The
Development Planning Unit
Government of the British Virgin Islands Policies

SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY
IN THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

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Introduction / Definition:

Social Welfare Policy can be defined as a clearly articulated statement of the government describing a course of action/s to be implemented in order to achieve set goals and objectives as far as social welfare is concerned. The aim of the Government of the British Virgin Islands is to build a socially cohesive, a thriving community through integrated social and economic policies which seek to strengthen community relations, minimize social tensions, strengthen families, and eradicate poverty.

Objectives:

The long term objectives of the government is to establish a policy and institutional framework which will promote the rights of poorer and more vulnerable members of society, enhance their livelihood opportunities and increase their access to social services. Therefore the Government needs to formulate community development and social welfare policy guidelines particularly as regards issues affecting children, juveniles, the elderly, the disabled, the poor families and gender.

Situation Analysis:

The government provides a wide range of services for the less fortunate and senior members of the society. These include, social security benefits, home care for the aged, children with special problems, as well as help for women affected by domestic abuse, rehabilitation facilities and programmes, a learning centre for children with the special needs and free and subsidised health care. The free and subsidised health care is supposed to cover a number of groups that are exempted from charges. These include persons aged 65 years and over, school children, the mentally ill, the indigent, prisoners, public sector health workers etc.

In the absence of a national health insurance scheme, the Social security Board (SSB) plays a significant role in financing health care in the territory. Under the social security scheme to which contributions are mandatory, all employees over the age of 15 are covered for a range of health related benefits. The SSB also allocates a portion of its income to improvements in public health services on an ad hoc basis. While the welfare system has been expanding in recent years, its efficiency and effectiveness are hampered by the absence of clear policies and inadequacy of the database. Therefore to provide better services we need to develop clear policies in respect of procedures, rules, benefit payments etc. Also we need to strengthen and improve the database. In addition the quantity and quality of human resources need to be improved.

Social Services For the Vulnerable Group;

(i). Women;

The Women Desk is part of the government machinery for the advancement of women in the BVI. The desk was established at the instigation of the national women’s group and works closely with NGO’s and church organisations including the Family Support Network, a group which provides services for the victims of domestic violence. Other groups are the Methodist Women’s Guild, BVI Community Agency on Drugs and Alcohol (CADA), Lions Club of Tortola, etc.

The major responsibilities of Women’s Desk are;

• Sensitize government ministries and departments to gender issues in the planning and execution of certain programmes / projects.
• Coordinate the activities of groups which represent various aspects of women’s affairs in the territory.
• Organise and facilitate education programmes and projects for improving the economic welfare of women.
• Liaise with the external funding agencies for obtaining financing for specific programmes.
• Facilitate the implementation of the Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
• Ensure the on-going work and progress of women’s health and development.
• Promote the legal framework to support and enhance the welfare of women.

Indicators of women’s status in the BVI.

These indicators were prepared by the fourth World Conference on Women, as guidance to assess all countries including the BVI.

(a). The sharing of power and decision-making at all levels.

Goal: To sensitise and educate women so that they will be freed from their internalised oppression and both support other women who are willing to be involved in political office and administrative positions and also prepare themselves to share power and decision making level.

Action / Measures: The Women Desk in collaboration with the government organised several seminars / workshops designed to enhance women’s knowledge about their rights. The seminars featured several topics, including developing your platform, leadership skills, Caribbean Politics and the role of women, public speaking, fundraising and running a successful campaign, etc. Because of this and more media education campaigns, two women were elected as members of the Legislative Council, one of them is the Minister for Health, Education and Culture and she is the Deputy Chief Minister. There are a substantial number of women in prominent positions in BVI. Forty percent of the permanent secretaries are women and almost half of the government departments statutory boards and other agencies are headed by women.

(b). Mechanisms to promote the advancement of women:

Goal: To widen the influence and scope of the Women’s Desk by increasing staffing and resources, thereby enabling the desk to impact on women in all the islands of the territory.

Action / measures: The Women’s Desk, is run by the senior administrative Officer only, but she is being supported by different departments and many NGO’s. Under her leadership, the impact on women in the territory has been noticeable.

(c). Awareness of, and commitment to, internationally and nationally recognized women’s rights.

Goal: To eliminate all forms of discrimination against women and children by providing a legal framework that will act to protect their welfare.

