2005 State of the Territory Address
Address by Chief Minister Dr. The Honourable D.
Orlando Smith, OBE
2nd STATE OF THE TERRITORY ADDRESS
Central Administration Complex
Thursday, 16 June 2005
5:00pm
MAKING THE BVI WORK FOR ALL
Madam Chairperson
His Excellency the Governor Mr. Thomas Macan and Mrs. Macan
The Speaker of the House
Members of the Judiciary
Honourable Members on the podium
Leader of the Opposition
Other members of the Legislative Council
Public servants
Our young people and residents from Anegada to Jost Van Dyke
Fellow BVIslanders, citizens and residents
My fellow BVIslanders, residents and friends:
I come before you today, two years into my Government’s term in office
to offer an accounting of our work on behalf of the people of the BVI.
These past years have been a period of great challenge and great
opportunity.
We have had to confront difficult realities – from changing
international laws that have threatened our financial services industry to
increased competition to our tourism industry from destinations around the
region and around the world. Here at home we have contended with the
challenge of putting our Territory’s fiscal house in order and putting
in place policies and programmes to deliver for the people, grow the
economy and secure our future.
At the same time, we have also benefited from important opportunities. The
relative stability of the global economy has allowed for the financial
markets to continue to grow and thrive; improved international security
has restored the confidence of travelers to vacation abroad despite the
continued looming threat of terrorism; and, above all, here at home we
have witnessed a remarkable surge of energy, creativity and optimism among
the people of the BVI – from the public servants whose hard work and
dedication allows the government to continue to work for the people, to
the youth of the Territory who everyday are showing us all the vast
potential that they possess.
Ladies and Gentlemen: When we entered office we recognized that the road
ahead would be long and sometimes difficult. We came to the task filled
with energy and zeal because we understood that our solemn duty was to
tackle the toughest problems and answer the most serious challenges facing
our people. And every day our strength is restored through our work with
and for the people of this Territory.
The progress the BVI is making can be seen on the ground – from the new
road system in Virgin Gorda to the completion of the hospital expansion
project here in Tortola; from the critical new dock in Anegada to the
youth development programmes in Jost Van Dyke.
Progress can be seen in the halls of Legislative Council where we have
passed critical legislation from the BVI Business Companies Act which is
strengthening and protecting our Financial Services Industry; to the
Education Act which has given new direction and purpose to our educational
system; to the new immigration policy which has finally brought order and
fairness to the system for determining residency status.
Progress is evident at our ports and hotels, where tourists are coming to
the BVI in record numbers, helping our economy grow. Progress can be seen
in the completion of our Constitutional Review, which brought together our
entire Territory for a far-reaching and critical dialogue about the future
shape of our governing system and the nature of our relationship with the
United Kingdom.
And progress can be seen throughout Road Town where new buildings are
being built, new businesses are being opened and an ambitious
beautification project is well underway. But at the end of the day that is
not what progress is really all about.
This government does not and will not measure our success based on the
numbers of buildings we construct, or the number of bills we pass, or the
number of dollars we invest. We do not measure progress with stats and
concrete. For us there is only one true measure of success, and that is
the well-being and happiness of the people of the BVI.
We are resolved that the fundamental job of any government is to protect
and provide for the people. We cannot deem ourselves successful unless the
people of the Territory feel their lives are improving. And we understand
that the true mandate of government is to create the conditions for
individuals to thrive and realize their own potential.
That has been the spirit that has animated our work since day one. That is
why we have conducted regular community meetings throughout the Territory,
giving us the opportunity to talk to the people and hear their concerns
and needs. And it has been with great pleasure over this past week that I
along with my colleagues in Government, as well as supporters and public
servants, have had the opportunity to travel across the Territory and
speak with citizens and residents.
We have spoken with people from all walks of life about how the work we
have done has impacted their lives, and to learn about the work that still
lies ahead. We heard the stories of local business owners who have
participated in training sessions sponsored by the Trade and Promotion
Unit who are now better equipped to serve their customers – and thanks
to that success are able to hire more workers.
