Governor Boyd McCleary: ““It is entirely legitimate for the Opposition to look at the protocols and say if the government is adhering to it, and to ask questions and to get answers to those questions.”

Governor Boyd McCleary said it is entirely legitimate for the Opposition Virgin Islands Party to pose questions about the projects being undertaken by the government, and for it to be provided with the answers.

Members of the Opposition, particularly Julian Fraser, have repeatedly complained that the National Democratic Party administration has not been responding to questions posed about infrastructure projects, particularly the proposed expansion of the cruise ship pier on Tortola.

The government, which has selected Tortola Pier Park Group to undertake the expansion, has repeatedly said it is not in a position to respond to the Opposition due to what it described as the public’s interest.

Premier Dr. D. Orlando Smith however dismissed Fraser’s claim that the cruise pier project and others are in breach of the Protocols For Effective Financial Management signed between the current BVI government and the UK.

Asked for his perspective on the matter, Governor McCleary said it is not for him to get involved in BVI politics or to decide if the Protocols have been breached.

He however stated that it is legitimate for the Opposition to ask questions about the Protocols and the infrastructure projects.

“It is entirely legitimate for the Opposition to look at the protocols and say if the government is adhering to it, and to ask questions and to get answers to those questions,” Governor McCleary said.

He noted that it is the UK government that will ultimately decide if the Protocols have been breached by the Smith administration.

“The UK government will no doubt decide whether the BVI government is adhering to the protocols, a challenge can be placed to the government by the opposition… It’s all part of proper means by which democracy works.”

Despite sharing his perspective on the issues, Governor McCleary indicated that it should not be interpreted as being political, adding that political involvement is not part of his job description.

“The Governor is here to sit and carry out his constitutional functions,” he said.

“I have specific responsibility for certain areas, but I don’t want to get into the politics of this country and say the VIP is right or the NDP is right… That’s not what I am here for…”

 Andrew Fahie: “If we implement the CXC for this school year without changing how the school system runs, we are definitely setting up our students for failure.”

Former Education Minister Andrew Fahie has declared that the territory’s students have no fear for exams administered by the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC), but he wants aspects of the local educational system to be adjusted to ensure adequate preparation.

That declaration by Fahie comes days after results of the Secondary School Leaving Examination showed almost 88% of students securing passes, and roughly a year before form five students start sitting CXC exams mandatorily.

Fahie appeared uncertain as to whether teachers and students are being adequately prepared for the transition, but he is optimistic that the territory will do well in the prestigious CXC exams if students are fully prepared.

“I am not afraid of us doing CXC,” the former minister – now Opposition member – said emphatically.

“I am just concerned that we need to make sure that we put in all the mechanisms that need to be put in place to ensure that our students are given the best possible opportunity to be prepared to take the CXC; from the weakest student to the strongest student.”

Fahie further stated that there are still a number of unanswered questions about the level of preparation being spearheaded by the Ministry of Education.

Among the things he wants to know is whether an extra form will be added to the school system, whether classes will run for longer hours each day, and which subjects will be made compulsory for all form five students.

“If we implement the CXC for this school year without changing how the school system runs, we are definitely setting up our students for failure… There are still a lot of questions that I have. I am not against the CXC, but we have to be clear what we are doing when we are dealing with the children’s lives,” he said.

“A lot of times in the Caribbean islands, they have more years than we have to prepare for CXC. So it’s kind of an unfair comparison when we do the comparison of our students to the Caribbean students.”

Exclusion, graveyards and gangs

Fahie said the BVI should be willing to work with other Caribbean countries where CXC exams are dominant, but he does not want the territory to adopt certain bad habits.

He stated that many secondary school students in some countries across the region are not allowed to sit CXC exams because their teachers think they would not be successful.

Most of those students, Fahie added, become involved in crimes and other anti-social behaviours.

“Most of our students in the Caribbean now are not even reaching towards the CXC level. We not hearing from them in CXC; that statistics don’t count them,” he said.

“The statistics that covers them is the one with the jail and the graveyard with the gangs. You check the whole of the Caribbean; there is a gang problem; there are many issues.”

