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Speeches> Speech from the Throne 1996 |
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Speech From the
Throne 1996
Honourable Speaker Honourable Members of the Legislature Thank you for inviting me to address you on the occasion of the opening of the Second Session of the Thirteenth Legislature of the Virgin Islands. I feel greatly honoured to represent Her Majesty today, as I set out the policies and legislative programme of this Government for this Territory's continued progress and prosperity. Sir, I ask your indulgence for just a moment to thank every Honourable Member of this House for the assistance they have given to me over the fifteen months since I took office as Governor in understanding the aims, aspirations and priorities of the people of the Territory whom they collectively represent. In April this year the Chief Minister and Minister of Finance delivered his Budget Address which he aptly described as the annual blueprint for this Territory’s continued development. Today’s address should be seen as complementary to the Budget. The Government emphasizes: A healthy and well regulated financial services industry is a primary goal. The success of this territory as a financial centre is largely rooted in the partnership between this Government, the local financial community and Her Majesty's Government. We will continue to work together to maintain and safeguard the probity, integrity and stature of the BVI as a quality jurisdiction for legitimate cross-border international business. New legislative initiatives will be introduced in respect of Limited Life Companies, Business and Trade Names, Ships Registration and Intellectual Property, particularly Trademarks, Copyrights and Patents. Legislation relating to Financial Services will be revised to ensure that our programmes and policies accord with acceptable international standards and are fully responsive to market requirements. The agenda for this Session will also include provisions to amend the Banks and Trust Companies Act, 1990, the Company Management Act, 1990, and the Insurance Act, 1994. The Government remains committed to heightening vigilance against unscrupulous and undesirable elements and to fighting all types of economic crime. In this regard, an All Crimes Money Laundering Bill will be brought before the House early in this Session. The Government is further resolved to proactively – and I stress proactively - cooperate with overseas regulatory and law enforcement organizations in the fight against cross-border crime. The Government will also give legal status to the Association of Registered Agents Revised Code of Conduct which updates the "Know Your Customer" and Due Diligence principles to which all licensees are expected to adhere faithfully. To better serve our important Far East Market, I am pleased to announce that it is planned to establish a Satellite Companies Registry in Hong Kong. This will facilitate the ability of the Companies Registry to issue authorized Chinese Language registration certificates, and foster the approval of BVI International Business Companies with Chinese names and characters. Turning to our domestic financial policies, fiscal policy will continue to be based on the principle of a balanced budget with sufficient surplus on the Recurrent Account to fund an increasing share of our capital programmes together with an allocation to reserves. Legislation will be introduced to amend the Finance Act to bring certain provisions, as these relate to financial accounting, more in line with the expanding growth of the public finances and most importantly, to increase our reserves to a very significant level as a shield should there be a down turn in the economy. Regulations under the said Act will ensure greater public accountability. A Bill to amend the Land and House Tax Ordinance will be introduced to rationalize the payment of property taxes. The Income Tax Ordinance will be amended to, among other things, offer incentives for increased private savings and to provide for a portion of tax-free income. A Bill to repeal and replace the Customs Duties Ordinance and a new Bill, the Customs Management Act, will be introduced early in this Session of the Legislature. We are all aware of the great importance of the Tourist industry to the economy. Earlier this year the Government commissioned a Tourism Development Strategy for the next ten years completed after wide consultations. The recommendations are based upon the Environment, the Product, the Human Component, Marketing and the Institutional Framework. The guiding principle is to ensure that British Virgin Islanders become full participants in this industry. New Tourist Promotion offices are being opened this year in Atlanta, USA and Milan, Italy. The BVI will host a number of international food and wine travel writers this November as part of its strong promotional efforts in North America and Europe. Two hundred German tourists will visit the BVI to participate in the sailing KARIBIK TROPHY in November. This event had moved elsewhere in the Caribbean, but is now returning to the BVI and the participants will visit Anegada for the first time. Access by visitors to the entire BVI, to ensure that all of the people benefit from tourism, is a strong priority of the Government. To this end, work has started on the design of the new Beef Island Airport Terminal and ancillary facilities, and similar work will commence within the next few months on development of Virgin Gorda Airport. Work is well in hand for the resurfacing of the runway of the Aguste George Airport in Anegada. The Government is fully committed to the carefully planned development of all of the islands of this Territory. Since January over 20 persons on Anegada have received land titles. Government is committed to increasing those numbers substantially so that Anegadians can participate in the development of that island which has so much potential especially for ecotourism. The Government together with the people of Anegada recognize the need for the careful development of this island to protect the fragile ecosystems. Major infrastructual works including electricity, roads, the provision of potable water, improvement of health and educational services are being carried out in Jost Van Dyke. People naturally expect their government to fight crime and to ensure that their communities are safe to live in. The Government will continue to fully support the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force in their valiant efforts to fight drug related and all other crimes. I call on the BVI community as a whole to give full support to the police in their work. The Government has responded to their specific needs with a range of initiatives including the provision of new police barracks and equipment. Our aim is to further reduce crime. Statute law in the BVI comprising the criminal laws is embodied in various scattered enactments dating as far back as 1842. During this Session of Council, a new Criminal Code will be introduced which will consolidate and clarify existing criminal laws in a single statute. Our youth represent our future and their concerns therefore are of paramount importance. To address these the Government will implement a National Youth Policy within the next twelve months. Consideration will also be given to further measures to protect the rights of children. Implementation of the Five Year Education Reform Plan is proceeding satisfactorily. The new classroom blocks at the BVI High School are now operational and have significantly improved the quality of accommodation available to our students. Plans are well in hand for the implementation of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Education Reform Strategy and it