We heard the stories of nurses and doctors hopeful that with the
completion of the Hospital Expansion project they will have the space and
equipment they need to provide the kind of care their patients deserve.
We heard the stories of young people who are involved in the Junior
Achievement Programme who are learning the basic skills of
entrepreneurship and are building grand and wonderful dreams of one day
owning their own business here in the BVI. We heard the stories of Small
Properties owners who are involved in the Tourism Industry Service
Standards programme and are gaining confidence that they can provide world
class service to a global clientele. And over and over again, we heard the
stories of citizens who are working hard, doing right by their families
and their communities and are able to feel confident that their
hard-earned tax dollars are being used for their benefit.
Ladies and Gentlemen: These stories – the lives of BVI citizens and
residents whose problems are being addressed and whose needs are being met
– these are the true measure of success. And let me be perfectly clear:
The work is far from done.
There are still many challenges to be overcome, many problems to be
solved, many obstacles to be navigated. We understand that too often the
people of the Territory are not hearing enough about what Government is
doing. This Government must do a better job of communicating our
activities to the public. Toward that end we are in the process of
restructuring our entire communications apparatus to ensure that when work
is being done on the people’s behalf then the people are informed about
it. Our directive is clear: No job has been done well until it has been
communicated well.
We promised to be a Government in the Sunshine – and we hear your
concern that we have not done enough in this regard. And so I am
committing here and now that over the coming year we will rededicate
ourselves to making sure you know what this Government is doing before we
do it, while we are doing it and after the job is done.
But at the most fundamental level the message we heard throughout the
Territory is that the BVI is focused on the right priorities, we are
moving in the right direction and we are not turning back.
And so ladies and gentlemen, it is with satisfaction in the work done,
humility before the job ahead and with a sense of enduring hope that the
way forward is today clearer than ever before that I come before you to
report that our economy is growing, our people are leading the way
to progress and the State of the Territory is strong.
Ladies and Gentlemen: The strength of our economy begins with our first
key economic pillar: the Tourism industry. In this critical sector, we are
enjoying a period of truly remarkable growth and development.
Over this past year, the BVI experienced a surge of visitors to our
shores, including an impressive 10% increase in the number of valuable
overnight visitors, with average occupancy rates in our hotels well above
65%. This success is being felt throughout the Territory from our largest
hotels to our small properties. And when the tourism industry grows it
creates new jobs and opportunities.
When the BVI is seen as a top destination it draws local and outside
investors to undertake major capital developments – and indeed, we are
on the verge of closing a number of development projects including a
5-star resort, as well as a golf course.
And when these major projects are undertaken it means contracts for our
construction trades and new customers for our farmers, fishermen and other
service providers. And yet even as we celebrate the marvelous achievements
of the people in building this thriving industry, we know that the one
great threat to our long-term strength is complacency.
So we are not resting on our laurels.
Over this past year, we initiated the comprehensive Tourism Industry
Service Standards programme, which is providing training and support for
every facet of the tourist experience – from the Customs desk to the
check-out desk, we are making sure that the service in the BVI matches the
beauty of our waters and the warmth of our spirit.
We are also expanding our efforts to market the BVI around the world. The
BVI Tourist Board is to be commended for the hard work they are doing to
strengthen the tourism product and to market that product throughout the
world. And as we celebrate the achievements of the sector, we also look to
the future and are ever mindful that the success of the tourism industry
is not complete until the benefits are felt by all the people of our
Territory.
Toward that end, we have recently completed the purchase of Prospect Reef.
This new enterprise will serve as both a full-service business hotel that
will make our Territory competitive in the lucrative convention market,
and will also be a cutting edge training centre.
This training centre will provide our young people the opportunity to
learn the craft of hotel management and hospitality in a real world
environment. We have established a Board of Directors and the Board has
just appointed a Chief Operating Officer who will be charged with
overseeing the day-to-day operations and getting this enterprise up and
running.
