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Opposition Leader among VI delegation on ‘parliamentary’ visit to UK

- Visit is to strengthen Interparliamentary Relations
A delegation from the Virgin Islands (VI) is in the United Kingdom (UK) to engage in constructive interparliamentary discussions with key individuals within Parliament. From left: HoA Public Relations Officer Mr Linton V. Leonard, Member for the Third District Honourable Julian Fraser RA, Leader of the Opposition Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton (AL), Speaker of the HoA Honourable Corine N. George-Massicote, Attorney General Honourable Dawn J. Smith, Member for the Eighth District Honourable Marlon A. Penn, Clerk of the House of Assembly Ms Phyllis Evans, and the Acting Director of the BVI London Office Ms Tracy Bradshaw. Photo: GIS
The delegation’s visit got underway with an initial meeting with Speaker George-Massicote and the UK House Speaker, Honourable Lindsay H. Hoyle. Photo: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor (Attribution 3.0 Unported [CC BY 3])/File
The delegation’s visit got underway with an initial meeting with Speaker George-Massicote and the UK House Speaker, Honourable Lindsay H. Hoyle. Photo: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor (Attribution 3.0 Unported [CC BY 3])/File
LONDON, United Kingdom- A delegation from the Virgin Islands (VI) is in the United Kingdom (UK) to engage in constructive interparliamentary discussions with key individuals within Parliament.

The high-level delegation is being led by the Speaker of the House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands, Honourable Corine N. George-Massicote.

Key figures from the VI's political landscape, include Minister for Communications and Works, Honourable Kye M. Rymer (R5); Leader of the Opposition Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton (AL); Attorney General, Honourable Dawn J. Smith; Member for the Third District, Honourable Julian Fraser RA and Member for the Eighth District, Honourable Marlon A. Penn.

The group was also accompanied by the Clerk of the House of Assembly, Ms Phyllis Evans; Public Relations Officer, Mr Linton V. Leonard and the Acting Director of the BVI London Office, Ms Tracy Bradshaw. 

The delegation undertook a momentous mission to the UK on a collaborative journey to strengthen interparliamentary relations and modernise the House of Assembly, initiatives that were pushed in a major way by former Speaker Julian Willock.

Mission of delegation

According to a press release from Government Information Services (GIS) today, July 20, 2023, throughout their visit the VI delegation sought to foster stronger ties with UK counterparts, making strides to enhance collaboration, exchange best practices, and promote mutual understanding in various parliamentary matters.

The delegation also held a series of crucial meetings hosted at the House of Commons, with the gracious support of the Interparliamentary Relations Office. 

The delegation’s visit got underway with an initial meeting with Speaker George-Massicote and the UK House Speaker, Honourable Lindsay H. Hoyle. This momentous encounter paved the way for in-depth discussions on vital matters concerning parliamentary affairs, governance, and interparliamentary cooperation.

According to the GIS press release, the insights gained from this mission will be instrumental in furthering the Territory’s parliamentary practices and enhancing governance mechanisms, commencing with this Fifth House of Assembly. 

