Monday, December 1, 2014 - Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE will report on the Territory’s progress and advance discussions on various matters of vital importance to the future growth and development of the Virgin Islands at the Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) in London this week.
Premier Smith will join the leaders of other Overseas Territories (OTs) for Ministerial meetings with the United Kingdom Government to discuss UK-OT relations.
Premier Smith is leading a three member delegation to the meetings from December 1-7.
Members of the delegation include Acting Permanent Secretary, Mr. Brodrick Penn, Acting Deputy Director of the International Affairs Secretariat, Ms. Najan Christopher and Director of BVI London Office, Mr. Benito Wheatley.
Premier Smith said, “The annual JMC meeting presents a unique opportunity to have face to face dialogue with UK Ministers and fellow heads of Government from other Overseas Territories.”
Topics to be discussed at the JMC plenary sessions include economic development, security, environment, passports, migration, deportees, prisons and criminal justice.
The Joint Ministerial Council or JMC is an annual forum between Overseas Territories Leaders and their delegations and UK Ministers and officials.
Premier Smith will also hold a bilateral meeting with Overseas Territories Minister, James Duddridge MP to discuss UK-BVI relations during his visit to the UK. The Premier will meet members of the BVI All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) to discuss support for the BVI in the UK Parliament; lead a financial services industry meeting to engage stakeholders on developments impacting the BVI’s financial services sector; and meet BVI students attending university in the UK.
Deputy Premier and Minister of Natural Resources and Labour, Dr. the Honourable Kedrick Pickering will act as Premier until December 7 when Premier Smith returns to the Territory.
Honourable Pickering’s appointment is in accordance with Section 55 (1) of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007 which 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.”
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British Virgin Islands News