This is an ambitious project that will pave the way for a future not only
of growth for the sector and our economy, but also empowerment for our
people. And as surely as we are working to make Prospect Reef a Centre of
Excellence for our people, we are also working to ensure that our economy
expands beyond the traditional twin pillars – including a major
commitment to our traditional agriculture and fishing industries.
Over this past year, we have completed the new Fisherman’s Ramp at
Carrot Bay and we have convened the Council of the BVI Fisherman’s
Association. We proposed and passed the Pound and Livestock Brands Act to
better protect farmers’ property.
We have distributed grants to small stock farmers for capital assistance.
And we have brought gardens back to our Primary Schools so that a future
generation of young people may consider working the land as a viable
career option.
Ladies and Gentlemen: These efforts at promoting alternative sources of
economic activity only complement our continued commitment to the growth
of our second economic pillar – the financial services industry.
Over this past year, the BVI International Finance Centre has moved to the
implementation of the Strategic Development Plan for the BVI Financial
Services Sector. The Plan, which was developed through a unique
partnership between representatives of the Government and business
community, provides action points and recommendations for both Government
and the private sector on the way forward, to ensure the sustainability of
the financial services sector. This example of partnership and cooperation
is the best way to ensure that the needs of the industry and the needs of
the public are kept in line – and that all stakeholders have their
voices heard.
I am pleased to report that already a number of key recommendations have
been implemented and others are in progress.
And I take great satisfaction in noting that this year more and more young
BVIslanders have begun careers in the industry and many more are now in
Colleges and Universities around the world getting the training they will
need to come home and take up positions of leadership in this field. And
when they do come home, it is with great confidence that we anticipate
that they will be inheriting a sector that is stronger than ever.
It is no secret that there is growing competition in the financial
services arena, as well as increasing pressure from supranational
organizations to comply with international directives.
The EU Savings Directive represented a major challenge to our industry.
Under the terms of this Directive, our old dual-taxation system under
which international companies doing business here were taxed differently
from local companies was no longer allowed.
In order to meet this new challenge we have taken a number of critical
steps including the passage of the new Payroll Tax. For the business
community, the switch to the Payroll Tax has required a transition period
but all evidence suggests that it is being managed well – and thanks to
this step the Financial Services industry is now in full compliance with
international regulation and continues to be a leader in international
financial services.
And importantly, under this new system the working people of the BVI have
seen their taxes reduced significantly, leaving more money in their
pockets to buy the things they and their families need.
Over the past year, our corporate business has remained as strong as ever,
and has in fact increased, a clear sign that investor confidence in the
BVI remains high.
Additionally, in keeping with its mission to enhance and promote the
reputation of the British Virgin Islands as a world-class financial
services jurisdiction, the BVI International Finance Centre adopted an
ambitious marketing strategy in 2004. A series of Road Shows was hosted in
key financial centres in Asia, Europe, and the United States, the most
recent and most successful having been held in Switzerland just two months
ago.
The Asia Pacific Rim continues to maintain strong interest in the BVI. Not
only did we recently have a visit of a delegation from that area but we
intend to take another road show there later this year. Our plan is to
establish a permanent BVI presence in that strategically critical region
in the near future.
Ladies and Gentlemen: Even as we take great satisfaction in all of these
accomplishments, we still recognize the work that lies ahead. If we are to
continue to grow the sector and ensure that more BVIslanders are able to
enjoy its benefits, we must continue to do more to give our people the
skills and knowledge they need.
In the modern world the success of states is no longer a function of size,
or natural resources. Today, nations stand or fall based on their ability
to produce people who enter the workforce with the skills and knowledge
they need to compete in a global market.
That is why from our first days in office, improving and strengthening our
education system and providing guidance and opportunity for our young
people has been priority number one. And as a symbol of that commitment we
are very pleased to have with us here today a delegation of students from
Anegada, Jost Van Dyke and from Virgin Gorda.
Ladies and Gentlemen: We have made unprecedented investments in our public
education system. That starts with improving and expanding our educational
facilities. We have completed significant improvements at the Ebenezer
Thomas School. Work has begun on the new Alexandrina Maduro Primary
School. And in the coming months we will be finalizing a site location and
plans for the new high school – and it is our firm commitment that
groundbreaking will occur for the new high school within the next year.
