Roadtown, Tortola - The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Country Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean will pay his first official visit to the Virgin Islands next week.

Mr. Tom Olsen is scheduled to be in the Territory for a familiarisation visit from March 10-12. Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Development Mrs. Ritzia Turnbull-Smith said Mr. Olsen has never visited the Virgin Islands since he joined the UNICEF Barbados Office in July 2006.

She also said the Ministry is currently finalising an itinerary of official activities for the visit. 

“Mr. Olsen’s visit will present an excellent opportunity for him to be introduced to the key stakeholders, while at the same time engaging in discussions on how the Territory might continue to benefit from and strengthen its relationship with UNICEF,” noted Mrs. Turnbull-Smith.

The Deputy Secretary further noted that the UNICEF Annual Work Plan for 2009 will also be signed during next week’s visit. “This signing would make the Territory eligible to participate inthe various training programmes, and also to receive technical support from UNICEF during 2009,” Mrs. Turnbull Smith said. 

Minister of Health and Social Development Honourable Dancia Penn OBE, QC signed the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Country Programme Action Plan 2008-2011, on 5th November 2008. The Virgin Islands (U.K.) first entered into cooperation with UNICEF on 8th July 1960.