Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour, Dr the Honourable Kedrick Pickering (R7) and United Kingdom (UK) Overseas Territories (OT) Minister, Lord Ahmad, on on June 12, 2018, held bilateral talks over the ‘public registers of beneficial ownership. Photo: GIS

Lord Tariq is keen on visiting the Territory very soon, to show his support for the recovery. Photo: VINO/File

Honourable Pickering used the occasion to raise, “the serious constitutional concerns of the” VI public, by the UK decision and its potential negative economic impact on the financial services sector and wider Territory, “at a time when the Territory is recovering from hurricanes Irma and Maria.”

According to a Government Information Service (GIS) release, dated June 13, 2018, Lord Ahmad, confirmed that the UK Government remains committed to the BVI's recovery, and that the offer stands of a loan guarantee of up to £300 million, to support borrowing to rebuild the infrastructure of the islands and to advance the recovery.

VI Visit

The government release said, Lord Tariq is keen on visiting the Territory very soon, to show his support for the recovery.

According to Dr Pickering, "…there are certainly strains in the OTs-UK relationship on the issue of public registers, but I welcome Lord Ahmad's constructive approach to the BVI's recovery and pledged support to the Territory this hurricane season. I look forward to his upcoming visit to the Territory."

The Deputy Premier confirmed too that the Territory will be ready for the peak of the hurricane season as work on shelters and other areas proceed.

Hon Pickering said, "We are of course still recovering from the rains and hurricanes of 2017, but all is being done that can be done to be ready for the 2018 hurricane season."

Honourable Pickering is currently leading a delegation in London, on behalf of Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE, where they are attending the UKOTA Pre-Joint Ministerial Council, Joint Ministerial Council for Overseas Territories on European Negotiations and other meetings.

He is accompanied by the Acting Permanent Secretary in the Premier's Office, Ms Dawn J. Smith, BVI UK Representative Mr. E. Benito Wheatley, BVI London Office Deputy Director, Dr Sandra Besson, Cultural Attache, Siobhan Flax and Economic Advisor, Steve Johnson.