Improving contractors and suppliers’ capacity to effectively respond to bidding opportunities was the centre focus when the RDA held its first Procurement Workshop for 2023 on Virgin Gorda.

A clear illustration on the bidding process and the processes involved in bidding for contracts was outlined to the contractors and suppliers, as well a new topic; the Grievance Redress System was introduced.

I would like to make a statement to this Honourable House on the recent visit to these Virgin Islands by the United Kingdom (UK) Minister for the Overseas Territories (OTs) The Right Honourable Lord Goldsmith.

The British Virgin Islands Ports Authority (BVIPA) Management Team participated in a Leadership Retreat and Planning Day on Friday, 3rd February 2023 at Wyndham Lambert Beach Resort. The theme of the retreat was “Rebuilding and Restoring a Port for the Future”.

Minister for Health and Social Development, Honourable Marlon A. Penn met with the staff of the Social Development Department to discuss the department’s future in light of the social assistance and grant system review.

Nine persons are now trained as Fit Testers as part of a respiratory protection programme for healthcare workers.

The Virgin Islands has earned re-accreditation from the Emergency Management Accreditation Programme (EMAP) due to its continued adherence to a high standard of disaster management.

The Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Linda I. Smith, BA, MPA, CFRM as the Senior Director of Development (SDD) for a period of one-year effective 16^th January, 2023.

Minister for the Overseas Territories, the Rt Hon Lord Goldsmith, has arrived in the British Virgin Islands on a three-day visit from January 31 to February 2.

 The nine-month-long Public Service compensation review is in its current state assessment phase and will involve a series of stakeholder meetings.

The successful completion of training sessions for fisher folk and other key fisheries stakeholders has resulted in the official handover of a central fisheries database to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.