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Rosemarie Flax nominated to chair BVIEC Board

- to replace Ron R. Potter
Former financial services professional Rosemarie Flax has been nominated to chair the British Virgin Islands Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) Board. Photo: VINO/File
The last BVIEC Chairman of the Board of Directors was Mr Ron R. Potter whose appointment was approved in the House of Assembly on November 19, 2013. Photo: VINO/File
The last BVIEC Chairman of the Board of Directors was Mr Ron R. Potter whose appointment was approved in the House of Assembly on November 19, 2013. Photo: VINO/File
It was in the House of Assembly on Friday, May 17, 2019 that Minister for Transportation, Works, and Utilities, Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5) had expressed that it is the position of the new administration that the tenure of any board member should not go beyond the term of any sitting government. Photo: VINO/File
It was in the House of Assembly on Friday, May 17, 2019 that Minister for Transportation, Works, and Utilities, Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5) had expressed that it is the position of the new administration that the tenure of any board member should not go beyond the term of any sitting government. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Mrs Rosemarie Flax, the former Managing Director of financial services entity Mossack Fonseca, has been nominated to chair the British Virgin Islands Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) Board of Directors.

This is according to the Order Paper for the First Sitting of the Second Session of the Fourth House of Assembly scheduled for Thursday, November 14, 2019.

According to the Order Paper released to the media today, November 13, 2019, the Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) will move the motion: “WHEREAS section 4(1)(a) of the British Virgin Islands Electricity Corporation Ordinance, Cap. 277 provides that the Corporation shall consist of a Chairman appointed by the Cabinet after prior approval for the appointment has been obtained by a Resolution passed by the House of Assembly;

“WHEREAS section 40(4)(a) of the Interpretation Act, Cap. 136 provides that an authority or person empowered by or under an enactment to appoint or designate a person to be a member of a statutory board or to perform any other functions, may appoint or designate a person by name, and it shall be the duty of the person appointed or designated to perform the respective functions accordingly;

“AND WHEREAS the Cabinet has nominated Mrs. Rosemarie Flax for appointment as Chairman of the British Virgin Islands Electricity Corporation for a period of three years with effect from 15th November, 2019; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands approves the appointment of Mrs. Rosemarie Flax as Chairman of the British Virgin Islands Electricity Corporation for a period of three years, with effect from 15th November, 2019.”

Mrs Flax, the wife of former legislator Mr Keith L. Flax, has over four decades of experience in the financial services industry, many of which were in a managerial capacity.

The last BVIEC Chairman of the Board of Directors was Mr Ron R. Potter whose appointment was approved in the House of Assembly on November 19, 2013. He had replaced Mr Allan Parker, who had resigned from the post.

New policy regarding Board Members

It was in the House of Assembly on Friday, May 17, 2019 that Minister for Transportation, Works, and Utilities, Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5) had expressed that it is the position of the new administration that the tenure of any board member should not go beyond the term of any sitting government.

“This is a new policy being implemented by this government.” Hon Rymer had said in responding to questions posed by Opposition Member and Third District Representative, Hon Julian Fraser RA.

The BVIEC Board was one such entity affected by the new policy.

“As it relates to the board members of the BVI Electricity Corporation, the Cabinet of the Virgin Islands approved the revocation of the appointments of most of the members, which is in the process of being rectified to include all members,” Hon Rymer explained.

He said the Board of the BVI Electricity Corporation was revoked in accordance with Section 5 of the BVI Electricity Corporation Ordinance, Chapter 277 of the Laws of the Virgin Islands.

