This was stated by the Junior Minister for Financial Services and Economic Development, Honourable Lorna G. Smith, OBE (AL), during her appearance on the Umoja programme on ZBVI 780 AM on September 18, 2025.

Dr Mathavious passed away on Sunday, September 14, 2025, in the United States after a lengthy battle with illness.  

He served over thirty-five years in the public service, with his most recent position before retirement being Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the BVI Financial Services Commission (FSC).

He understood globalisation

Honourable Smith emphasised the importance of celebrating Dr Mathavious as "the" visionary leader in financial services, stating, he saw the "niche, being the BVI becoming the corporate democile, and as I've been thinking about Robert in the last 48 hours or so, I realised that Robert understood the concept of globalisation better and before any of us really understood globalisation, how we could support each other in terms of the creation of wealth."

She recalled his understanding of globalisation and mentioned an organisation that Dr Mathavious helped establish, the International Trade and Investment Organisation.  

According to the Junior Minister, this organisation included countries engaged in international business, such as offshore nations throughout the Caribbean, as well as distant countries like Vanuatu and the Cook Islands. 

Honourable Smith further stated, "At the time, we received support from the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth gave us a lot of financial support, and this was because of Robert's vision and because Robert would go to the Commonwealth Secretariat [in the United Kingdom ]."

She said Dr Mathavious' efforts strengthened the VI's financial services jurisdiction and the region's.