Local News
The Shadow Subject Ministers System To Be Implemented
PRESS RELEASE
HIS MAJESTY’S LOYAL OPPOSITION
Leader of the Opposition, Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton and the members of His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition have determined and agreed, in consideration of the wishes of the people of the Virgin Islands, to implement a system of shadow subject ministers (the Shadow Subject Ministers System) comprising the six members sitting in opposition to the ruling Government members.
The portfolio of the Shadow Subject Ministers System will be as follows:
Leader of the Opposition – Hon. Ronnie W. Skelton
Portfolio Related Matters
- Finance
- Food security**
- Gaming
- Immigration
- Banking
- Town & Country Planning
- Shipping Registry
- Health & Social Development**
- Alternative Energy**
Hon. Myron W. Walwyn
Portfolio Related Matters
- Tourism
- Education**
- Culture (Festival & Fairs)
- Financial Services**
- Macro-Economic Planning
Hon. Marlon A. Penn
Portfolio Related Matters
- Health & Social Development**
- Housing Development
- Trade and Economic Affairs
- Financial Services**
- Information and Telecommunications Technology
Hon. Julian Fraser
Portfolio Related Matters
- Alternative Energy**
- All subject matters falling under communication and works
Hon. Melvin Mitch Turnbull
Portfolio Related Matters
- Natural Resources
- National Health Insurance
- Social Security
- Lands
- Climate Change
- Labour
Hon. Stacy Mather MBE
Portfolio Related Matters
- Agriculture & Fisheries
- Food Security**
- Education**
- Youth Affairs & Sports
**portfolio areas shared with another member of His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition
The Leader of His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition and all members fully commit to operating the Shadow Subject Ministers System as effectively as possible in an effort to deliver to the people of the Virgin Islands the best possible Government, of you the people, elected by you the people, and working for you the people.
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Local News
British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission Welcomes New Leadership
The British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission (BVIFSC) has announced new appointments to its governing board, with Mr. Gerard St Clair Farara KC stepping in as Chairman and Ms. Patlian Johnson as Commissioner. The appointments, confirmed by the Ministry of Financial Services, Labour, and Trade, mark a new chapter for the commission as it seeks to strengthen the territory’s financial services sector.
Mr. Gerard St Clair Farara KC has been appointed to a three-year term as Chairman, effective August 1, 2024. A seasoned legal expert with a distinguished career, Farara currently serves as a Commercial Court Judge for the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and leads the litigation team at the BVI office of COLLAS CRILL, formerly Farara Kerins. Farara’s prominence in the legal community is further highlighted by his appointment as Queen’s Counsel in 1996, cementing his standing as a leading figure in the Virgin Islands Bar and the broader Eastern Caribbean.
Ms. Patlian Johnson will serve a one-year term as Commissioner, also beginning on August 1, 2024. Johnson, a Strategy and Policy Advisor with extensive experience, currently holds the position of National Coordinator for the UNDP Project Office. She brings an impressive academic background, including a Master of Science in Economics and Finance from the University of Bristol and a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Accounting with First Class Honours from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus.
The pair will replace outgoing Chairman Mr. Robin F. Gaul and Commissioner Mr. Melvin A. Turnbull, whose terms have concluded. Minister of Financial Services, Labour, and Trade, Honourable Lorna G. Smith, OBE (AL), praised the new appointments, stating, “I am delighted to welcome Mr. Farara and Ms. Johnson to the BVIFSC Board of Commissioners. Their combined expertise will be invaluable as we continue to navigate the challenges and opportunities facing the financial services sector.”
Smith also expressed gratitude to the departing board members for their significant contributions to the growth and stability of the territory’s financial services industry. According to the Government Information Service (GIS), these appointments underscore the Virgin Islands’ commitment to maintaining a well-regulated and competitive financial services sector.
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