Deputy Premier, Dr the Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering (R7), is leading a high level Virgin Islands (VI) delegation attending the Joint Ministerial Council – ‘Exiting the EU Negotiations’ meeting, hosted by the UK Government in London. Photo: VINO/File

Lord Tariq Ahmad, the Minister for the OTs. Photo: Internet Source

This, according to a Government Information Service (GIS) public statement dated, June 11, 2018, reaffirming, “the threat to our constitutional rights, cannot go unchallenged, nor can we ignore the potential repercussions of the UK’s exit from the EU.”

Meeting Agenda Expanded

The main focus of the London meeting is on the impact on the Overseas Territories (OTs) of Exiting the European Union, but the meeting’s agenda has been expanded to include a wider discussion on disaster management, given the approaching hurricane season and the “constitutional relationship between the UK and OTs.”

As such, a bi-lateral meeting with Lord Tariq Ahmad, the Minister for the OTs is also planned with the VI Deputy Premier and his delegation.

The government statement quotes Premier, Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE, saying, ‘I am pleased that Dr Pickering is deputising for me at these crucial meetings in London.”

He said, “…we will discuss the UK’s plans for how any adverse impacts on the Overseas Territories created by the UK’s exit from the EU will be mitigated. However, over recent weeks, constitutional matters have clearly come to the fore and the Virgin Islands people and Government have objected in the strongest possible terms to the recent passage of the amendment to the Sanctions and Anti Money Laundering Act.”

The Premier said in the statement, given the new realities, “…we will also discuss this matter and continue to make it clear that not only will we challenge this action but also that we expect a full discussion of our constitutional relationship.”

Hon Pickering will be accompanied by acting Permanent Secretary in the Premier’s Office, Ms Dawn J. Smith and Director of the British Virgin Islands’ (BVI) London Office, Mr E. Benito Wheatley.