Dr Robert A. Mathavious, regarded as the father of VI’s financial services sector has been hailed as a man who always strived to be at the top of his game and “Being the best” according to Mrs Kharid T. Fraser, the Deputy Chair of the FSC Board of Commissioners. Photo: Internet Source

Speaking at a dinner on Wednesday, November 17, 2021, at Scrub Island as part of the Dr Mathavious retirement celebrations as former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BVI Financial Services Commission (FSC), Ms Kharid T. Fraser said in his adult life, Dr Mathavious brought forward the same skills and discipline from his athletic sprinting days and coupled it with hard work to push the territory forward. Photo: VINO/File

Speaking at a dinner on Wednesday, November 17, 2021, at Scrub Island as part of Dr Mathavious retirement celebrations as former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BVI Financial Services Commission (FSC), Ms Fraser said in his adult life, Dr Mathavious brought forward the same skills and discipline from his athletic sprinting days and coupled it with hard work to push the territory forward.

Working for the benefit of the VI 

“As the Territory’s Financial Secretary, he ensured that the Territory’s finance policies were formulated and carried out to benefit the citizens; this ensured that the revenues outpaced the expenditures.”

Mrs Fraser continued, “being the fore-runner and architect of the Financial Services Industry, again Robert strived for the top prize.  He championed the cause to ensure the Virgin Islands had and will continue to have a viable product and that the industry will provide top-class service that will outshine the competition.  We know that our product had done that, and we must continue to keep that pace.”

According to Mrs Fraser, the contributions of Dr Mathavious and the work he piloted from the inception just about 38 years ago will only become obscured from everyday life if the people of the VI allow it.

“When an organization is responsible for some 60% of its country’s Budget consistently year after year. That Organization is hugely important. And when it’s the CEO of that organization that is under the microscope to deliver, and they do it year after year. That CEO is big. That CEO has been Robert Mactavious,” she said.

Dr Mathavious 'never wore importance on sleeve' - Mrs. Fraser 

Mrs Fraser said the pressures placed on the FSC to deliver each year are projected in the Government’s Annual Budget, "That projection is not just a figure placed there for show, it’s a figure the government relies upon to run the affairs of the country, and Robert was aware of this,” accounting for some $200M added annually pre-Irma she said.

“You will never know how big Robert was because he never wore his importance on his sleeves,” she said. 

Mrs Fraser extended sincere appreciation and gratitude to Mr Mathavious for his service to the Territory as the first Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Financial Services Commission and on behalf of the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Financial Service Commission, Mr Robin Gaul and the other members.