REMARKS BY PREMIER AND MINISTER OF FINANCE HONOURABLE ANDREW A. FAHIE
DURING OFFICIAL OPENING OF PUBLIC SERVICE WEEK 2019

9:00 a.m.

Good morning.

I greet you in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ, our King, who I love deeply because He is merciful not merciless. He is faithful and not faithless.

It is good to be present among you, Public Officers, as I prepare in a few moments to be away from the Territory.

This means that I will leave you in the capable hands of the Minister for Transportation, Works and Utilities, Honourable Kye Rymer, who will serve as the Acting Premier while I am away. As you know our current Deputy Premier Honourable Vincent Wheatley is away representing me abroad.

I love the theme: ‘One Team, going Green’. This theme to me means that the Public Service of the Virgin Islands is moving in one direction…one colour, on vision, GREEN!

You see, it would come as no surprise to you that I love GREEN.

Green is so fitting, not because it is one of my favourite colours. Not because it is the winning colour of my team the Eagles. And, surely not because it is the leading colour for the next four years. But rather because Green is unique as it speaks to resilience, restoration, newness and prosperity. Green speaks to new beginnings, flourishing and growth.

Green, to me, also means all of us, the public and private sector working together to allow this Territory to blossom into a thriving and prosperous democracy to usher in a modern BVI.

It speaks to restoring trust and hope that requires your Government, the people of this Territory and you the members of the Public Service and private sector working together, as one hand, though we are separate as fingers.

So this morning, I stopped by here to leave you with a few words as we think about one team, going green.

I want to leave you with this five-finger message as we spell out GREEN.

G is your thumbs-up to remain Goal Oriented.  Despite what was and what is, I want you to stay laser focused and work hard to achieve your personal and professional goals. This balance is essential and here’s why. This Territory belongs to you, me and our children and their children. Many see this Territory as a prize to be won, but we see it as home. So I want you always to be prepared for uncertainty, because it is in our personal and professional talents that we will continue to be a resilient people overcoming adversities.

Now, I want everyone to hold up your pointer finger—that’s the index finger. Close all the other fingers. Now point the index finger in the direction where you see yourself tomorrow. That finger represents R for resolute. Be determined. Remain firm in that decision. Don’t try to fit into anyone’s bubble. Instead remain determined and unwavering and I can assure you that in the end you will surely be satisfied.

Now let us hold up our thumb, index, and the middle finger altogether, all pointing forward. You will see that it forms an E. E is for eager. As you think about a green Public Service and in turn, a green BVI, I want you to remain eager and interested in making decisions in the greatest interest of the people and their future. Empowerment begins with you and within you lays the desire and potential to create success. So I implore you to maintain a keen interest and intense desire to be a better Public Service and a better BVI.

Now add in the ring finger and remove the thumbs up and you will see the next E, which stands for educated. As the BVI is being prepared to go green and remain green, let us read widely. Let us put those degrees and training, to work for us. The Public Service is a brain-bank and I have proven this over and over. Let no one tell you that you are not good enough to innovate your own economy for within you lie the full comprehension of what was, what is and what needs to be.

Your pinky finger, which is shortest of all the five fingers, represents the work never-failing. The spirit of our forefathers is that of progress and drive. This is who we are as a people on or off the job. So, when you hold up your entire palm, you will see how the pinky finger is hidden. It is the shortest by far, yet important to a strong grip. So I want you to remain laser focused even though we are all going through a transition.

So this morning I want you to remember:

·       THUMB. Goal-oriented

·       INDEX/POINTER FINGER. Resolute

·       MIDDLE FINGER. Eager

·       RING FINGER. Educated

·       PINKY FINGER – Never-failing

Now make a fist with your hand. That represents one team, one mission. So that although we are separate as fingers let us remain one as a hand so that we can punch the obstacles in our way so that a greener BVI will be the order of the day.

As the annual Public Service Week in the Virgin Islands continues, on behalf of my Government, I thank all Public Officers whether they work in an Office, Ministry, Department, Unit, or Statutory Board for your commitment and dedication to serving the needs of the people of the Virgin Islands.

I congratulate in advance all those who will be recognised for 10, 25 or 35 years of service, to continue to aspire and inspire.

Now, I want everyone to raise your fist and say, I declare that although we are separate as fingers we will work as one hand took punch our way to a brighter and greener BVI day.

Thank you.