ROADTOWN Tortola BVI, June 8th, 2012 – In re-affirming this Government’s stance to cultivate a closer relationship with the United Kingdom (UK), Premier and Minister for Tourism Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE joined the UK and his counterparts in the UK Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) in celebrating Her Majesty the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
The Premier, accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Lorna Smith, OBE attended events as part of the Jubilee activities celebrating Her Majesty’s 60 years of service. They included the Thames River Diamond Jubilee Pageant, Diamond Jubilee Reception and BBC Concert and Thanksgiving Service.
On Sunday, the Premier and Mrs. Smith attended the Thames River Pageant in central London. They boarded the vessel Mercuria, which also carried other government heads, ambassadors, High Commissioners, other government officials and invited VIP guests. Over 1,000 boats participated in the pageant, which was viewed by approximately 1.5 million people standing in the rain on the bank of the Thames River.
After the Diamond Jubilee Reception and BBC Concert at Buckingham Palace and Queen Victoria Memorial on Monday, the Premier and Mrs. Smith witnessed Her Majesty lighting the national Jubilee Beacon; the last of over four thousands lit around the world celebrating the Jubilee.
On Tuesday, the Premier and Mrs. Smith attended the Thanksgiving Service at St. Paul’s Cathedral where they were seated near the front of the church in close proximity to the Royal Family, which was shown on live television coverage of the service.
They also attended a Reception at Guildhall hosted by the Lord Mayor of London, Mr. Alderman David Wootton, which was also attended by members of the Royal Family. The Premier’s participation in the Jubilee celebrations ended with lunch at Lancaster House, hosted by UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Mr. William Hague, MP.
Prior to attending the celebrations, the Premier participated in a series of business meetings covering a broad spectrum of topics including financial services, yacht registration and tourism matters.
The Premier is presently in New York attending activities for the Caribbean Tourism Organisation’s annual ‘Caribbean Week in New York’. He is expected back in the Territory over the weekend, but leaves on June 10 for the 55th Meeting of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States Authority in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The Premier’s presence and participation in the various international events solidify this Government’s mandate to develop a modern partnership with Her Majesty’s Government.
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