Residents of The Virgin Islands, I trust that you have been following the updates on Danny and like I am, you are thankful that the system has been now been downgraded to a tropical storm.

Dear Residents and Visitors,

As you are aware Hurricane Danny is approaching the Virgin Islands, and while it is still more than one thousand miles south east of the Territory, forecasters are predicting that we would be impacted by tropical force winds by Monday or Tuesday.

Residents of The Virgin Islands, by now you would be aware that Danny has been upgraded to Category 3 Hurricane. As a result, I have authorised the activation of the National Emergency Operations Centre at Level 2, considering that the Territory will feel some impact from this system by Monday or Tuesday. 

Residents of The Virgin Islands, we have been blessed with a very quiet Atlantic hurricane season but as you are aware, we now face potential impact from the first system to affect the Caribbean this year.

Good afternoon:

This is a historic occasion as the Government of the Virgin Islands, through the Virgin Islands Shipping Registry as its key maritime administration arm, continues to move forward with purposeful resolve to make this area of our economy stronger and more vibrant.  

It was with great sadness that I learned that our former Governor of the Virgin Islands, Mr. Mark Herdman, Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, and Lieutenant of Royal Victorian Order had passed away on August 5. 

My heart has been heavy with a great sadness since yesterday morning when my wife, Lorna woke me up with the news that Mr. Ali had passed.  But today we thank God for Mr. Ali's wisdom that he shared with so many of us, for his generosity, for his vision, for his passion and for his compassion.  We thank God that Mr. Ali came to live amongst us some fifty years ago and helped to make our beloved British Virgin Islands a better place.

Good Evening. I wish to recognise His Excellency the Governor, John S. Duncan OBE, Acting Premier Dr. the Honourable Kedrick Pickering, other Ministers of Government and Members of the House of Assembly, the Deputy Governor Mrs V. Inez Archibald, CBE, Permanent Secretaries and other top managers in the Public Service, recipients of the award of Excellence and other members of the Public Service of the Virgin Islands present here today.

Despite allowing a period of one month and one day for further reflection and consultation, I regret to announce that the Members of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition in the House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands have been unable to agree the recommendation of a Leader of the Opposition in accordance with section 70 (2) (a) of the Virgin Islands Constitution.

Ladies and gentlemen of the media,

I thank you for being here this afternoon. This is first of many press briefings to come.

As a reminder, this forum is two-fold. It provides an opportunity for me to inform you of the work of my Government. Secondly, it provides an opportunity for us to have discourse about the work of my Government.