy Premier to perform the functions of the office of Premier; and the Governor shall revoke this authority on the return to the Virgin Islands of the Premier.”
The Premier’s presence and participation in the various international events solidify this Government’s mandate to enhance regional and international affairs through developing a modern partnership with Her Majesty’s Government along with other stakeholders.
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