ROADTOWN Tortola BVI, August 3rd, 2012 – The Government of the Virgin Islands is committed to enhancing its relationship with the United Kingdom and welcomes further partnership as proposed by the White Paper.
To that end, Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE wrote in his official message for the BVI Art and Culture Show and Territory Day Reception in London, “My Government is fully aware of our obligations as a Territory and we stand ready to meet our responsibilities under the new partnership.”
In delivering his keynote address at the London art show on July 24, Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons and Chairman of Ways and Means Mr. Lindsay Hoyle, MP, also spoke of a new partnership, stating, “It is time for a grown up relationship between the United Kingdom and British Virgin Islands. The Overseas Territories should determine their own future and not have it imposed by Britain.”
The BVI Art and Culture Show and Territory Day Reception is hosted by the BVI London Office every year since 2004 in commemoration of Territory Day.
The Territory’s status changed from being a Presidency of the Leeward Islands Colony to an individual colony under the United Kingdom (UK) on July 1, 1956.
Speaking to the status change, Premier Smith wrote: “This milestone was a significant step in the BVI’s constitutional advancement that paved the way for greater internal self-government.”
The Annual BVI Art and Culture Show and Territory Day Reception attracted a wide spectrum of guests including UK Government officials, Members of the House of Commons, High Commissioners, financial industry representatives, BVI residents and students in London, Hertfordshire County officials and many others.
The event is in line with Government’s mandate to offer local artists exposure via the BVI House, in addition to the enhancement and promotion of local arts and cultural expressions.
The Government of the Virgin Islands is committed to further developing a modern partnership between the United Kingdom and its Overseas Territories.
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