And as we build up the physical structures, we are also revamping and
strengthening the content inside the classroom.
The National Curriculum Project is moving forward. The early childhood
Curriculum was introduced in all public and private pre-Primary and
Kindergarten schools. New curriculum in math and English are being piloted
in our Primary Schools; and a new Science curriculum is being piloted in
our lower secondary schools.
We are providing new training opportunities for our teachers at all
levels, as well as for our administrators. In the Legislative Council we
proposed and passed the Education Act which is providing a framework for
our progress in these areas. And as we are reforming the academic system,
we are also ensuring that our educational system is relevant and
responsive for those students whose aptitudes lie outside traditional
academic fields.
This year marked the first time BVI students had the opportunity to enroll
in the BVI Technical/Vocational Institute. At this institute, students are
given the chance to take courses such as cosmetology, small engine repair,
arts and crafts and computer science that prepare them for successful
careers after they complete their secondary education.
In particular, our focus has been on providing young BVIslanders with
training in areas where traditionally we have had to import labour –
giving them the opportunity to enter professional fields that will have
demand for their skills. And our commitment to our young people does not
end at the school house.
This past year has marked the first full year of operation of the new
Department of Youth Affairs and Sports. This programme has reached out to
hundreds of young people throughout the Territory offering valuable
after-school programmes including sports, music and art.
The results so far have been nothing short of remarkable. Just this past
week I had the opportunity to attend the first ever choir competition
bringing together all the Primary Schools of the Territory. There I saw
dozens of BVI youngsters – so full of talent, poise, energy and
enthusiasm – it was an evening that those who attended will not soon
forget.
Of all my memories of that fine night, I most remember the shining look of
pride and happiness in the faces of the winning team from Virgin Gorda who
have preformed for us here today.
Please join me in giving them a hand and congratulating them on their fine
achievement.
And I am pleased today to announce that the efforts of the Department of
Youth Affairs and Sports will soon be augmented by the new Territory-wide
Youth Empowerment Programme – a unique partnership that is bringing
together private funding and public involvement to create an innovative
programme to further support the development and growth of our youth. This
effort will begin with the upcoming groundbreaking of a new Youth Centre
in East End.
Taken together, these efforts demonstrate one single principle: this
Government is investing in our young people and opening up the doors of
opportunity to them. And already we are seeing the results of this
investment.
This year grades at almost all levels are up dramatically. Of particular
significance – in this year’s graduating class from the BVI High
School 3 of the top 4 graduates were young men – an accomplishment that
deserves the praise and respect of our entire community.
Just this past week, we saw the largest graduating class in the history of
the Community College. That historic achievement reminds us of the vital
role this institution plays in the life of our Territory. Let me be
absolutely clear: we recognize that there have been administrative
challenges at the College over the past year and reform steps must be
taken to make it more accountable and efficient. I am pleased to say that
the process of reform is underway, and already we have seen savings of 3
quarters of a million dollars.
But fundamentally, this Government remains 100% committed to the basic
mission of the College and will continue to support that mission whole
heartedly.
Ladies and Gentlemen: Looking at these noteworthy achievements – from
the improvement in student grades, to the ever growing number of college
graduates – we must recognize the men and women who are making these
successes possible. So today, let us honour the public servants in the
Ministry of Education and Culture who are providing direction and support
to all of these programmes;
Let us congratulate the parents, coaches, instructors and mentors who are
looking out for the young people of the Territory and keeping them on the
right path; and, above all, let us give a heartfelt thanks to all the
teachers and administrators who everyday give their hearts and souls for
the betterment of our youth.
Ladies and Gentlemen: As we work to raise young people with the skills and
knowledge and character they will need to succeed in life, we also
recognize our responsibility to leave to them a modern BVI in which the
necessary conditions for success exist.
Part of that effort includes ensuring that the BVI they inherit will have
the necessary infrastructure to move forward in the coming century.
Toward that end, we have made strategic investments throughout the
Territory.
