Good day and God’s blessings to all my people of our beloved Virgin Islands.

The year 2014 was quite a challenging one for most persons, but to everyone that listens to this message, or reads this message or views this message, we must be thankful to God because that means we are still alive. Once there is life there is hope.

Fellow Virgin Islanders, residents, friends and visitors, the Christmas Season is upon us again and all over the world persons will celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. The celebration takes on different forms depending on customs and religion.

Here in the Virgin Islands as is customary we are busy doing all the things that will make Christmas a memorable and enjoyable season. This involves repainting homes, cleaning, baking tarts, cakes, ham and turkey, making guava beery wine and putting up that Christmas tree local or imported just to name a few.

Season’s Greeting to everyone in the Territory, particularly my people of the sixth district.

God is with us, and I thank Him for being that guiding light and tower of strength as we go through life from day-to-day.

God has shown me over and over again this year that He is worthy to be praised and embraced; and I know you feel the same way, as well.

Hello Virgin Islands, I am Marlon Penn, Representative for the Eight Electoral District, and I would like to take this opportunity to wish all the visitors and residents of the Virgin Islands and their families, especially those in District 8, a Merry Christmas and prosperous 2015. 

Christmas is a time to reflect on the entire year. 

The year 2014, was not one without its challenge, from the ongoing global economic Crisis which continues to have an impact on our local economy, to the challenges faced by our main economic pillar (Financial Services and Tourism).

My fellow Virgin Islanders and friends, I am so pleased and honoured to see so many of you here this morning on this wonderful occasion.

Today is a red-letter day in this Territory - a day many of us have looked forward to for some time.

I am pleased that my Government has once again delivered on its promise to you, to build a better Virgin Islands — a better healthcare system.

The opening of this new Peebles Hospital today is evidence that we have raised the bar of healthcare in this Territory, and there is no turning back!

Today is a red-letter day in this Territory - a day many of us have looked forward to for some time.

Madam Speaker, a few sessions ago I came before this house and give a statement on the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) and the effects that it would have on the Government and the people of the Virgin Islands. In this statement I described briefly the rationale behind FATCA and how it would be expected to affect the industry and private citizens here in the Virgin Islands.

Madam Speaker, after fully analyzing the nature, scope and contents of the US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) and the United Kingdom’s version of the same (referred to as “the UK FATCA”), I am pleased to announce that the Government of the Virgin Islands has decided that in concert with concluding negotiations leading to an Agreement with respect to the UK FATCA as a matter of prior

Earlier this week, Member of the House Assembly of the Virgin Islands, Hon. Julian Fraser, issued a statement on matters largely concerning the US Foreign Accounts Tax Compliance Act (commonly known as “FATCA”).