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Take it back! ‘We will not accept that rule’ - Hon Mark H. Vanterpool

-district representatives attempt one last rally for residents to take part in Decision March
Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool (R4), Minister for Communication and Works, explained that as a result of the imperial legislation, the territory would lose approximately $200 million from its $300 million revenue annually, while pointing out that the pockets of the residents will be affected by this loss in revenue. Photo: VINO/File
Honourable Delores Christopher, Deputy Speaker and Fifth District Representative, left, and Honourable Alvera Maduro-Caines, Sixth District Representative, right, believe that the residents of the Virgin Islands should stand up for their rights and participate in the Decision March slated for today, May 24, 2018. Photo: VINO/File
Honourable Delores Christopher, Deputy Speaker and Fifth District Representative, left, and Honourable Alvera Maduro-Caines, Sixth District Representative, right, believe that the residents of the Virgin Islands should stand up for their rights and participate in the Decision March slated for today, May 24, 2018. Photo: VINO/File
According to Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool (R4), Minister for Communications and Works, the people of the Virgin Islands (VI) will
According to Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool (R4), Minister for Communications and Works, the people of the Virgin Islands (VI) will "not accept" the UK decision. Photo: Team of Reporters
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – As the territory prepares for the most significant march in years, today May 24, 2018, Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool (R4), Minister for Communications and Works, along with Honourable Delores Christopher, Deputy Speaker and Fifth District Representative and Honourable Alvera Maduro-Caines (R6), came together for one last rally to convince the people in their district why they should take part in the march.

The Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill received the Royal Assent and became an Act yesterday, May 23, 2018, bringing into force the United Kingdom’s move to impose public registers on Overseas Territories, including the Virgin Islands (VI), which will severely affect the economy.

Hon Vanterpool explained that as a result of the imperial legislation, the territory would lose approximately $200 million from its $300 million revenue annually, while pointing out that the pockets of the residents will be affected by this.

The rally was held on May 23, 2018, at the Market Square in Road Town.

“I want you to understand it because it will affect your pocketbook. Of the $300 million that we run our country as a government, they want to take away nearly $200 million which will change our lives completely,” Hon Vanterpool said.

He continued, “The United Kingdom government has decided that our financial services business, which attract hundreds and thousands of companies to register here the Virgin Islands under international law and international rules, that they want to be able to have public registry where their press, their people or anyone can go and look in that registry and see whose names are on those companies.”

The communication minister emphasised that this decision will discourage companies from investing in the territory.

“When that happens, the mere purpose of the privacy of those businesses being here would have been lost, and therefore we would have lost our financial services. That means that 400,000 companies who provide to us here in the territory some $190 million in revenue to the government, employment to many here in the VI and many others throughout the world, Hong Kong everywhere, it means that will be lost.”

Hon Vanterpool mentioned that the VI had upheld international standards thus far and emphasised that the people of the territory must stand up against this decision.

“We cannot stand and let that happen. It is going to affect many other parts of the economy,” he reiterated.

“Send a message to the UK”

Meanwhile, the minister encouraged residents to come out and march and not to stand on the side or look out from inside their homes.

“We must stand up and stand up for our rights. So tomorrow don’t stand by, stand at the side of the roads, or don’t stand in your homes peeping out, get up, get out and get to the Sunday Morning Well at 4.00 P.M.”

He continued, “Let us march down to the Governor, whether he is there or not. We want to send a message to the United Kingdom that we as a people of the Virgin Islands will not accept that rule and they better go carry it back where it come from.”

8 Responses to “Take it back! ‘We will not accept that rule’ - Hon Mark H. Vanterpool”

  • Hope (24/05/2018, 10:52) Like (12) Dislike (2) Reply
    According to the movie ‘Taken’ GOODLUCK
  • sad day (24/05/2018, 11:08) Like (11) Dislike (3) Reply

    MR VANTERPOOL you are right it will hurt our pockets because we were fool by the NDP  Be care full with your words when the wise talk the fool listen.

  • voter (24/05/2018, 11:28) Like (13) Dislike (4) Reply

    was this not the same person who was saying he loves the British and they are good? and we must vote for the recovery board act and we will get hang if we don't.

    Boss good from here

  • YOLO (24/05/2018, 21:35) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    Wasted of time we are under the queen what she say goes... this just a distraction from the real problem... government is lie in to the people... they should of use the money and boast the economy buy having a great tourist attraction and have tourist as our main economy......we had the time we had the money but Goverment steel the money and do what they want with it... this is the result just deal with it
  • BRAD BOYNES (24/05/2018, 22:10) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Face of deceit. Don't really care to here from this Judas right about now.
  • For GOD Sake (25/05/2018, 01:16) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    And the most crooked High one says or is it Simon says? I rebuke thee.
  • Cookie Monsters (25/05/2018, 04:29) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    Sorry but I'm not marching with this NDP Government because it's their fault UK did what they did. It's clear to see that with how much money disappearing through NDP hands (no financial auditing, no transparency, monies unaccounted for etc) UK has had enough and I cant blame them. Why are we marching with this government when up to now, they have never given the people of the VIs explanations for the nonsense thats been happening. We shouldve been marching when Myron didnt show us how the highschool wall couldve cost so much, when we found out the government actually gave the airlines millions prior it's even in operation, for Mark not being able to explain how the cruise ship pier cost so.much more than estimated though inferior materials were used, etc. It's sad how VIslanders dont know how to march for civil injustices but we're marching nowthat our mother country strategically imposing ways to keep cookies out of the cookie jar away from the cookie monsters!
  • Rubber Duck (28/05/2018, 14:20) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    You should learn to fight with your brain not your mouth. What exactly does “ public register “ mean? Put it in a shed in an inaccessible part of Anagada. Open it up every Tuesday for an hour and charge $50,000 tp take a look. Only crooks and journalists ( pretty much the same thing) will want to look at it anyway.


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