L-R: Assistant Secretary General/UNDP Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Mr. Luis Felipe López-Calva and BVI Special Envoy E. Benito Wheatley. Photo: Provided

A section of East End, Tortola, Virgin Islands. Mr E. Benito Wheatley, the Virgin Islands (VI) Special Envoy for the Government, has hailed the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as a key partner in supporting the territory’s recovery and development after the hurricanes of 2017. Photo: VINO

My Wheatley in calling for deeper relations made the comments during a courtesy call at UN Headquarters in New York on Assistant Secretary-General/UNDP Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Mr Luis Felipe López-Calva, on June 27, 2019.

Commenting on the diplomatic visit, the Special Envoy said, “UNDP has been instrumental in the progress of our recovery and is a valued partner. I conveyed to Mr López-Calva, Premier Andrew A. Fahie’s gratitude to the agency for the technical assistance provided to the Premier’s Office, Ministry of Finance and wider BVI Government over the course of the last two years.”

He further noted that the current Administration is seeking to broaden and deepen the VI’s partnership with the UNDP, “as the islands continue to recover and plans are developed for the long-term development of the Territory.”

A release on the visit noted that among other things, the UNDP has facilitated workshops on a blue economy strategy and mainstreaming gender in crisis response and recovery.

The agency has also provided direct technical assistance in recovery planning and procurement.