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Virgin Islanders Urged to Make Their Voices Heard in Constitutional Review
Former Virgin Islands legislator Carvin Malone, spokesperson for the One Virgin Islands Agenda, has called on Virgin Islanders to actively participate and voice their opinions in the ongoing review of the Constitutional arrangement between the United Kingdom (UK) and the British Virgin Islands (BVI).
This appeal comes as the UK House of Commons’ Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) nears the end of public consultations on the appropriateness of the current constitutional arrangements for UK Overseas Territories (OTs) in the 21st century.
The PACAC’s deadline for public submissions of evidence on several issues regarding the UK’s Constitutional relationship with the OTs is set for 5 pm London Time on Monday, September 4, 2023. Currently, the BVI is awaiting the report of the Constitutional Review Commission, which will inform the BVI Government representatives’ position during negotiations with UK Government officials to establish a new Constitutional arrangement to replace the existing Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007.
During a recent One Virgin Islands Agenda Open Forum radio broadcast, Mr. Malone emphasized the need for Virgin Islanders to take personal responsibility for educating themselves on the relevant issues and processes involved in revising the Constitution and advancing the BVI’s political status. He warned that failing to participate in the decision-making process could lead to decisions being made for them by others, with potentially regrettable consequences.
Mr. Malone highlighted the importance of active participation, stating, “Let us compile our responses on these questions so that when the Government writes to the UK on these particular questions, as they should, then it would be one that comes from the bowels of the people and the mindset of the people.”
The UK PACAC is seeking public comments on various questions, including the satisfaction and appropriateness of the current constitutional arrangements for the Overseas Territories in the 21st century, the engagement of the UK Civil Service with the OTs, the representation of the OTs within different departments across Whitehall, and the protection of the rights and interests of British Overseas Citizens.
Virgin Islanders are encouraged to visit the PACAC’s website for more information on the call for evidence and to make submissions on the questions related to the appropriateness of the current constitutional arrangements for UK’s OTs in the 21st century.
The One Virgin Islands Agenda is a nonpartisan movement organized by concerned Virgin Islanders, focused on encouraging residents to actively participate and learn about the Constitutional Review process. The movement aims to simplify and promote the participation of residents in shaping the future of the BVI.
Virgin Islanders are urged to seize this opportunity to have their say and actively contribute to the ongoing review of the Constitutional arrangement, ensuring that their voices are heard and their interests are represented in the decision-making process.
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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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