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Gov’t announces changes in ministerial portfolio assignments

The government has announced several changes to ministerial portfolios in a release issued yesterday, November 5.

Governor Daniel Pruce signed the instruments of appointment, formalising the adjustments. However, the reasons behind the shift were not immediately clear.

Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley now oversees the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sustainable Development, the Ministry of Financial Services, Economic Development, and Digital Transformation, and of course, the Premier’s Office. He is supported by Junior Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr Karl Dawson, and Junior Minister for Culture and Tourism, Luce Hodge-Smith.

The Premier’s Office now oversees Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security, and Veterinary services, previously managed by the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change. Additionally, Constitutional Advancement has been formally added to its responsibilities, reinforcing its leadership in constitutional matters.

The Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sustainable Development has incorporated Statistics from the Ministry of Financial Services, Labour, and Trade, and District Councils from the Premier’s Office, broadening its scope to include data management and local governance.

Formerly known as the Ministry of Financial Services, Labour, and Trade, the Ministry of Financial Services, Economic Development, and Digital Transformation has been renamed to reflect its expanded role. It now includes Cooperatives, Industrial Development (including incentives), Immigration, the Registration Apprenticeship Training Employment Development (RATED) Programme, and Weights and Measures.

Under the leadership of Deputy Premier Honourable Julian Fraser, the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change has taken on additional responsibilities. These include Building Inspection and Standards, Electrical Inspection, Housing, and Town and Country Planning.

Fraser, a seasoned politician with over 25 years of experience, was recently appointed Deputy Premier, succeeding Lorna Smith. After his appointment, Premier Wheatley expressed confidence in Fraser’s ability to contribute to the government’s mission, citing his vast political experience.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Communications and Works has gained responsibility for Alternative Energy, transferred from the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change, aligning with the government’s focus on sustainable energy solutions.

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13 Comments

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  1. Why? says:

    What does all this shuffling around achieve? Is this the so-called hard work the govt is doing at improving its execution?

    Like 13
  2. Fraser is back says:

    Watch VTP work now

    Like 1
    Dislike 5
  3. WELL HALLELUIAH says:

    Let the party begin / no opposition in sight

    Like 3
    Dislike 1
  4. obvious says:

    anyone who can read and remember know exactly why the portfolio has changed. Its the cost of keeping being Premier.
    Fraser is now in charge of planning so his brothers reclamation in seacows bay will get rubber stamped and so the steal begins…

    Like 17
    Dislike 1
  5. Jackie Long says:

    1Million dollars in consultant fees, restructuring to rob the treasury, this looking like COI 2.0 2025/6

    Like 14
  6. Unnecessary says:

    title creations to weaken the BVI government in order to justify hiring more civil servants.

    Like 10
  7. Eldread says:

    It seems as though sowandie done out smart fraser, he gave him a bag of wind for his ministry portfolio, things that only god can control, like climate and resources, what resources does the BVI have? Human resources probably for sure, the fish in the sea is determined by god creation which they attach nomenclature to call it blue economy, which these international meetings attended by these ministers are indoctrinated to sell off, sowandie love a piece of power, he keeping Dawson and luce tethered in his office so they don’t get disgruntled, and prevent Dawson from shining academically since he may be the real PhD, because sowandie PhD degree is in poetry, Fraser will soon look beyond this charade and see it’s really natalio alone have substantive ministry and power, so all ministers hands are tied.

    • Controversial portfolios says:

      Its best for the Premier to keep immigration and labour because Fraser has enough enemies already….Fraser will be at ease now.

  8. Hmm says:

    This makes Frazer look like a joke. We need to go back to the polls.

  9. Well says:

    Premier outsmarting all of them, just like the former outsmarted all of them. Keep the stronger one closer – the talker, and let the other moomoos follow.

  10. I Know says:

    Why He took Labour and Immigration away from Fraser and You too will soon know why. Stay Tune. More to come……Power Cuts Like a Razor!!!

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