At the First Sitting, after an election process, a Speaker and Deputy Speaker will be elected in accordance with Sections 4 and 5 of the British Virgin Islands Standing Orders. An Oath of Allegiance will then be taken by the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and all elected members.

Madame Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to share with this Honourable House an update on our scholarships for students who are differently-abled. Madame Speaker in March 2014, I informed this Honourable House of an initiative of the Ministry of Education to offer two scholarships per year to assist students with special needs to seek secondary education outside the Territory.

Madame Speaker, I am pleased to introduce to this Honourable House the Ministry of Education and Culture’s (MEC) Apprenticeship Programme - another initiative to help our young people find employment. As you are aware the Ministry of Education and Culture has made the employment of youth a top priority since 2012 when the Youth Employment Services (YES) was established.

Thank you Madame Speaker for giving me the opportunity to make a brief statement on ongoing works to refurbish a number of recreational facilities in the Territory. As a Ministry Madame Speaker we recognize the importance of having the right social environment for the youth of the Territory. 

Madam Speaker, during the last sitting of this Honourable House, I provided a comprehensive update, on the Government’s plans, to improve the quality of the road network throughout the Territory.

It is quite evident and I am pleased to report, Madam Speaker, that, significant progress has been made since then, as we continue to design and execute works, on Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to report to this Honourable House today, that significant progress is being made to improve the stability of the Territory’s electricity supply.

The Government recently signed an agreement to undertake Phase V of the BVI Electricity Corporation’s Power Development Plan.

Madam Speaker, the physical landscape of Wickham’s Cay 1, is being transformed in a very significant way right before our very eyes, with the construction of the expanded Cruise Ship Pier and Landside Development.

By the end of this year, 2015, Madam Speaker, every Virgin Islander and visitor to these islands, will be extremely proud, of what the Government has been able to accomplish with this project.

Madam Speaker,

With your kind permission, I wish to make a statement on a study which my Government undertook in relation to our financial services sector. 

Much of what I say here is largely outlined in the foreword of the report entitled “Building on a Thriving and Sustainable Financial Services Sector”.

Madame Speaker, I rise to bring clarity to the recently implemented Fee Schedule for services delivered by the BVI Health Services Authority, and to allay any fears regarding our people’s continued ability to access affordable healthcare here at home.

Madam Speaker, permit me to present this update to this Honourable House on road improvement works, as this Government continues to improve the quality of the road network throughout the Territory.