33 Responses to “Rosemarie Flax nominated to chair BVIEC Board”

  • Interesting (13/11/2019, 16:25) Like (60) Dislike (12) Reply
    Nothing against Mrs. Flax but......this government was voted in by the youth vote and I don't see them rewarding the young people.......this is why our youth continue to get discouraged because there is always a reason why they can't be given a chance....we just continue to recycle the same people....we want our youth to get educated but we still turn around and use retirees when any such opportunity arises....sigh
  • my 2 cents (13/11/2019, 16:33) Like (8) Dislike (40) Reply
    good choice but I would have prefer her at FSC when Robert leaves
    • What?? (13/11/2019, 22:38) Like (32) Dislike (3) Reply
      Can’t walk one minute in Robert shoes!!
      • @ what?? (14/11/2019, 07:03) Like (6) Dislike (25) Reply
        She knows the industry better that Robert who is sick and needs to go home
        • Divajs (14/11/2019, 14:33) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
          Remember Mossack Fonseca was under her management since inception; they are now closed for non-compliance and questionable actions.
          • Silly (14/11/2019, 15:56) Like (1) Dislike (6) Reply
            Do not speak to what you have absolutely no knowledge off. Look at the records and then come back @Divajs
            • Divajs (15/11/2019, 13:21) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
              Have more knowledge than you would think; the records speak for themselves.
    • Nel (14/11/2019, 05:27) Like (0) Dislike (6) Reply
      Great lady
  • Junk Dog (13/11/2019, 16:47) Like (12) Dislike (2) Reply
    Will the down power lines and transformers be picked up now?...
  • WOWW (13/11/2019, 17:50) Like (14) Dislike (60) Reply
    Yess good move, she’s a local she not no island person. Well deserved.
    • say it aint so (14/11/2019, 09:27) Like (18) Dislike (5) Reply
      ohh the BVI is a continent? educate me more
    • @woww (14/11/2019, 09:30) Like (11) Dislike (4) Reply
      are you dumb? she is not an island person? what is Tortola? What is the BVI made up of? Please bury your ignorant self.
  • Listen (13/11/2019, 20:31) Like (78) Dislike (3) Reply
    If she ain’t giving the employees a well deserve raise we ain’t want her, every year this company bawling saying its brokes when we are the only electricity company on the island stop stealing the money and pay the workers !
    • @listen (14/11/2019, 01:19) Like (18) Dislike (2) Reply
      I agree, B.V.I.E.C brought in a safety manager and when she saw the conditions of what the workers are working through she herself agreed that the employees at the power plant should be getting hazardous pay but the guys at the top are against it ! Smh
      • Dat so? (14/11/2019, 05:56) Like (2) Dislike (4) Reply
        Utility workers elsewhere don’t get hazardous pay and neither do power plant workers.
  • Royal (13/11/2019, 21:40) Like (6) Dislike (12) Reply
    This is an excellent choice if I may say. I’m very positive she’ll do an excellent job. She certainly has the skill set and experience for the years she served in the FSC. The comment that she should be the one to replace Robert M is spot on and you can not deny that
  • okay (13/11/2019, 22:37) Like (17) Dislike (1) Reply
    So who are the other board members ? The whole board was dissolve in April and it’s only now y’all appointing someone ?
  • wow (14/11/2019, 01:56) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    So, is this one of the positions being filled that the Opposition Leader was ranting about?
  • Eagle Eye (14/11/2019, 03:23) Like (23) Dislike (0) Reply
    If no raise for the employees at pwp dont come.
  • @woww (14/11/2019, 05:45) Like (11) Dislike (11) Reply
    Its about time you grow up and stop calling people island people. What is Tortola? You can't even find it on the world maps
    • son of the soil (14/11/2019, 09:00) Like (13) Dislike (4) Reply
      Well how your island behind found it?????????????
      • wow (15/11/2019, 10:05) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        Sorry, but I burst out laughing at this comment. Didn't see it coming!
    • ji (14/11/2019, 09:50) Like (6) Dislike (3) Reply
      I think it is time that you people ignore the locals who call others island people. Just suck it up and move on. that's what they grow up hearing and really don't mean anything of it. You people just blow it out of proportion.
  • foxy (14/11/2019, 07:06) Like (4) Dislike (9) Reply
    Very good choice she is smart and born here... but like many she needs to go take over from Robert whoes time is up
  • ccc (14/11/2019, 07:20) Like (1) Dislike (5) Reply
    Very good appointment
  • PLEASE READ (14/11/2019, 08:59) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    She was manager of the Financial Service ENTITY- Mossack Fonseca not Financial Service Commission. Smh
  • i from here (14/11/2019, 12:29) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
    Another VIP follower appointed...SMH
  • Jane (14/11/2019, 17:05) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply

    Mrs Flax headed up Mossack Fonseca's operations here in BVI. The FSC ultimately fined Mossack Fonseca $440,000 for regulatory breaches, the largest fine they have ever given. The impact of Mossack Fonseca's wrongdoings, which came to light through the "Panama Papers" has directly impacted the core driver of the BVI economy, company incorporations, which suffered a significant downturn as a direct consequence. The damage done to BVI internationally was considerable and the industry has not, and will likely, never fully recover. That is dollars and cents which could have gone toward schools, roads and healthcare for BVIsanders. 

    • Silly (14/11/2019, 19:28) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      @Jane the company was fined and a fraction of the owners took the fall. It would do you some good to know that this happened several years after Mrs Flax left and also that those same owners fought against local regulations, which is perhaps what ended up being their downfall. Stop trying to taint Mrs Flax's name and record; you clearly have a hidden agenda.
  • bullet (14/11/2019, 19:16) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    The one who calls herself Jane is unfortunately full of it. You obviously don’t know the story behind Mossack Fonseca’s demise so you should get the facts before you judge her. Financial Services lost a case in the High Court against Mossack but of course you don’t know anything about that. Why don’t you ask Robert Mactavious and they did not accept the fine levied by the Courts. When the Panama Papers came out you fool will try to make people believe it’s was Mrs Flax responsible? You are so stupid but you need not try to pin that on her for any one with sense (but that would not include you ) knows better. As for Robert MAC, like everything else his time will come when he will no longer be there and your time as well when you Will no longer be where you are Go and poke your head in a hole and don’t make it your practice to smear people’s names when you know within yourself you are a damn LIAR. Learn the facts they are there to be found.
  • Be informef (14/11/2019, 19:35) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    She ran an excellent ship. I worked there.
    How many years after she retired Mossack was fined?
    When she was there BVI was riding high on her success. She had such a good reputation with the international industry that When she left the industry started declining from then.
    Stop being envious . She is capable and well respected. Envy will kill you.
  • pandy (15/11/2019, 08:02) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    no wonder why the poor people cannot pay their bill.


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