Local News
Major Road Rehabilitation Projects Underway
The Government of the Virgin Islands has launched an extensive series of road rehabilitation and upgrade projects across the Territory as part of a broad infrastructural development program to enhance the safety and quality of its road network for residents and visitors alike.
Director of the Public Works Department, Jeremy Hodge, stated that the Ministry of Communications and Works is spearheading these efforts, with particular attention being given to key areas that have faced significant challenges. One such area is the main road on Jost Van Dyke, where ongoing construction work addresses damage sustained nearly two years ago during a severe weather event. “A section of the road was severely undermined, leaving the cliffside lane impassable and reducing 45 linear feet of roadway to one lane,” Mr. Hodge explained.
The rehabilitation plan for Jost Van Dyke includes installing an enhanced drainage system, building a large gabion stepped structure to stabilise the hillside, constructing a 45-foot retaining wall, demolishing the damaged concrete roadway, and reinstating the road itself.
Additional roadworks are also in progress throughout the Territory. Notable projects include asphalt paving along Blackburn Highway near Jean Hill and Fish Bay, and scheduled work on the Brandywine Bay Road to East End route from Wednesday, September 11, to Wednesday, September 18, between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. daily.
Officials have urged the public to exercise caution and adhere to all signage during these construction periods. The Ministry of Communications and Works has apologised for any inconvenience caused and expressed appreciation for the public’s cooperation and understanding as these critical infrastructure projects are completed.
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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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