Good morning Honourable  Members and our guests in the gallery. Welcome to the FIFTEENTH SITTING OF THE SECOND SESSION OF THE FOURTH HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, today Thursday October 1, 2020, to celebrate a historic occasion in which we will be swearing in a local Attorney General for the second time in twenty-one (21) years. 

The Virgin Islands will be swearing-in its second local Attorney General (AG) at a Special Sitting of the House of Assembly on October 1.

Mr. Speaker, it is my duty to update the people of the Virgin Islands on the phased reopening of schools.  During my statement on the reopening of schools on Tuesday, 25th August, 2020, I announced that our phased plan to reopen schools was derailed due to a spike in Covid-19 cases in the Territory.  I also stated that this decision would be reviewed in the weeks that followed.  Since then we have had dozens of active cases.  Through the leadership of the Minister of Health and the HEOC team and the cooperation of the public, we have been able to contain this latest outbreak of the Corona Virus, and for this we give all thanks to God!  But we are not out of the woods yet, and, Mr. Speaker, I encourage everyone to remain vigilant and adhere to the various health and social distancing guidelines as we continue in our efforts to combat the virus.

Mister Speaker, I rise to provide this Honourable House with an update on the many Outstanding Invoices that I have been faced with settling since taking office since March 2019.

Mister Speaker I am pleased to give account of the achievements in health care at the British Virgin Islands Health Services Authority over the last twelve months.

Mister Speaker thank you for yet another opportunity, to inform the public about the work that is happening in the Territory in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mister Speaker, I am pleased to be able to make a statement today on the Scholarship Programme which is administered through the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture. Despite the trying and unprecedented times the Territory is facing today, the Government of the Virgin Islands remains committed to providing the financial support necessary for its people to have access to tertiary education.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to update this Honourable House on certain developments as regards to publicly accessible registers of beneficial ownership.

A pleasant good day and God’s Blessings to all Virgin Islanders and residents.  First let me thank our residents of the Virgin Islands for cooperating with the measures put in place due to this current curfew order.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to this Honourable House's attention, that earlier today the Caribbean lost one of its great former leaders.