His Excellency, the Acting Governor Mr. David D. Archer, Jr., chaired the Meeting held on 17th November, 2021, in the absence of Governor John J. Rankin, CMG, who was overseas on official business. The Meeting was held at the Financial Services Commission’s Conference Room.

Good day and GOD’s blessings to everyone in the Virgin Islands, and to you the members of the media. The purpose of this briefing this morning is to update you and the Virgin Islands public on the recent trip to the United Kingdom (UK) by a team from the Government, for the annual Overseas Territories (OT) Joint Ministerial Council (JMC), which was the first JMC in-person meeting since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today I was saddened to learn of the passing of The Right Honourable Sir James Fitz-Allen Mitchell, KCMG, PC, former Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, at the grand age of 90. Over the course of his long and distinguished political career, Sir James made tremendous contributions to achieving the political independence, economic stability and growth and development of his beloved country of birth.

Greetings and God’s blessings

On Monday 22nd November, for the first time in our history, the Virgin Islands will be celebrating a new and powerful holiday, “The 1949 Great March and Restoration Day.”  One of the most powerful and influential events in the history of the Virgin Islands occurred 72 years ago, on November 24th 1949.  At a time when the population of the Virgin Islands was under 7000, 1500 persons, led by Theodolf Faulkner, Isaac “Glanny Fonseca, and Carlton Decastro, marched through Road Town, demanding among other things the restoration of our legislative council. 

The Cabinet of the Virgin Islands - Post Meeting Statements....

It is important that I begin this Budget Address from the words of Abba, our Father as found in Luke 12:8, “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God.”

His Excellency, the Governor Mr. John J. Rankin, CMG, chaired the Virtual Meeting held on 22nd October, 2021. 

Mr. Chairman, the British Virgin Islands is very pleased to be a part of this timely initiative which reflects successful inter-parliamentary cooperation among parliamentarians in Latin America and the Caribbean in the lead up to COP 26. I am highly confident the Parliamentary Observatory for Climate Change and Just Transition will prove to be an invaluable asset to parliamentarians seeking to guide their parliaments’ efforts to help accelerate the national transition from carbon intensive societies to low carbon economies.

I am happy to be here this morning.

This is indeed a special moment, as today’s contract signing signals progress with renewable energy in the Virgin Islands. What better place to start such an eco-friendly initiative than Anegada?

Greetings and God’s blessings to the people of the Virgin Islands.

I come to you on this occasion, to update you on the events which took place within our education system between Wednesday 27th October and Friday 29th of October.

On Wednesday, I received reports that a large percentage of the teachers stationed at the Elmore Stoutt Junior High School did not report for duty.  As a result, school was canceled for the day.