Accreditation programme

To help save the BVI from the negative effects, Fahie suggested that the government should introduce an accreditation programme.
That programme, he said, should monitor students’ performance to find out if they are progressing through the different forms until they are ready to sit the CXC exams.

“Once we marry the two, the future of this territory is extremely bright because we will be able to save our students from low down. Accreditation brings accountability for each grade level in the school system; not just waiting till when it is time for CXC,” Fahie said.

“We have to make sure that not only in the BVI but throughout the entire Caribbean, accreditation bodies are put in place to make sure that each grade level is achieving what they suppose to achieve so that we can ensure that our students continue to excel, and not have the high drop-out rate that we are seeing in the Caribbean.”

The former Education Minister also noted that, once properly prepared, the territory’s students usually do superbly in both regional and international exams.

He said, for example, that BVI students are among the best in the Royal Schools of Music examination which is administered internationally.

A total of 287 students from five schools across the territory sat the exams this year.

Of that number, 252 were successful; securing grade certificates ranging from One to Three.

The private schools – Seventh Day Adventist Secondary and St. Georges Secondary – account for a relatively small percentage of the students who sat the exams.

Seventh Day Adventist Secondary was the territory’s top performer with 100% of its students receiving grade 1 certificates.

The other private school, St. Georges Secondary, secured good passes but ended up with the highest failure rate.

In relation to public schools, Claudia Creque Learning Centre from Anegada finished ahead of Elmore Stoutt High (ESHS) and Bregado Flax Educational Centre.

With 100% of its students earning passes, Claudia Creque finished second overall in terms of grades, behind the privately owned Seventh Day Adventist Secondary.

Elmore Stoutt High, which had the highest number of students sitting the exams, had 87.3 % of them passing.

At Bregado Flax Educational Centre, 86.2% of students were successful in the Secondary School Leaving Examination.

See more detailed statistics below: (schools ranked based on the pass rates).

Seventh Day Adventist Secondary had 24 students sitting the exams, all receiving Grade 1 certificates.

Claudia Creque Learning Centre had five students sitting the exams; all being successful, with four receiving Grade 1 certificates and one receiving a Grade 2.

Elmore Stoutt High School had 213 students sitting the exams, with:

- 74 passes with grade 1 certificates, (same number as last year)

- 60 passes with grade 2 certificates,

- 52 passes with grade 3 certificates, and

- 27 unsuccessful candidates

Bregado Flax Educational Centre on Virgin Gorda had 29 students sitting the exams, with:

- 24 passes with Grade 1 certificates,

- 1 pass with a Grade 2 certificate, and

- 4 unsuccessful candidates

St. Georges Secondary School had 15 students sitting the exams, with:

- 9 passes with Grade 1 certificates,

- 2 passes with Grade 2 certificates, and

- 4 unsuccessful candidates.

The authorities are investigating what they suspect to be the sudden death of businessman Jenaro Anjhinio Callwood.

Callwood, who operated the Wedding Bar and Restaurant in Cane Garden Bay, was pronounced dead at Peebles Hospital on Saturday evening (June 15).

A relative of the deceased told BVI News Online that Callwood collapsed at his business-place hours earlier and was rushed to Peebles Hospital.

Before collapsing, he complained about feeling ill and had asked to be provided with medication.

Callwood died while undergoing treatment at the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit.

Police have investigated the matter and will bring it to the attention of the coroner.

Thirty-one students from the territory’s secondary schools are likely to miss graduation exercises this year because their academic performances were not up to scratch.

To meet graduation requirements, each high school student is required to pass at least five subjects including Mathematics and English Language.

The 31 students, who failed to meet the requirement, were among the hundreds who initially sat the Secondary School Leaving Examinations (SSLE).

Eleven out of the 31 did badly to the extent that they were not given an opportunity to sit the supplementary exams, which would have given them a second shot at the graduation opportunity and also a related certificate.

The remaining 20 students who failed to meet graduation requirement were allowed to sit the supplementary exams because they had passed at least three SSLC subjects, and attained a grade of ‘D+’ in any two.

