The Opposition Leader, in a social media plea on August 14, 2018, said, the VI “needs your expertise now more than ever.” Photo: VINO/File

A Select Foreign Affairs Committee in the UK has been established to conduct an inquiry on the future relationships between the UK and the 14 OTs—including the Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO/File

This, since the Committee established by the Opposition Leader—to gather and compile resident’s input for submission to the UK—has decided to implement five working groups, “with representative membership, to research and lead the discussions….”

The Opposition Leader, in a social media post on August 14, 2018, said, the VI “needs your expertise now more than ever.”

According to Hon Fahie, “the future of the relationship between the UK and the BVI is in your hands…You cannot afford to miss this opportunity to participate.”

National Effort

Hon Fahie in his plea for volunteers in the ‘national effort,’ reminded that a Select Foreign Affairs Committee in the UK has been established to conduct an inquiry on the future relationships between the UK and the 14 OTs—including the Virgin Islands (VI).

An invitation has been issued by the UK committee, for Nationals and Belongers of the VI to forward written submissions--no later than the September 3, 2018.

The matters to be dealt with includes: Governance of the OTs, including their adherence to human rights frameworks; the benefits of the relationship of the UK to the OT’s and; of the OT’s to the UK; The adequacy or inadequacy of financing of the OTs; representation of the OTs in the UK; in the Commonwealth and; in other international forums and the identification and assessment of Assets and liabilities (including but not limited to ecological richness and the effects of extreme weather, and natural resources such as minerals and fish).”

Invitation

As such, Hon Fahie has since extended a public invitation, "to persons interested in volunteering their expertise and serving on any of the five working groups,” to a briefing at the Village Cay, Marina Conference Room, this Thursday (August, 16, 2018), at 7:00 PM.

“Together we will always achieve more…Together as a people it is important for the formation of working groups to solicit and compile written submissions related to the future relationships between the UK and the Overseas Territories,” he said.

Following the formation of the working groups, community meetings aimed at educating the public and soliciting and cataloging the views of citizens and residents throughout the VI, will be scheduled for Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Jost van Dyke and Anegada.

“Together we must participate in moving the VI in one direction—forward.”