Madam Speaker, I present this statement to the people of the Virgin Islands on the Police Act 2023, which has been subject to much scrutiny since its first reading in the House of Assembly a week ago.  For the benefit of the public, I will give a brief timeline of the progression of the Bill to this stage.

The Cabinet Office is notifying the public that the Bill entitled, Police Act, 2023 is now available for review on the Virgin Islands Official Gazette website at https://eservices.gov.vg/gazette/. 

It gives me great pleasure this morning to witness and be a part of this Contract signing and Groundbreaking ceremony for the Joint Marine Shore Base Building. We can all agree that this project is another one that is well overdue. 

The Government of the Virgin Islands request tenders for the supply and delivery of Petrol and Diesel for the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force specifically at the Road Town Station and Marine Base on Tortola.

After remarks from His Excellency the Governor, Mr. John J. Rankin and Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley, a 21 Gun salute was fired in honour of Queen Elizabeth II.

By now many of you have become aware of a video circulating on social media entitled, "Police in Paradise," produced by the United Kingdom media house ITV, profiling the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force tackling crime in the British Virgin Islands. 

The incomplete video entitled ‘Police in Paradise’ which is now in circulation was intended to be a tool for recruiting officers from the Caribbean and the U.K., and aimed at capturing the benefits and challenges of policing in the BVI. 

Chief Immigration Officer, Mr. Ian Penn is seeking the public’s assistance to locate Haitian national Ms. Elena Milord 

The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force is notifying the public that a Firearm and Offensive Weapons Amnesty has been declared from April 4 to 18.

The Government of the Virgin Islands is requesting proposals for the supply and delivery of petrol and diesel for the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force Road Town Station and the Marine Base locations on Tortola.