Action / measures: The BVI has adopted the 1985 United Nations Convention on the Elimination of Forms Of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The recommendations made by the Law Reform Committee are an attempt to bring the BVI law into closer conformity with the Convention. The Law reform Committee sought to review laws pertaining to women and children and to reform discriminatory legislation. The committee used a 1988 report by Oswell Legall, former senior crown counsel, titled " Women, Discrimination and the Law" as the basis for the review.

(d). Poverty:

Goal: To improve the circumstances of all women to provide a better measure of social, political and economic equality.

Action / measures: The recognition of the disadvantaged status of low-income earners in general and low-income immigrant women in particular prompted the Women’s Desk to launch a campaign for the establishment of a Low Income or Domestic Workers’ Association. The project was carried out in collaboration with the Labour Department with assistance from Social Security Board and the Immigration Department. The Desk is experienced some difficulties in getting this project off ground, mainly because of the fear of repercussions by many of the domestics, and immigrant women in particular. Also because these workers have to work long hours and devote the remainder of their time to care of their children and households. Indications are that the awareness campaign associated with the project has been effective in that it has drawn the attention of the public to the problem and in addition, many cases of labour exploitation are being brought to the attention of the Women’s Desk.

(e). Access to and participation in the determination of economic structures and polices and reproductive process.

Goal: To eliminate the cultural, institutional, behavioral and attitudinal discrimination which prohibit or limit women’s access to land, capital and other productive resources.

Action / measures; The Women’s Desk have been educating all women on these issues and encouraging them to be more involved in entrepreneurial projects. More workshops focusing on craft, management, entrepreneurship, marketing and personal development are needed to build women’s perceptions of their ability to be successful entrepreneurs.

(f). Access to education, health, employment and other means to maximize awareness of women’s rights and the use of their capacities.

Goal: To provide equality in access to education, health and employment.

Action / measures: The available data indicated that women outnumber males in enrollment at secondary and tertiary levels. Further statistics indicate that women are more academically qualified than their men counterparts. On health, more women are being educated on their health through the media, health clinics and workplace. The Women’s Desk in collaboration with the Health Department have special programmes to educate women example of such programmes are, Cancer awareness, one month is devoted to educate women on cancer (Cancer Awareness Month), HIV and AIDS programmes for women. Family Planning Services are also available to every women and is being sponsored by the health department and the BVI Family Life Association. The family planning services are provided on a daily basis except week-ends. The Desk in collaboration with Labour Department are working together to decrease discrimination against women in the work place.

(g). Violence Against Women:

Goal: To control prevent and reduce the impact of violence on women.

Action / measures; The Women’s Desk have organised several seminars related to the problems of domestic violence and rape. Women learned how they can prepare for an attack, what to do during an attack, and how to plan for a better life free from abuse or the threat of abuse. The domestic Violence Act, was passed in March1996. The purpose of the Bill is to introduce protective measures against domestic violence and provides legal remedies in dealing with such violence. It is hoped that this Act will be a way forward in the efficient and effective curbing of acts of domestic violence in the territory and it will serve as a useful working tool for law enforcement agencies.

Development Policies on Women and Gender issues:

The future development will require an integrated approach of development, which means all public and private institutions, NGO’s and all stakeholders should be involved in the development process. The government will continue to assist the Women’s Desk by providing additional personnel and financial resources to support women development. From time to time policies and the legal framework will be reviewed to support the empowerment of women and participation in all decision making process. In this regard the BVI Government will take the following strategy / measures.

• Review the Labour Code to ensure that wages and work conditions are based on competency and experience and not gender.
• Ensure that employment policies are framed to protect women in the workplace from sexual harassment.
• Create a National Childcare Network and ensure that high standards are implemented and child support regulations are rigorously enforced.
• Ensure that the Health Care system is at a level to ensure the special care needs of women are fully integrated.
• Ensure that violence against women is not tolerated in the society by ensuring that the laws are reviewed, strengthened and vigorously enforced to reduce the incidence of domestic violence.
• Develop a crisis centre for women who have been victimized by domestic violence.
• Review the constitution to ensure that it is gender neutral and that equal protection is granted to women.
• Dis-aggregate all national statistics by gender to ensure that a package of indicators on the progress and status of women is available.

(ii). Children and Youth:

The World Summit for Children held September 1990, committed to the international community to improve the situation of children and women. The BVI being a member of the international community has been and will continue to improve the situation of its children. The Government has taken the following measures.

