Premier Announces Ministerial Retreat and Portfolio Changes
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| Premier Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE addressing members of the local media at his Ministerial Press Conference on Tuesday, September 30. Photo Credit: Mr. Aldrin Rabsatt/GIS |
Roadtown, Tortola- The overall strategic plan of the Virgin Islands (UK) Government will be put under the microscope on Friday, October 10 when a one-day Ministerial Retreat is held.
This announcement was made today by Premier Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE as he hosted a Ministerial Press Conference, attended by several members of the local media.
Honourable O’Neal said “the strategic plans will reflect the programme agenda outlined in this administration’s manifesto which was approved by Cabinet and the House of Assembly.”
The Premier stated that the various permanent secretaries have been working to “translate our manifesto’s programmes, projects and initiatives into strategic plans and assign them the appropriate and realistic timelines.”
He explained that the objective is to streamline the administration’s work-plan and to “provide a clearer picture of the requisite
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| Premier Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE speaks to the local media at his Ministerial Press Conference on Tuesday, September 30. Photo Credit: Mr. Aldrin Rabsatt/GIS |
funding this Government must consider as we complete our 2009 budgetary submissions.”
Honourable O’Neal added that “the strategic plans will provide the impetus from which this Government will work in the coming year.”
The Premier expressed satisfaction with his ministry’s preparation for the upcoming retreat saying he has already received a presentation from Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Rosalie Adams and the management team in the Premier’s Office.
The retreat will include presentations from the five ministries, the Governor’s Group and the Ministry of Finance. According to the Premier, it “fits perfectly into the current public sector reform programme as strategic planning is also one of the four service delivery areas.”
At today’s Ministerial Press Conference, Premier O’Neal also noted the recent changes in the portfolios of ministers. He explained that the re-assignment of subjects is part of efforts to ensure that “relevant subjects are assigned to the appropriate ministers.” ~~Adz:Left~~
One such change noted is the addition of new subjects to the Minister for Natural Resources and Labour including alternative energy, climate change, global warming and food and food security.
A new subject has also been added to the Ministry of Communications and Works, that of safety in public buildings. Premier O’Neal explained that the goal here is to ensure that public buildings meet international standards set out to protect the occupants of such buildings.
In the extended question and answer period which followed his presentation, the Premier responded to several questions on rising food prices, airlift, the restructuring of the BVI Tourist Board, the security of Government funds invested overseas and the water situation in East End/Long Look.
The Premier is committed to holding regular press conferences to keep the public informed on the work of the Government.
British Virgin Islands News