Local News
Virgin Gorda Resident Receives Keys to New Home Through Housing Recovery Assistance Programme
Just ahead of the holiday season, Virgin Gorda resident Mr. Sydney Wheatley has received the keys to his brand new home, courtesy of the Ministry of Health and Social Development’s Housing Recovery Assistance Programme.
This marks the latest in a series of successful handovers, with Mr. Wheatley being one of three sister island residents benefiting from the program in the past three months.
Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley emphasised the Ministry’s commitment to supporting residents on the Sister Islands. “This handover on Virgin Gorda highlights the Ministry’s dedicated work in ensuring residents on the Sister Islands get the help they need,” stated Honourable Wheatley.
Expressing gratitude to the team involved, Honourable Wheatley added, “I must thank the contractor, my team at the Ministry. For us, this is another project that has been well-executed in a timely fashion. We’ve been doing these social homes all over the Territory, and we intend to continue doing them. So, I am pleased we can handover yet another house for 2023.”
The recipient of the new home, Mr. Sydney Wheatley, conveyed his appreciation for the assistance provided by the Ministry of Health and Social Development.
The contractors responsible for building the house, K&C Construction, expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to this meaningful initiative. Noting the festive season, they highlighted the joy of providing the beneficiary with a new place to call home.
The Housing Recovery Assistance programme, initiated after the hurricanes of 2017, has been instrumental in rebuilding and repairing homes. Since its inception, over 25 homes have been constructed, and more than 200 have been repaired, underscoring the program’s impact on the lives of residents.
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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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