They however failed the supplementary and are therefore likely to miss the graduation exercises at their respective schools.
Encouraging those who didn’t make the grade, Education Minister Myron Walwyn said they still have an opportunity to improve by continuing in the educational system.

“To our students who were unsuccessful in this year’s exams, our education system still have opportunities for you,” he said.

“I strongly encourage you to utilize the opportunity to enroll in our alternative secondary education program or to seek approval to return to secondary school for another year.”

Rescued

Meanwhile, the graduation hope of 26 secondary students was rescued by the supplementary exams this year.

Those 26 students sat the exam last month, along with the aforementioned 20 that failed.

The supplementary process has been used over the last 10 years as a measure of allowing students a second chance to meet graduation requirements.

This is the first time that supplementary exams have been administered and the results disclosed ahead of the graduation exercises at secondary schools.

That gives the ‘rescued’ students a chance to graduate with their peers who were successful in the initial Secondary School Leaving Examination.

Premier Smith

Premier Dr. D. Orlando Smith has declared that the BVI has been regulating its financial services industry better than even some members of the G-8, but he said the territory’s efforts are not being appreciated.

The G8, to which Premier Smith referred, comprises 11 of the world’s wealthiest nations including the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom.

While making an unusual jab at some members of the group, Premier Smith noted that the territory’s financial regulation is relatively strong.

“In the debate about tax and transparency the fact that the BVI already has stronger financial regulation for trust and corporate service providers, as well as rules regarding beneficial ownership than many countries in the G8 itself has not been adequately appreciated,” he said.

Premier Smith did not disclose the name of the person or country that was not adequately appreciating the BVI’s effort.
His claim however comes as the G8 continues to hold its summit in the United Kingdom.

Two days ahead of the summit, UK Prime Minister David Cameron had called Premier Smith and other leaders of British overseas territories to a meeting.

Cameron

At the meeting, the leaders of the overseas territories agreed to further regulate their respective financial services industries in an effort to curb tax evasion.

Prime Minister Cameron, on the eve of the meeting, told The Guardian that he is ‘passionate’ about tax evasion and considers the act to be ‘criminal’.

With other G8 countries raising similar concerns, and with tax evasion being on the agenda of the group’s summit, Prime Minister Cameron told The Guardian that he was prepared to lead by example.

He stated that he intended to crack down on British accountants, lawyers and business figures who use shell companies – often located in offshore tax havens – to hide the identity of ultimate beneficiaries.

The Guardian further quoted the UK Prime Minister as saying: “I feel very passionately about it (curbing tax evasion).

“The more I have looked into it the more I can see that unless you take action on the tax and transparency agendas you will never get the sort of development and change we want to see.

“Does it raise moral issues? Yes it does. Tax evasion is illegal so it is not immoral, it is criminal. But aggressive tax avoidance raises moral issues.”

Premier Smith working

Since the BVI was implicated in the leak of sensitive finance services information few months ago, Premier Smith has been highlighting the territory’s efforts to fight tax evasion and to unite against the phenomenon.

He stated that, over the past 20 years, the BVI has implemented the highest standards of transparency, accountability and information exchange, as set out by international standard bodies.

At the pre-G8 meeting with Prime Minister Cameron, Premier Smith confirmed the territory’s agreement to the fight against tax evasion through the following steps:

a. To play an active part in the new pilot initiative of multilateral automatic tax information exchange launched by the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain;

b. To prepare national action plans on Beneficial Ownership to meet the FATF standards; and

c. To commit to joining the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance on Tax Matters.

Elaborating on the Multilateral Convention, Premier Smith said it is very similar to the 24 bilateral Tax Information Exchange Agreements (TIEAs) the jurisdictions already put in place.

Tourism and International Transport Minister Richard Sealy said the Caribbean diplomats have secured £40,000 to assist them in this effort.

Sealy, who recently visited the United Kingdom to meet with stakeholders in the tourism industry, said the funds were sourced from a UK-based Jamaican Building Society to assist the High Commissioners in their fight.