• Reduction of infant and under five-child mortality rate.
• Reduction of maternal mortality rate by half.
• Reduction of severe and moderate malnutrition among under five children.
• Universal access to safe drinking water.
• Universal access to sanitary means of excreta disposal.
• Universal access to basic education and completion of primary education.
• Reduction of adult illiteracy rate.
• Improved protection of children in especially difficult circumstances.

In 1992 UNICEF conducted one of the most significant studies to date on the situation of children and women in the territory. The recommendations from this study have resulted in a series of activities designed to improve the status of women and children in the context of UNICEF. These activities are being carried out through the Ministry of Health. The Department for International Development (DFID) is also assisting the government with a comprehensive programme of activities to improve the delivery of health care to all residents in the territory. These include the areas of maternal health care, health policy adjustment and sexual and reproductive health.

Regarding Youth in the territory, different aspects of youth work are addressed at different at different level within the government machinery. The various areas include the Social Development Department, Ministry of Health, Education and Welfare, the Department of Education and Culture, and Sports Division. In addition, a number of organisations have made a significant contribution to development of youth in the territory. For example, the Boy Scouts and Girl scouts provide boys and girls with opportunities for sports, social activities, and many other forms of recreation. Churches also play a major role in youth development. The main problems and basic needs of the BVI youth emerging from the exercise include, inadequacies in education, unemployment, teenage pregnancy, juvenile delinquency and increase in crime, substance abuse, insufficient recreational facilities, and youth harbouring feelings of being marginalized in their relationships with the "significant others". There is a feeling of lack of empowerment. Many youth display symptoms of low self-esteem and even express such feelings openly.

Policies on Children and Youth in BVI

The government will continue to support all programmes aimed at improving the social welfare of children and youth. The government will facilitate participation of all parties involved in child and youth development programmes. More important the government will formulate policies, which will provide guidance and direction to ensure the full development and protection of children and youth. The following are policies and strategies, which has been recommended.

• Review all laws, which are meant to protect the rights of children and the youth in the territory.
• Put in place a National Youth Policy, which identify the needs of the youth and strategies on how to achieve their needs. This is in pursuit of optimum development in preparation for fulfillment of their role and function in the national community specifically and in society in general.
• Establish a National Youth Council as a focal point of central representation for individuals and groups. This will provide greater participation in decision making and national politics.
• Assist and support the creation of child-care network to ensure a nurturing while parents are working.
• Restructure the education system and ensure the full development of relevant and extensive education facilities and programmes to prepare children competition in the world market place and expand community based parenting education, which targets youth and families.
• Strengthening youth participation in decision-making concerning their affairs and research on youth development affairs and unemployment problems.
• Provide maternal and child health services include ante-natal care, post-natal care, family planning, and child health clinic.
• Take steps to improve the access of the youth to employment and assess the impact of youth employment initiatives. Finance employment and training programmes in a sustainable manner.
• Adopt school curriculum that includes about sex education, drug education, community ethics, health, parenthood, work ethics, etc. Put in place clear and concise policies to deal with issues of school-girls who become pregnant as to where or how they may go about continuing their education.
• Ensure the development and maintenance of improved sporting and recreational facilities in all communities.

All these development policies / strategies will provide guidance to the children and youth development programmes and projects in the BVI.

(iii). The Elderly:

According to the statistics available, it shows that the aging population has increased in recent years. This is due to rise in life expectance to 74 years and general increase in population. This will require the expansion of social services including higher national insurance payments and special recreation targeted at an aging population. This aging of the population as well as the entry of more women into the formal labour force has created the need for institutional care for the elderly. As more women, the traditional care-givers, are now in the formal labour force they are no longer available to provide the full time care for aging relatives.

The government has been providing care for the aging including homes for institutional care in 3 major population centers. The Adina Donovan Home for the Elderly in Road Town, Alm-house in Virgin Gorda and Long Look. The Social Development Department also administers a senior citizen programme in the Sea Cows Bay, East End / Long Look and Carrot Bay communities. Health care is provided free for persons 65 years and older, and welfare grants are given to those persons who qualify in addition to the benefits from national insurance system (Social Security). Private sector health care and pharmaceutical items providers offer substantial discounts to persons 65 years and over.