is expected that Education Ministers will consider a model Education Bill for adoption in Member countries. An expanded national sports policy will be laid before you during this Session. The Government attaches the highest priority to maximising the employment of native British Virgin Islanders throughout the economy. Work brings both dignity and security. I am therefore proud to announce an initiative by this Government to ensure that our people are employed at every level of both the public and private sectors. A small ad hoc committee has been formed and should report its findings to the Minister for Labour within the next three months. Public Sector training will also continue to receive very high priority. There is a substantial training programme involving both in-country training and training overseas. For example, at this very moment, our Immigration officers are receiving intensive training. The H. Lavity Stoutt Community College continues to play a key role in providing relevant training for the people of this Territory and for our youth in particular. The College continues to exhibit steady and healthy growth. In keeping with the OECS Education Reform Strategy establishing Centres of Specialization, the College has sought and received designation as the Regional Centre for Applied Marine Studies. Once fully established, the Centre will draw students from throughout the region to undertake studies in this field. Furthermore, the College now offers a course in Corporate and Trust Administration in order to help train our youth for jobs in the growing financial services sector. Health care is another important service. The Government is continuing the process of health sector reform which is intended to provide for more efficient, accountable and effective delivery of health care services throughout the Territory. The Government attaches high priority to the establishment of a National Health Insurance Scheme for the Territory. The requisite studies will be carried out during this Session of Council. A measure to provide for increases in pensions will be laid before you early in this Session. An actuarial study for a funded pensions scheme will be undertaken shortly. A measure to increase the level of assistance grants to the needy will be introduced as recommended by the Public Assistance Committee and the measure will be laid before this House soon. The Government views with concern the recent tragic events related to domestic violence. This problem is already receiving attention at the national level. Government further intends to undertake a major study on domestic violence and to develop a coordinated policy for all the agencies concerned. The Government will introduce a new Public Lands Act to provide for more efficient administration of public lands. The Government will strengthen legislation governing parks and protected areas to, among other things, provide for the levying of fees in some parks. New environmental legislation with respect to fisheries and coastal conservation will be introduced. A new Labour Code will be introduced during this Session. Turning to public utilities, the Government will investigate the feasibility of bringing the management of water and electricity services under one authority. Action is being taken to increase the efficiency of the Public Works Department. With the increase in the number and frequency of hurricanes, this Government will move swiftly to introduce and enforce a modern Building Code. A Bill to provide the necessary legislative authority for adequate hazard mitigation and emergency management will be introduced. Consumer protection legislation will be introduced early during this Session. A Bill will be introduced to make it a criminal offence for a person to issue a cheque knowing there are insufficient funds for its clearing. Re-examination of the fee structure prescribed by the Ports Authority Regulations (1995) has become necessary and is currently on-going. A Bill to provide for the collection of statistics will be introduced. Modern postal and communication facilities are indispensable to the continued growth of our economy in general and our financial services in particular. The Government recognizes this need and is initiating the development of a master plan for the improvement of these services. The Government is committed to the creation of a physical environment that will allow for the enhancement of the quality of life for all residents. With the assistance of the United Nations Development Programme an integrated physical and economic development strategy is being developed assisted by public consultations. Following these consultations the plan will be finalized and laid before this House. Once approved, the strategy will be used as a major policy instrument for guiding development. The development of small businesses by B.V. Islanders is a high priority for this Government. Legislation to create more incentives for the participation of small businesses in the economy will be introduced during this Session of the Council. The Development Bank of the Virgin Islands is expected to play an important role in achieving this objective. We appreciate the contribution of our commercial banks to the economy, but I would call on them to pay greater attention to the needs of our small businesses. Indeed, the Government would suggest that they should train staff specially to assist such persons. Government must provide the right environment for investment opportunities by British Virgin Islanders. Indeed, the time has come for British Virgin Islanders to be given a reasonable opportunity to acquire equity in key enterprises operating in the Territory including utility companies which benefit from exclusive arrangements. The Government plans to develop a policy to give effect to this after wide consultation. One of the main roles of Government is to protect its people, by ensuring that at all times the integrity of their customs, their culture and their traditions are preserved and protected. As one aspect of this the Government will ensure that the provision in the Constitution that allows for the grant of automatic acquisition of belonger status is removed. It is expected that this will reduce the incentive to contract marriages of convenience. The Government will strengthen the Immigration Department to ensure that the Department can properly enforce the laws. New policies and initiatives will be considered regarding the grant of naturalisation taking into account the benefits that such grants will bring to the people of the Territory. It must be made clear that the people of the Territory must have first place in the Territory and the Government is pledged to do just that. It is also of paramount importance that British Virgin Islanders respond willingly to their duty as citizens of this small and beautiful country and help to continue to keep it the paradise it is. The Government looks forward to continuing consultations with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office concerning the implementation of the various recommendations in the Constitutional Commissioners' Report. A full transcript of the debate on the Report in this Honourable House at the end of the last Session has been sent to the Secretary of State. As recommended by the Commission, a committee will be set up to consider the cost of independence. Its composition will be announced before the end of this year. Finally, the Government will introduce the "Prevention of Bribery and Corruption Act" aimed at promoting proper ethical conduct on the part of public servants, both elected and appointed, during this Session. Honourable Mr. Speaker and Members of this House, I pray God's blessings on all of your deliberations.
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