BVI delegation visits UK parliament to strengthen relations

A high-profile delegation from the Virgin Islands (VI) recently embarked on a significant visit to the United Kingdom (UK) Parliament, with the primary goal of bolstering inter-parliamentary relations and modernising the House of Assembly (HOA) back home.

According to a release from the HOA, the delegation was led by House Speaker, Corine George-Massicote, and included key figures from the territory’s political landscape.

Among those in attendance were Minister for Communications and Works Kye Rymer, Opposition Leader Ronnie Skelton, Attorney General Dawn Smith, Third District Representative Julian Fraser, and Eighth District Representative Marlon Penn.

The group was accompanied by Clerk of the HOA Phyllis Evans, Public Relations Officer Linton Leonard and Acting Director of the BVI London Office, Tracy Bradshaw.

A a series of crucial meetings hosted at the House of Commons where the delegation was able to foster stronger ties with UK counterparts and make strides to enhance collaboration, exchange best practices, and promote mutual understanding in various parliamentary matters.

An initial meeting was held between George-Massicote and UK House Speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, and this set the stage for in-depth discussions on vital matters concerning parliamentary affairs, governance, and inter-parliamentary cooperation.

According to the release, the interactive meetings covered a wide range of topics that included the standing orders, digital transformation, bill committees, the Inter-parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) – how it works and the role of the UK’s Governance Office.

The exchanges were described as productive and the HOA said discussions underscored a mutual commitment to bolstering inter-parliamentary cooperation, sharing expertise, and learning from each other’s experiences.

Officials said insights gained from the mission will be instrumental in furthering the territory’s parliamentary practices and enhancing governance mechanisms, commencing with this Fifth House of Assembly.