DesRoad Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands, June 18, 2018…Describing this as one of the most productive Caribbean Week events that she has ever attended, British Virgin Islands Director of Tourism Mrs. Sharon Flax Brutus, said that the Territory benefitted from fruitful discussion on tourism issues with their regional counterparts, connected with supporters of the BVI from the travel trade and was able to provide updates to the media on the state of tourism in the Territory.  The Director was part of a local delegation led by Junior Minister of Tourism, Hon. Archibald Christian, which attended the annual Caribbean Week New York event from June 3-9, 2018.   Deputy Director of Tourism Mr. Rhodni Skelton, was also part of the delegation.  They were joined by members of the BVI Tourist Board’s North American staff in attending the various activities for Caribbean Week New York.

Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE continues to host mini conferences in Asia to promote the BVI’s traditional and new business and financial services offerings.

The Premier will attend meetings in Beijing this week to promote the interests of the British Virgin Islands and has asked the Deputy Premier to stand in for high level political meetings in the UK.

The BVI Asia Trade Mission 2018 began its two-week tour of Asian cities on the evening of Sunday, June 3, when Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE, Premier and Minister for Finance of the British Virgin Islands, along with members of the delegation met with a significant potential investor in the tourism sector.

Virtual Reality Tourism, Tourism’s contribution to building more resilient and sustainable countries and Wellness and Rejuvenation Tourism; are just some of the topics that 6 students from the BVI’s secondary schools will be speaking on in this year’s BVI Tourist Board Junior Minister of Tourism Speech Competition.  Three students from the Elmore Stoutt High School, one Seventh Day Adventist Secondary School student and two students from the Bregado Flax Education Centre’s Secondary Division, will compete in the annual debate which will take place at the Moorings Mariner Inn Restaurant at 5:00 pm on Saturday, June 9th.

Brentfield Lettsome’s love of the kitchen sparked at the young age of six, when he would help his mom prepare family meals.  His favourite dish was macaroni and cheese with ground beef.  Fast forward 20 years to today, Brentfield also known as Brent, is one of the Caribbean’s young, up and coming chefs with enviable skills in preparing some of the Caribbean’s most exotic cuisines. His pursuit of his love for cooking has led to his selection as one of the chefs that will be showcasing their culinary talents as part of the Celebrity Chefs Programme for Caribbean Week New York being celebrated from June 3-9, 2018.   

Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE is leading a delegation to five cities in Asia, the BVI’s largest market from June 2 to 17.

Good afternoon members of the media. As you know, this forum provides an opportunity for me to update on matters of the Government. And, especially this afternoon, I’d like to inform you of my upcoming travel to Asia.

Who says you can’t take sand to the beach? The 2018 Miami Open, embraced the BVI Tourist Board when they took the territory to Miami.  A sequel to its first prominent participation last year, the BVI was the exclusive Caribbean destination sponsor at this prestigious event held in Key Biscayne, Florida which took place on March 19 – April 1. The BVI sponsored the daily weather forecast in Key Biscayne.  Prior to each match, the weather forecast was posted on the Miami Open’s Instagram story.  Additionally, patrons were able to sip the world’s famous BVI Painkiller while shaded under branded umbrellas with their toes in the warm sand at the BVI Beach Bar.

Following yesterday’s decision by the UK’s House of Commons to force the Overseas Territories to adopt public registers of beneficial ownership of companies, the Premier of the British Virgin Islands responded swiftly to reassure the financial sector and those who use its services around the world.