UPDATE: Trade Dept head Lizette O. George now serving in BVI London Office
Ms. George, is now officially serving as the BVI London Office’s (BVILO) new Management Officer in the United Kingdom (UK) for a period of 12 months, a press release from Government Information Service (GIS) stated today October 17, 2012.
There is an active programme in place whereby middle and senior civil servants are seconded to the London Office. Recently, the Chief Information Officer Geraldine Ritter-Freeman completed a secondment, as well as, Director of Culture Luce Hodge-Smith.
Persons close to Ms. George had told this news site that the officer may have expressed an interest in participating in the secondment/attachment.
Last month, Director of Culture Mrs. Luce Hodge-Smith completed an official handover of the BVILO Management Officer position to Ms. George. Mrs. Hodge-Smith served from October 2011 to September 2012, the GIS press release stated.
Over the course of her secondment, Mrs. Hodge-Smith was instrumental in the London Office’s execution and support of activities related to the London 2012 Olympics, Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, Premier’s Reception, 9th Annual BVI Art and Culture Show and Territory Day Reception, BVI-Hertfordshire Partnership, Annual Student Professional Development Seminar, Artist Development Programme, Legal Mentorship Programme and BVILO Internship Programme, among other things.
Mrs. Hodge-Smith also benefitted professionally from meetings with Commonwealth Secretariat, Commonwealth Foundation, and the UK Government’s Department of Culture Media and Sports.
In an interview with the Department of Information and Public Relations, the Director of Culture described her experience as “truly enriching.”
Mrs. Hodge-Smith added, “My secondment provided me with greater exposure to the BVI’s international relationships with the UK, European Union (EU) and the Commonwealth, which enriched my capacity to engage more meaningfully on behalf of the Territory. I am eager to apply what I have learned to the Department of Culture’s work.”
Commenting on the transition between the two senior civil servants, BVILO Director Kedrick Malone said, “I am pleased with the smooth hand over from Mrs. Hodge-Smith to Ms. George that will help to maintain the continuity of our various programmes and initiatives. The London Office will benefit greatly from Ms. George's experience, both in terms of administration and policy development.”
Ms. George remarked, "I am looking forward to supporting the work of the BVI London Office in the year ahead and hope to gain new insights on international trade and development that will allow me to better serve our Government in the area of policy development upon returning home."
The new management officer’s duties include coordination of annual events such as the 2012 Premier's Reception and 10th Annual Art and Culture Show and Territory Day Reception and the administering of the Hertfordshire Twinning Partnership. She will also oversee the office’s administrative operations and provide policy support to the Director and Premier's Office where it concerns UK, EU and Commonwealth related trade matters.
Ms. George is the Director of Trade and Consumer Affairs, a post which she has held since the department was established in 2006. She holds a Master of Business Administration with a concentration on global business and international trade from Johnson & Wales University; a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of the Virgin Islands; and numerous Trade related certificates.
Trade Department
Anyone wishing to do business in the Virgin Islands (VI) must have a trade license issued by the Trade and Consumer Affairs Department. It is usually signed by the Premier, however, limited permission has been granted recently to the Director of Trade to address local applications. The Department of Trade and Consumer Affairs oversees all matters of trade in the Territory.
It is unclear, whether like many other countries, some in the Caribbean and Europe, if there are any businesses set aside for Virgin Islanders. In other words, if there are policies in place whereby only locals can participate in a certain sector.
Trade Licenses typically take about four to six weeks for approval. Once you have your Trade License approved, one has to register with both the Social Security Board and the Inland Revenue Department, so you can pay both social security and taxes as per the Act that governs both agencies.
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