Local News
FALLEN TREE REMOVED FROM WATER DAYS AFTER FATAL ACCIDENT
The large tamarind tree trunk at the centre of the March 22 fatal boating accident near Great Harbour on Jost Van Dyke has been removed from the water six years after hurricanes Irma and Maria.
The old tree was excavated by a six-man crew on March 27. The 15-minute project was organised jointly by Second Electoral District Representative Melvin Mitch Turnbull of the Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM) and members of the community.
Over the years, angry residents made several unsuccessful appeals to the relevant authorities to have the trunk excavated for the safety of boaters.
American Owen Safford died on March 22 when the dingy he was captaining crashed into the tree which was in the vicinity of Foxy’s Bar on Jost Van Dyke. The tree had fallen in the water during hurricanes Irma and Maria.
Thirty-three-year-old Stafford from North Carolina was on vacation in the territory when the accident occurred shortly before midnight.
Stafford was found unresponsive in the water and attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.
Investigations are ongoing, the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) have confirmed.
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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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