Madam Speaker, today I am pleased to further highlight recent developments within the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour pertaining to funding. The Ministry is in receipt of a grant from the European Union and their partners Expertise France in the amount of 927,890 Euros or approximately $965,000 US dollars through the Overseas Countries and Territories’ Resilience, Sustainable Energy, and Marine Biodiversity Programme - RESEMBID.

Madam Speaker, on Thursday 19^th January, The Honourable Premier Dr. Natalio Wheatley during his recent official visit to the UK, signed into effect a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the BVI Government and the prestigious University of Southampton.

Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr. the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley has stated that the past week of meetings and engagements in the United Kingdom were successful in the advancement of the economic, political and environmental interests of the Territory.

A pleasant good morning. I am pleased to have another press conference to keep the public informed. My update today is on my official visit to the United Kingdom which concluded yesterday.

Ms Lynette Harrigan has been awarded an MBE from His Majesty the King for her contributions to International Travel during the COVID pandemic and to the community in the British Virgin Islands.

Representatives from the Overseas Territories are featured as they laid wreaths at the Cenotaph in London during the National Service of Remembrance.

I am presently at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt, as a key player in the representation of overseas territories and small-island developing states, whose livelihoods are increasingly affected by the effects of climate change.

On the invitation of the United Kingdom  Speaker in the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle, young persons from across the Overseas Territories were invited to attend a special segment of the UK Youth Parliament sitting on November 4^th, 2022.

Good morning to the people of the Virgin Islands and members of the media.

Today I am pleased to share with you my first quarterly review of the “Framework for Implementation of the Recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry Report and Other Reforms” (“the Framework document”), being led by the Government of National Unity.