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A delegation from the Virgin Islands, led by the Premier Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley, with Deputy Premier Lorna Smith alongside, has successfully concluded a pivotal five-day visit to London, the BVI has announced in a press release.
This visit was a crucial opportunity for the Premier to engage with the new UK Government, including Minister for Overseas Territories, Mr. Stephen Doughty MP, and other influential Parliamentarians.
Premier Wheatley led the delegation’s inaugural in-person meeting with Mr. Doughty, marking a significant moment in their ongoing dialogue.
With Daniel Pruce, Governor of the Virgin Islands, also present, the Premier provided a comprehensive update on the progress made towards implementing the recommendations from the Commission of Inquiry, which are not yet complete in spite of a rush of recent legislation.
His insights into the constitutional relationship between the UK and the Virgin Islands were invaluable, setting the stage for future cooperation. The Premier enthusiastically invited Mr. Doughty for a return visit to the Virgin Islands in early November, a visit that precedes the Minister’s inaugural Joint Ministerial Council.
No doubt the return visit will offer Mr, Doughty an oppportunity to assess the implementation of the Commision of Enquiry recommendations to reduce corruption in the BVI, and to assess whether the Order in Council that threatens a UK takeover can be rescinded.
Despite the hectic parliamentary schedule, the Premier seized opportunities to engage with individual Members of Parliament, including Adam Jogee MP and Baroness Vere, demonstrating his commitment to strengthening ties and garnering support for the Virgin Islands.
Jogee is a newly elected Labour Party MP whose grandfather was born in Jamaica. It is not immediately clear why he should be a significant point of contact for BVI leaders. According to Wikipedia Jogee is a Muslim,
Baroness Vere is a Conservative member of the House of Lords. On 2 November 2022, she became minister for shipping (maritime) in the Department for Transport and remained in that position until July 2024, when the British Labour Party won electoral control of Parliament in a landslide.
Given the existential threat posed by climate change, the Premier led discussions with officials from the Department for Energy and Net Zero, along with Baroness Brown, Chair of the Climate Change Adaptation Sub-Committee.
At this meeting the Premier outlined the Virgin Islands’ growing vulnerability to severe weather events, principally hurricanes and said that the BVI still needed support from the UK to enhance the Territory’s climate resilience.
Baroness Brown, born Julia King, has a Ph. D. in fracture mechanics and has held many senior scientific and academic positions in the UK.
He highlighted the difficulties the Virgin Islands faces in accessing funding through the United Nations Climate Change Convention and the Paris Agreement.
In response, Baroness Brown offered her assistance, reaffirming the UK Government’s commitment to supporting the Virgin Islands’ climate initiatives.
The Premier also championed the Virgin Islands’ beleaguered financial services industry, leading a roundtable discussion in collaboration with BVI Finance. This event attracted top executives from leading corporate service providers and law firms in the London Circle.
As the Virgin Islands prepares for Minister Doughty’s visit in November, the Premier is putting together an itinerary for him so that he can meet the right people, and see the most important and interesting locations in the BVI.
The whole delegation comprised Dr. Wheatley, Lorna Smith, Ms. Ayana Glasgow, Executive Director of International Business Regulations at the Ministry of Financial Services, Labour and Trade, Mr. Kedrick Malone, Governance Reform Delivery Manager in the Premier’s Office, and Mr. Kenneth Baker, Managing Director of the Financial Services Commission.
Source: BVI GIS.
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