Social Security is a insurance scheme designed to protect the insured persons from financial distress. The age benefit is awarded to an insured person who has reached the age of 65 years and may be paid as a pension or grant. Many of the aged are not covered by the social security scheme because it was fairly recently established in 1980. Civil servants who have worked a minimum of 25 consecutive years are entitled to receive a monthly pension from the government.

Feature Development Strategies:

The government in collaboration with private sector and NGO’s will continue to work together to provide necessary requirement for the elderly. To achieve this objectives, the government will develop the following policies and strategies.

• Develop additional research to assess the present condition of the elderly in the territory and the extent to which they are able to access the programmes develop to aid them.
• Review the Pension plan and legal framework to include persons who served but were never covered under the Pension Act.
• Provide additional human and financial resources to this sub-sector to improve the services to the elderly and protect the solvency of the Social Security System.
• Provide additional nursing home facilities to supplement the facilities at Adina Donovan Home, and upgrade the Virgin Gorda and Long Look Almshouse to total care facilities.
• Encourage relatives to visit their family members at the home frequently.
• Provide wheelchair, walking stick and other necessary equipment for use in care of elderly.
• Expand the recently instituted Home Care Programme.

(iv). People with Disability:

According to 1991 census report, 4.4% of the population of the BVI, had one form of disability or another. Of all persons with disabilities, 4.6% reported mental retardation and 12.6%, 3.1% and 2.9% indicated sight, hearing and speech impediments respectively. A number of other impairments were reported by 76.8% of all disabled persons. Just over 59% of disabled were females. Almost 80% of all disabled persons had education levels at or below primary level. Almost 24% of all disabled persons and 41.4% of those in the active age group ( 15 – 64 years) reported being formally employed. Nearly 25% of them were relegated to home duties, 18% were retired and 20.5% were completely incapacitated.

Children with Special Needs; The Esylen Henley Richard Children Center is the main center of service provision for children with special needs. The objective is to help the children to function as normal as possible and to be as independent as they can be. Another objective is to foster independent living skills and to develop basic academic skills as far as possible. The center is under the Ministry of Education and Culture. A volunteer-group, called " The Friends of Esylen Henley Richard " gives assistance by providing funds for meals and helping to arrange medical care, etc.

The BVI services is a vocational rehabilitation programme which was established in 1982. It is the government’s effort to establish the disabled or re-establish recovering adults into the society. The BVI services fall under the direction of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. This Programme shapes and sharpens the skills of its workers for re-entry into the workplace, and at the same time, offers the community a number of services. The services include stuffing and sealing envelopes, counting and packing T-shirts and other merchandise, cutting material, sewing, counting and packing cloth bags, car wash, washing and ironing laundry, re-strapping tropic-tone furniture, preparing bicycle license plates, etc. the programme generates income to cover the participant’s salaries and materials. There is another group called " Caregivers of Children with Special Needs" This group is currently developing a register of children with special needs and they see the need for a register of persons on island who have any skills / knowledge which can be utilised in local multi-level training programme.

The BVI has another programme under Social Security called " Social Security Invalidity Benefits". The invalid benefits are payable to the insured person who has become permanently incapable of work (either as an employee or as a self-employed person) because of some physical or mental illness, has received sickness benefit for 26 weeks, and has become medically certified as being likely to remain incapacitated. Invalid benefits may be paid in the form of a grant or pension, depending on the number of contributions paid into the scheme.

Development Strategies for People with Disabilities:

There is no clear national policy and legislation regarding promoting the rights of people with disabilities. Also there is a lack of data on people with disabilities. Apart from these problems, the government has been supporting any move to promote the well-being of the people with disabilities. Further action is needed to promote the people. The following development policies strategies should be implemented in order to promote the rights of the people with disability;

Develop dis-aggregated a database on people with disabilities and special needs.

• Put in place national policy promoting the rights of people with disabilities, which will involve the full and active participation of local people with disabilities and their organisations with assistance from CARICOM member states, which have already worked on national policies.
• Establish a council for people with special needs. Reorganise the mental health association and have a wider representation.
• Coordinate with and obtain membership in the Caribbean Association Of Mental Retardation and other Development Disabilities (CAMROD).
• Enact a law, which requires all public buildings and publicly used space holding more than 150 persons must be equipped with the requisite wheel chair access, toilet facilities, evacuation plans and other physical facilities.
• Empower disabled people to find productive employment.
• Provide enough trained human resources in this area and provide sufficient funds to run disability programmes.
• Facilitates the involvement of private sector and NGO’s in providing services to the people with special needs.