He also said the APD Steering Group, of which Barbados’ High Commissioner was a member, was fully on board with the initiative.

“High Commissioner (Hugh) Arthur is fully engaged along with the High Commissioners from the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St Lucia, among others, who are definitely keen and re-energised to engage the British Government. There will also be a £40,000 public campaign as part of the effort,” he added.

The APD, instituted in 1994, is a British environmental tax aimed at offsetting aviation’s carbon footprint. In its initial stage, it was set at £5 (US$7.85) per person.

Regional governments have been lobbying London to remove the tax, which they said negatively affects the growth of the tourism industry since the Caribbean has been placed in a band that makes travel to the region much more expensive than travelling from London to the United States.

Last year, a number of leading international airlines including British Airways, EasyJet, Ryanair and Virgin Atlantic urged Osborne to suspend the planned APD pending the outcome of an independent study of the economic effects of such a tax rise.

The airlines said that the eight per cent increase introduced in April last year would reduce passenger numbers and hinder the UK’s economic recovery.

They said that as a result of the increase, a family of four flying from the UK to the Caribbean would have to pay close to £400 in taxes.

In 2005 such a family would have paid a total of £80 in taxes.

Sealy also said it was “good to hear” that the region was “making noise” on the APD and its impact on travellers.

“We don’t expect the APD to go away but at the same time, we can’t just go silent on the issue and we have to enlist some more partners because this thing is much larger than a tourism issue,” he added.

While commending the High Commissioners for taking the lead in this effort, Sealy said the West Indian and immigrant populations, who played an integral role in the development of the British economy, were affected by the APD.

“They (British Government) cannot just ignore the cries from these people that are performing a significant part of the lifeblood of their nation.

“It is important from a tourism point of view especially for Barbados, because (Britain) is our major source market, but it is also important for those many Barbadians and others who are living in that society who are affected want to come home to visit a sick relative or to attend a funeral.”

“I am not saying that the ticket should be tax free, but it (the taxes) should be within reach,” Sealy said. (CMC)

The Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) has announced that its summer programme will this year target youth from all districts on Tortola. 

Over the seven years that the programme has been in operation, participation was limited to youth from the Seventh and Eighth Districts.

Commenting on the expansion, YEP Executive Director Stacy Mather stated that the ultimate goal is to reach young people throughout the territory, including the other islands.

“We believe in learning to walk before we try to fly. That is why we began by first accommodating the young people in our immediate vicinity in the Eastern End of Tortola,” he said.

“We feel that our programme is well-established, our staff is well trained and we have the resources to bring in young people from all parts of Tortola.”

The 2013 summer activities are organized under the theme A Fantastic Summer.

The first of the two summer sessions will begin July 8 and run through August 2, with the second session commencing August 12 through to August 30.

Participating young people (ages 10-15) will be introduced to:

• Basic Computer skills and research/report writing

• Team Building and Conflict resolution

• Basic Carpentry

• Beginner’s drawing and painting

• Eco friendly Art & Craft

• Basic Gardening

• Environmental and Community based projects

• Outdoor sports (basketball, dodge ball, volleyball, badminton, etc)

Commenting on the upcoming summer programme, YEP Executive Assistant Esther Rabsatt said: “Every summer we try to raise the bar. This year, we hope to have the most exciting summer in YEP history with more activities, more opportunities for young people to learn and grow and more fun for all.”

As in previous years, this year’s summer programme will be supported by local businesses including Sail Caribbean, Guana Island Hotel, Life Works International and Visions, as well as the Ministry of Education.

Registration begins on June 18, interested parents can contact 495 2010 or info@yepbvi.com

Ron Potter

BDO is pleased to announce that Ron Potter has joined the firm as a director in the British Virgin Islands.

Mr. Potter brings over 20 years of experience as an audit and advisory partner in the offshore financial services industry, including investment funds, fund administrators and trust companies.

Throughout his life, Mr. Potter has displayed leadership capabilities.

He graduated as a Valedictorian of the BVI High School and obtained an Honours Degree in Accounting from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill and the professional accounting designation, FCCA.

