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UK Minister for Overseas Territories to visit BVI next week

UK minister responsible for Overseas Territories, Lord Tariq Ahmad.

UK minister responsible for Overseas Territories, Lord Tariq Ahmad is visiting the British Virgin Islands next week.

His upcoming two-day visit comes weeks after he reportedly skipped the BVI and made stops to other Overseas Territories such as Montserrat and Anguilla. At the time, Premier Dr D Orlando Smith said ‘the timing of Ahmad’s visit was wrong for the BVI’.

Governor Augustus Jaspert said the UK minister’s rescheduled visit next week is to “look at how we (the BVI) are doing on recovery in areas where the UK supported”.

“Also, we would be able to discuss with the industry around … government and financial services following the [ammendment to the] Sanctions and Money-Laundering Act. He will be meeting, obviously, with Cabinet and those different representatives of the public service,” the governor added.

He said Lord Ahmad’s visit is a demonstration of the UK’s continued support to the BVI.

The British naval ship RFA will also be making a stop in the territory next week.

While docked in the BVI, members aboard the RFA will be providing further to support to the territory’s hurricane preparedness. This will include offering ‘training’ to local disaster teams, the governor said.

The RFA will remain it the region for the 2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season, which began on June 1.

Editor’s Note:

The BVI has been at odds with the UK since the British parliament passed a Bill that is forcing the BVI and other Overseas Territories to implement what are known as public registers of company beneficial ownership.

These registers mean the BVI is required to publicise the names of beneficial owners of offshore companies registered in the territory.

Effectively, beneficial ownership is a legal term where specific property rights belong to a person even though the legal title of the property is in another person’s name.

A recent study has shown that publicising the names of these beneficial owners will discourage companies from doing business with the BVI as it relates to financial services. Up to 2,300 jobs could be lost in the BVI if public registers are implemented, the study said.

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18 Comments

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  1. Father Time says:

    He looks like he can’t really talk that good. He looks like he always sounds like he has food in his mouth.

    Like 3
    Dislike 17
  2. UNBELIEVABLE says:

    @ Father Time…a real fool. So pathetic.

    Like 6
    Dislike 2
  3. QE says:

    Oh goodie ! Here they come to oust HOA. 🙂

    • No worries says:

      On the contrary. FCO, Lord Ahmad, the Governor, might be the ones under inquiry and scrutiny by parliament. Watch.

      Like 2
      Dislike 1
  4. Eagle eye says:

    His name is LORD Ahmad same way king James them give us lord Jesus.

    Like 6
    Dislike 10
    • Lord Obama says:

      Let me ask this, who can do more to our BVI..? LORD JESUS OR LORD AHMAD.

      I really this this Jesus fella is getting bold out, replace by Ahmad the God.

      For real.

  5. ??? says:

    Tariq Ahmad…….hmmm. Doesn’t sound or look like……

    Like 1
    Dislike 1
  6. Wes says:

    No marches? Quiet as a mouse are we?

    Lets see how much lickings NDP will get for non compliance with the constitution.

    Like 4
    Dislike 2
  7. Reality says:

    I think he’s here to find out why the NDP have failed to issue any audited annual accounts for the past 5/6 years – hence why they won’t be able to draw down on the UK’s offer of a loan guarantee…if I was the UK I wouldn’t underwrite any more loan help for a Premier that has encouraged such a lack of accountability…The country is pretty much F….cked!

    Like 9
    Dislike 4
    • Obtuse Reality says:

      I can tell that you don’t love this country. To wish the country not get recovery aid to spite an administration is heartless. Make yourself a gramoxone martini and watch the sun set!

      Like 3
      Dislike 2
  8. Devon says:

    This thing started now !

  9. Bring the Brits says:

    Thank goodness!!! The Brits are coming back to take over and turn this third world toilet bowl with its backwards political system back to a liveable island again. The corruption and racism shown by some “belongers” is unprecedented in this hemisphere. Time for these locals to do what they do best…..nothing!!

  10. Ausar says:

    Premier, don’t fall for anything he’s about to promise.

    Don’t forget about the post- Hurricane aid and the decisive blow against Financial Services rendered a few weeks after a massive defrauding loan scheme brought about against the government.

    Be civil, but keep a wise head.

  11. mahinda says:

    ALWAYS BE DIPLOMATIC AND NEGOTIATE

    TO GET THE MAXIMUM FOR BVI IN THE
    PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES

  12. Auditor says:

    Lord Ahmad has a background in financial services. I doubt that he will believe our excuses for failing to issue audited financial statements.

  13. Lord Obama says:

    If the BVI had a choice, who will you choose to lead the country into shared prosperity ,

    Jesus or Ahmad, as a former colony, we were thought to love up Jesus same as we were thought to love up Christopher Columbus. Never mind we ain’t never knew them.

    Still is plain to see that Columbus and Jesus work for the same set of Lords. And to be honest, so does this Ahmad, he is

    The counterpart of the Jesus too.. One swell team of Gods and Lords.. So them bring down the lords and Gods of men.. Been at it since 1492.

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