Friday August 15, 2014
The House Of Assembly
10:00 A.M.
“Working Together For A Better BVI”
As Premier and Minister of Finance, it is my distinct pleasure to welcome His Excellency and his family to our breath-taking Virgin Islands. Sir, while this is not your first visit, the difference is that this time you will get to know our people, understand our vision and goals as a Government and indeed you will really discover what makes this Territory so special.
Last November, when my Office collaborated with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in hosting an Overseas Territories Communications Workshop here in the BVI, we knew that there could be no more suitable a person to lead this assignment than your good self. We are most grateful for the leadership and guidance you have already provided to the BVI and other Overseas Territories particularly in the use of modern communications tools including social media for our various marketing, public relations, and other communications.
I have also had the privilege of seeing you in action both at the G8 Conference last year as well as at Joint Ministerial Council Meeting later that same year. I was impressed: I liked the fact that you had no hesitation in rolling up your sleeves and doing whatever it took for the right message to be communicated to the rest of the world about the BVI and other OT's.
Today, effective communications are more critical than ever and we are pleased that we have in our new Governor a man with this particular skill set! Sir, you will discover that in a Territory with a population of under 30,000 spread across a dozen islands; that skill set will stand you in very good stead! Perhaps in the next few months you will better understand what I mean!
Your Excellency, your assignment coincides with significant changes on which we are ourselves embarking, particularly in the area of infrastructure. These changes are transformational for the Territory. You would no doubt have been briefed about several of these major infrastructural projects including our cruise pier project, for which we have already broken ground, our plans for the expansion of the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport, the much anticipated formal opening of our new Hospital, and our on-going improvements to sewerage, to name but a few of the larger ones.
One discovery you will make early on, Sir, is that we are not only resilient as a people, nor do we settle for what we can get; instead we always aim for the best that is available in every sphere. And it is in this quest for the best; that we look to you for assistance and support as Her Majesty’s Government Representative.
The recent tremendous success of our Elmore Stoutt High School Graduates in the regional Caribbean Examinations Council Examinations is but one example of our constant aim to be the best at whatever we do. The excellence of our students is indeed a tribute to their hard work and to the steadfastness and commitment of their parents and teachers. But it is another example of this Government's resolve to our young people to do whatever it takes to ensure that they take their places not just as equipped and productive citizens of the BVI, but as equipped and productive citizens of the world! It is obvious that the needs of our young people are very high on the list our priorities.
Last year, I was delighted to welcome the many UK residents attending our annual Reception at BVI House in London but I was especially happy to welcome the many residents who travelled all the way up from Herefordshire to be with us! You see, I am extremely grateful to the Herefordshire residents for their generosity in opening their hearts and homes to our young people while they prepared themselves for various sporting events as well as for other educational activities in the United Kingdom. This perhaps more than any other speaks to the mature relationship that has developed between the BVI and the UK.
This is the kind of collaboration that helps our Territory and our people to really shine and prosper. Therefore, we seek your commitment to help develop and foster more of these relationships.
Your Excellency, today I am asking you as to join us, both sides of this Honourable House, in setting the foundation for the future development of this Territory by pivoting to the next level of our relationship with Her Majesty’s Government.
I would like to brand this next level as a Collaboration Agenda which is designed to assist this Territory in becoming even more self sufficient. This Agenda should be broad based and diverse addressing a range of matters which are critical to the Territory’s continued development, both locally and globally. This agenda should include areas such as: the economy, education, infrastructure development, social services, entrepreneurship, youth employment, capacity building, environmental management, human resource development and public safety.
Another real example of such collaboration during that same visit last year was when I attended JMC, a business event organized by Her Majesty’s Government to expose the BVI and other Overseas Territories to potential investors and other investment opportunities in or by U.K. entities.
Growth of BVIslander businesses and investment opportunities is one of the areas of highest priority to this Government and I note your strong economic background. I am especially proud of the fact that since we took office in late 2011, BVIslanders have received over $1 million dollars in funding for various commercial ventures through the collaboration of our National Business Bureau and our National Bank.
We would be very pleased if perhaps some of the local business men and women could be exposed to some of your own investment opportunities and sound business practices in furtherance of their growth. This could happen through a variety of means including through exchanges, attachments and direct training opportunities.
Then Sir there is the matter of our colonial past that many of us would like to remain just there - in the past! But here in the BVI we have chosen to find good in aspects of most things and particularly in some old architecture - examples are our former Post Office, our old Administration building, old Government House, our former Prison and the Sugar Works Museum which was our first Department of Agriculture building. We are proud of these structures and perhaps through your good office - or perhaps through another UK county – we could partner to restore and preserve these historic structures. We would of course like to broaden such a project to include our more significant sites.
No doubt you have been briefed on the challenges we face in financial services as we adjust to the constant global changes by international standard setters on the one hand; and on the other hand we must fend off many detractors who do not wish this territory well. Be that as it may, we continue to stand firm in adhering to the established international standards, but also to adapting to the evolving standards.
Just earlier this week I commissioned a management consultancy by Mckinsey, who with the help of our practitioners and stakeholders will propose a plan to provide long term strategic direction to our Financial Services sector.
Your Excellency, I look forward to your and Her Majesty’s Government’s support in helping to preserve this pillar of our economy that contributes so significantly to the livelihood of our people.
I am pleased to say that the other economic pillar, Tourism has bounced back to a level that we have not seen in several years. This fact is best reflected in the growth of the all important overnight arrival sector which has seen a marked upsurge in arrivals in the first quarter of 2014 showing a double digit increase over 2013. These are leading results among many of the Caribbean arrivals as reported by Caribbean Tourism Organization. In addition, many businesses report that their level of business thus far is outpacing 2013 especially in the overnight accommodations, sailing and diving sectors as well as the businesses they support.
While our cruise numbers have yet to return to steady growth, we are confident that with the completion of the pier, to which I referred to earlier, our numbers will increase significantly as will the experience for visitors and residents alike.
In 2012, we reaffirmed our commitment to partnership with Her Majesty’s Government towards our success, security and stability. Today I pledge our further commitment to continued good governance and the partnership that has been forged with Her Majesty’s Government over the years. We will continue to do so with mutual respect and a shared vision for the prosperity of this Territory. I am pleased that our relationship is based on this mutual understanding.
Sir, you have at least three years to get to know us as a people. It is therefore not necessary to get into too much detail about our mutual expectations or aspirations. It suffices, as I close, to remind you of the goals of our development strategy. which I commend to you in brief as follows: a continuously improving economy, A continually improving standard of living, improved social services programme and healthcare a strong education sector; Improved communications and infrastructure; protected borders enhanced law, order and public safety and an efficient public sector.
Every day we strive to meet these goals with the support of our people. We are committed to communicating, collaborating, consulting and listening to the people of our Virgin Islands as we move the Territory towards stability and growth. We know that you will do so too.
Your Excellency, on behalf of the Government and people of the Virgin Islands, I again welcome you and your family to this Territory. We look forward to working with you as we build a better, prosperous Virgin Islands.
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