Mr. Potter has also served as Chairman of the National Bank of the Virgin Islands and is currently a Director of the BVI Health Services Authority.

He is a Past President of the Rotary Club of Tortola and currently serves as Assistant District Governor of Rotary International District 7020, for the BVI.

The appointment adds to BDO’s solid leadership team as he joins existing directors Andy Bickerton, Diana Wheatley and Ryan Geluk.

“Ron is a highly experienced and capable professional who strengthens our offshore financial services audit practice,” Managing Director Andy Bickerton said.

“He comes to us with a proven track record of meeting or exceeding client expectations and will fit in well with the high-quality team we have built at BDO.

“We are delighted that a professional of this calibre and experience is choosing to join us; it stands testament to the increasing reputation of BDO in the BVI, our friendly culture and dedication to exceptional client service to our global client base.”

Ron commented: “Known for years as a market leader in the BVI, BDO has an increasingly prominent reputation in the islands due to the quality and depth of the team and its clients. I am looking forward to playing a role in the continued growth and development of the firm and in particular raising the profile of BDO as the leading firm in the BVI”

BDO is the brand name for the BDO network and for each of the BDO Member Firms. BDO is the world’s 5th largest accountancy network.  The combined fee income of all the BDO Member Firms, including the members of their exclusive alliances, was $6.015 billion in 2012.

The global network has 1,204 offices in 138 countries and more than 54,000 people who provide advisory and accountancy services throughout the world.

Ravi Sukhu runs 43 minutes and 46 seconds to win Saturday’s Ceres Juices 10K Series opener PHOTO: Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway

BVI Athletics Association: Ravi Sukhu and his training partner NiMande Oniasih kicked off the Ceres Juices 10K Series with victories on Saturday. The series runs through November and is a lead up to the 8th BVI Half Marathon.

Sukhu was time in 43 minutes and 46 seconds on the course that started and ended at the A. O. Shirley Recreation Grounds with a circumnavigation of Road Town.

“First of all, I’d like to give thanks and praise to the almighty for giving me the strength and health to train and race,” Sukhu said.

“At the beginning of the race for the first mile, we were going into a headwind and I just had to dig in and stay get over that tough period then keep working and working. No one really challenged me, so I just kept going.”

Oniasih said she liked the overcast weather but, the wind was too strong. “I took control of the race by the Hospital from one of the women who wanted to beat me,” she explained.

“I worked hard to keep control of the race.”

For Brenda Pickering, it was the first time she was ever running a road race.

“I’m going to be doing the series because I’m determined to do a Half Marathon later this year in the Cayman Islands,” said

Pickering who finished in 1 hour and five minutes, noting her company hosts a conference and have participants in the Cayman event.  “It was a little hard today, but I pushed myself because I’m determined to do it and here I am.” 

Final results; Men: 1. Ravindra Sukhu, 43 minutes and 46 seconds. 2. Zebalon McLean, 47:26. 3. Adrian Dale, 48:55. 4. James Shearman, 49:03. 5. Reuben Stoby, 49:15. 6. Joe McIvor, 49:27. 7. Filipe Kreutzer, 51:30. 8. Patrick Ormond, 52:57. 9. Howard Moore, 1:02:57. 10. Stephen Beard, 1:08:48.

Women: 1. NiMade Oniasih, 49:35. 2. Sarah Hayes, 49:51. 3. Clare-Louise Whiley, 50:18. 4. Gillian Howe, 51:45. 5. Samantha Sukhu, 58:00. 6. Darwn Peters, 59:36. 7. Debbie Bell, 59:39. 8. Jenny McIvor, 1:00:01. 9. Sally Blackmore, 1:00.52. 10. Tia Beckmann, 1:03.47. 11. Barbara Pinnock-Smith, 1:05.01. 12. Brenda Pickering, 1:05.29. 13. Philomena Robertson, 1:05.30. 14. Natasha Ruscheinski, 1:07:05. 15. Shirley Liburd, 1:23:42.

Race Walkers, Men: Peter Moll, 2:30:00. Women: 1. Linda Li, 1:36:47. 2. Sophie Bennet, 1:36:47.

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