European Commission Official Pays Courtesy Call on Premier
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| Premier Hon.Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE greets Project Officer in the Infrastructure section of the European Commission Delegation in Barbabos, Mr. Paul Modesir during a courtesy call on Friday, September 12 |
Roadtown, Tortola- Premier Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE today received a courtesy call from Project Officer in the Infrastructure section of the European Commission (EC) Delegation in Barbabos, Mr. Paul Mondesir on the final day of his visit to the Territory.
The focal point of the discussions was the culinary arts centre at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, which the EC will fund in collaboration with Government.
Providing a warm welcome to the visiting official, Premier O’Neal said the project is of paramount importance to the Territory. He also underscored the importance of sound project management in ensuring that this and other projects are completed on time and within budget.
In the recent Report on Government’s First Year in Office, the Premier described the culinary arts centre as a “significant development because it will help to provide a cadre of better-trained persons for the tourism industry.”
During today’s visit, Mr. Mondesir updated the Premier on his meetings with the major stakeholders in the project and discussed general European Union assistance to the Virgin Islands and other United Kingdom Overseas Territories. ~~Adz:Right~~
Describing the discussions as relaxed and amicable, Mr. Mondesir said “we were able to discuss, make suggestions on how the European Union can be of further assistance to the BVI in the areas of agriculture, energy, some social work also.”
The EC Project Officer also revealed that the Territory is among countries to benefit from an imminent project on disasters which will be funded by the European Commission and the United Nations Development Programme and executed by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA).
The Virgin Islands (UK), its fellow UK Overseas Territories and their Caribbean neighbours have benefited tremendously from projects funded by European Union. The EC delegation in Barbados serves to facilitate the process by providing assistance to the countries for which they have responsibility, outlining EU policy requirements and assisting in the management of projects
British Virgin Islands News