General Poverty:

The available data suggest that the incidence of poverty in BVI is very low. The data suggests that a majority of households have access to the basic facilities and amenities. That means poverty is not a big problem. But this does not mean that poverty does not exist. Recent findings, have shown that, poverty in the society is beginning to emerge, especially among the immigrant population, single parent families and among the senior citizens. This trend of poverty could cause a serious social problem in future. The rapid economic development of the BVI in the last decade has generated potentially serious social problems and there is the danger of creating a permanent social underclass of immigrant workers, particularly among the women.

The government needs to put in place an adequate policy framework to deal effectively with the problems of poverty that is linked to immigration and population policies. The immediate concern of the government is to come up with strategies that address the problem in a comprehensive integrated manner. The government should workout and determine the extent and incidence of poverty prior to the development of appropriate welfare programmes and policies.

The government needs to look into the welfare of women and eliminate all forms of discrimination and violence against women. Also the government needs to look the welfare of the children and ensure that child support regulation are enforced and create a national childcare network. Another group which needs attention is the elderly and the disabled. The social welfare programmes should be extended to all vulnerable groups in the society, (as indicated in sections i to iv).

Strategic Vision of Social Welfare Policy:

Despite the low incidences of poverty in the territory, the integrated approach to sustainable development related to social development and welfare needs to be placed on the national agenda. The strategy will help to reduce alienation and address concerns of the vulnerable groups, including poor immigrants workers and the youth, as well as facilitating greater community participation in the process of development. Programmes should be developed to deal with stress-related problems of a more affluent society, such as childcare, gender support and rehabilitation. The focus of this component of the strategy will be on considerations of equity and effective targeting of potential beneficiaries. Essential elements will include the establishment of comprehensive data base to facilitate ongoing analysis of social issues and the implementation of measures to improve the social and economic status of the less fortunate individuals in the society.

The government will formulate economic and social policies to address the whole range of factors that contribute to poverty. Among other things, these policies will seek to improve the availability and quality of shelter and basic services, generate opportunities for employment and sustainable livelihoods for the vulnerable. Also there is a need to empower women and men through access to assets and productive resources, such as land, credit, technology, training and markets and enable people to participate in the political forces that shape their lives.

The government will develop an adequate legal and policy framework to deal effectively with the problems of social welfare linked to vulnerable groups and poverty that is linked to immigration and population policies. The immediate concern is to come up with strategies that address the problem in a comprehensive integrated manner.

Recommended Detailed General Policies and Strategies: (On vulnerable groups and poverty eradication)

The focus of the social development and welfare policies will be on the expanding scope of the programme and improving the efficiency of delivery of services. In order to facilitate these improvements, the government of BVI is expected to undertake the relevant social surveys to produce a set of reliable and up-to-date socio-economic data and indicators as a basis for policy and programme formulation. The plan of action will identify issues and actions of welfare policies as follows:

The following strategies are recommended to achieve this policy.

• Design and adapt a system, which supports the integration of social and economic strategies and ensure social planning, avoids planning not only for welfare but is directly focused on development.
• Ensure that government maintain its commitment in provision of health care reform initiatives.
• Identify the circumstances of all vulnerable groups by providing a better measure of social, political and opportunities and providing the legal framework to protect their welfare.
• Ensure that the government retains its responsibility for free universal access to basic health services and health care services for the poor and unemployed including services such as national child-health, family planning, immunisation, sanitation, control of communicable diseases, maternal and child health care etc.
• Ensure provision of free primary education for the poor and implement educational reform, which focuses on education for living in the school curriculum.
• Ensure provision of shelter for vulnerable groups especially low-income families, single mothers, handicapped, elderly etc. by providing sites and services as well as lines of credit in the area of housing.
• Promote the rights of the poorer and more vulnerable members of the society and enhance their livelihood opportunities.
• Expand social welfare scheme and improve database collection and establish relevant poverty indicators as a priority in the Social Development Indicators Programme.
• Review the present pension and retirement schemes for the benefit of retired workers especially poorer group with the view to account for increases in the cost of living.
• Incorporate the gender dimension into actions for poverty eradication by increasing the use of gender analysis in policies and programmes.