35 Responses to “Opposition Leader among VI delegation on ‘parliamentary’ visit to UK”

  • ,,,,,,,,,,,, (20/07/2023, 22:24) Like (16) Dislike (2) Reply
    What a set of wasters! Right now the government needs to limit non-essential travel, until such time as the public officers and firemen get their due compensation.
  • well saw (21/07/2023, 00:34) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
    This is a big delegation. I thought they were concern with spending.
  • Wasting time (21/07/2023, 00:35) Like (5) Dislike (14) Reply
    The UK do not keep their word and they see the BVI & all OTs as inferior and they as superior. Independence is the only way forward now.
  • East End woman (21/07/2023, 00:37) Like (5) Dislike (7) Reply
    You will never please the UK even if the BVI implements the UK self-written 48 recommendations from their COI that they are calling independent. They will still find fault in other areas. Time to move on.
  • please (21/07/2023, 00:41) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    Please find out from them how much the UK paid their Commissioner of the COI for whom they hand-picked. The people of the BVI also needs to know how much they paid overall to do their self-imposed COI. All documentation from the Governor to the UK requesting such and the reasons also need to be made public as well as their response. Transparency is a two-way street.
    • @Please (21/07/2023, 10:43) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Please tell your district rep to push for Freedom of Information legislation: without that in place we are not legally entitled to the information you seek.
  • Justice now (21/07/2023, 00:43) Like (5) Dislike (7) Reply
    Inform them slavery is abolished and any tactics which reflects slavery like the two orders of council against the BVI MUST BE ABOLISHED FORTHWITH!!!
  • Lb (21/07/2023, 00:58) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Nothing will change when they return!
    • @Lb (21/07/2023, 06:10) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
      only thing that will change is we will have spent about 30,000 usd
      for them to go sight seeing and shopping.
      lets see their phone roaming charges :-)
  • Really? (21/07/2023, 04:32) Like (12) Dislike (3) Reply
    Clerk Phyllis has passed 65 years old please the public would like to know why is she still n the job????
    • @ really? (21/07/2023, 06:21) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
      And the thing is she is not even effective, the house of assembly is the same for the pass 23 years nothing new there!
      • @ Really? (21/07/2023, 08:12) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply

        The clerk don't control the laws, don't you watch the ^%&*@ HOA, the Ministers & Speaker decides. Y'all just need st*u

    • @Really (21/07/2023, 08:11) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
      The same reqson alyo vote Ronnie and Lorna back in, aren't they pass 65
  • justin (21/07/2023, 04:34) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    no wonder some can not get paid
  • Anonymous (21/07/2023, 06:22) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Both the Dpp and the attorney general are over their heads they both need to go!
    • Rubber Duck (21/07/2023, 07:28) Like (7) Dislike (3) Reply
      The AG is doing ok. The DPP is hopeless.
      • to Rubber Duck (21/07/2023, 08:57) Like (8) Dislike (3) Reply
        This AG is the worse ever. She tries to run the government from her office as she goes pass her remitt. She hardly does anything other than speak eloquently and hold up everything for months.
  • WHAT!!! (21/07/2023, 07:12) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    I would really like to know how many $ of our tax money is spent on air travel , hotels, food , transportation. This waste of time government always travelling somewhere at our expense.
  • talking from jail (21/07/2023, 07:20) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    how come Mitch and Natalio missed this trip? They love the plane!!!!
  • resident (21/07/2023, 08:43) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    that's all they good for wasting money and taking pictures
  • People I am neutral (21/07/2023, 08:59) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Orders in Coumcil are modern day slavery whips and they must be banned as anyone who uses them or supports them are supporting slavery and not democracy. Slavery has heen abolished. Don't forget the UK also has one for the financial services. This does not reflect a modern partnership. Together as a people we must fight to have this slavery tool IMMEDIATELY ABOLISHED!!!
  • THE REAL QUESTION (21/07/2023, 09:42) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Will Fraser find a decent barber over there?
  • TurtleDove (21/07/2023, 09:52) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Most of you are just jealous in 2022 the esteemed made this same trip with a bigger delegation and not one word

    You all just for who you for; some of you need to put up and go run or shut the hell up
  • piglet (21/07/2023, 09:55) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    I hope that Male Hog and Female Hog from West Side behaved themselves in the people's place. There is no mud to root up in the UK so I don't know why they made the trip.
  • smh (21/07/2023, 10:00) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    How come the Opposition didn't speak out against them taking this trip? I don't see the Hon. Minister mentioned in this photo. Looks more like n the Opposition Coup.
  • Rubber Duck (21/07/2023, 10:24) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
    May e the UKwill arrest them while they are there.

    Like Fahie in the US.

    We live in hope
  • Manjack (21/07/2023, 11:58) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    ...” to engage in constructive in interparliamentary discussions with.....” Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!! Travel cost to represent the VI/BVI is a cost of having a representative democracy. Is this group of mostly political leaders a travel junket?
  • Stay in we corner (21/07/2023, 15:25) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hope fraser Ronnie and Marlon not working on kye to cross
  • He did not go (21/07/2023, 15:28) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Stop tell lies that Myron can’t travel as the police has his travel documents


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