To ensure achievement of the above policy objective the following strategies will be developed;

• Integrate the policies and programmes for economic growth and the maintenance of macroeconomic balance with the promotion of equity and social justice.
• Increase opportunities for employment and sustainable livelihoods, empower women and men through access to assets and productive resources, such as land, credit, technology, training and markets and enable people to participate in the political forces that shape their lives.
• Increase full and equal participation of poor men and women in the labour market and promote equal opportunity in employment, occupational terms and conditions, training and guidance.
• Ensure access to free or lower cost legal services, design to reach the poorer especially poor immigrant women.

Strategies for implementing the above policy will be as follows;

• Encourage policy-makers and planners to develop and analyse macroeconomic and social policies from a people centered perspective.
• Incorporate population and immigration issues in development planning process strategies for poverty eradication. Population and immigration policies should guide and direct the use of resources towards the goal of poverty eradication.
• Use population data for socio-economic planning, health and education reforms, human development strategies, economic restructuring, etc.
• Enhance and expand the quality of services and facilities offered by the health education and welfare systems.

In order to achieve the above objectives the following strategies will be adopted;

• Support the empowerment of women and community participation in all decision making process, (e.g. planning and implementation of social programmes).
• Develop comprehensive regulatory guidelines and policies that protect the interests and livelihood of the vulnerable population.
• Eliminate all forms of violence against women and children and provide education on adverse effects of violence through mass media communication.
• Create laws aimed at prevention of violence against women and children and their protection. Also sensitise the judicial and social system and institutionalize support mechanism.
• Involve all social stakeholders especially the vulnerable groups in integrated, indicative and strategic planning for social sector.
• Develop a sustainable National Health Financing Strategy and investigate the feasibility of instituting a National Health Insurance Scheme.
• Formulate a National Youth Policy by fostering greater consultation with the intended beneficiaries in the development and execution of youth development programmes.

In an endeavor to achieve the policy and subsequently the objective, the following strategies will be implemented;

• Improve, and strengthen the integration of social and economic strategies and adapt systems, which support the integration.
• Establish an appropriate monitoring and evaluation system for social welfare and economic development and increase allocation of resources for basic data collection, research and the derivation of policy indicators.
• Revise the benefits of pensioners very often, because of inflation, which can reduce their purchasing power.
• Facilitate and encourage private sector and NGOs involvement in support, sponsorships or partial funding for high demand social welfare programmes / projects.
• Provide the young generation with greater opportunities for meaningful participation in the development process.

In order to ensure achievement of the objectives, the following strategies will be pursued;

• Enhance coordination and linkages between and among institutions working for poverty eradication, by instituting permanent official mechanism for consultation, collaboration and coordination between the private sector and the government.
• Establish a national comprehensive poverty assessment survey and situation analysis of the conditions of women and children.
• Undertake institutional strengthening and improvement of administrative arrangement and procedures (Management Information System) within the relevant institutions, like Social Security Board, Social Development Department, Community Health etc.
• Create opportunities for active community participation by revising the present planning process to include community members.
• Develop a nursing home to supplement the residential facility that Adina Donovan Home. Provide and encourage the development of " Golden Age" help age movement / service to help the elderly.
• Increase public awareness and understanding of poverty issues through educational programmes via the media and community outreach with the participation of target group.
• Improve the efficiency and impact of social welfare programmes / projects by providing training to professionals in governmental and NGOs in the formulation and evaluation of social welfare programmes / projects.

The above policies and strategies will lead to an improvement in the management and operation of social welfare services in the territory. The government efforts should be supported by private sector and NGOs. Therefore, there is a need to strengthen and support NGOs in their role as facilitators for the involvement of the poor in the development process in general and more in particular in social welfare development. More important the financial and human resource should be allocated to this important sector.

References;

1. The Government of British Virgin Islands, National Integrated Development Plan. April 1999.
2. The Government of the British Virgin Islands and the Government of the United Kingdom, Memorandum of Cooperation and Partnership, September 8, 1998.
3. UNDP Advisory Note to the Government of the British Virgin Islands, sixth Programme, (1997-2000), UNDP- Barbados, December 1996.
4. The Government of the British Virgin Islands, BVI Recent Economic Development 1992-1996. Development Planning Unit, September1997.
5. Harney, Roett, Samuel, The Situation Analysis of Children and Women in the British Virgin Islands, July 1994.
   

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