We completed the badly needed new dock in Anegada and commenced with
critical upgrades to the airport there including new lighting; we finished
paving the new road in Virgin Gorda connecting North Sound and the Valley,
allowing cars and trucks to move with ease and safety; we have launched an
ambitious project of repatriating lands -- including Long Bay on Beef
Island, the Spooner Estate, Prospect Reef, as well as the Virgin Gorda
Airport.
While all of these investments have been made with their own specific
objectives in mind, they are all bound together by one common principle:
wherever possible, the land of the BVI should be used for the benefit of
the people of the BVI. And it is in that same spirit that we have embarked
on an ambitious project of beautifying Road Town. This work is well
underway. We have improved parking and traffic arrangements, improved our
sidewalks and have planted flowers along our roads.
In particular, I would like to thank the hardworking young people of
Rotaract who have made a personal commitment to assisting in this
important work.
There is still much to be done, but we are already seeing the first
results and it is with great pleasure that we see that a new Road Town is
taking shape that we can all be proud to call our Territory’s capital.
And I am very proud to announce today the appointment of Eugenia O’Neal
as City Manager charged with guiding the further development of our
Capital.
Ladies and Gentlemen: Let me say plainly – I understand that there are
still serious challenges that must be addressed. In the area of
electricity, we recognize the need to improve the reliability of service.
Toward that end, the Electricity Corporation is in the process of
negotiating for the purchase new state-of-the-art engines and we hope to
have these in place within the year. We have already received tenders that
are currently being evaluated. The terms of the loans to purchase the
equipment is awaiting Executive Council approval.
In the area of water and sewage we are making progress, as well. The East
End sewage project is continuing. $10.3 million have been approved for
treatment plants in Road Town and East End/Long Look and sites has been
chosen. Construction of the collection system is well underway. The Road
Town phase of the project will be commencing shortly.
On the critical issue of telecommunications, we are moving forward with
our programme of liberalization. We have appointed an expert in the field
who is charged with establishing a new telecom policy that will deliver on
our basic goal: better service at lower prices.
Ladies and Gentlemen: We recognize that there are those in the community
who have felt frustration that Government funding for various capital
projects has not flowed as easily as in the past.
I understand these concerns and I take them seriously. There is no doubt
that people can have a fair expectation that Government contracts will
serve as part of the overall economic vitality of our Territory. But,
ladies and gentlemen, we made a promise – to get value for the
people’s money. And we are going to keep that promise. That does not
mean an end to large government projects – but it does mean an end to
waste.
That is why I was so pleased to announce just yesterday the Government’s
decision to acquire a $10 million loan from the BVI Social Security Board
to be dedicated to the construction and maintenance of roads throughout
the Territory. This grand project meets the criteria of wise government
spending.
First, it is a true need – not just work for work’s sake. The future
of this Territory demands a robust and reliable road network to allow for
safe and swift travel. We have seen in Virgin Gorda what a dramatic impact
an improved road can have on people’s everyday lives.
That is a model that we will seek to replicate across the length and
breadth of the BVI from Anegada to Jost Van Dyke. Second, the project is
within our means. The acquisition of this loan was based on a financing
plan that ensures our ability to repay the loan without cutting into other
critical priorities over time. And finally, the money will be used to not
only meet a critical territory goal, but will also serve as a source of
work and opportunity for our people.
This large scale construction project will mean contractors throughout the
Territory will have the chance to do important work through petty and
large contracts for the coming years. We look forward to working with them
to move this endeavour forward quickly and efficiently. And of all the
areas where we are investing the people’s money, none is more critical
than our efforts to improve and expand quality healthcare service
throughout the Territory.
This past year has been a time of significant achievement in this regard.
We have just completed the construction of the new Hospital Expansion
Project. This cutting edge new facility nearly doubles the size of our
hospital and will be home to some of our most up-to-date services
including a dialysis unit, an emergency and trauma unit and a modern
diagnostic laboratory. And over the course of this coming year we will
finalize plans for the construction of the New Peebles Hospital, which
will then be tendered and work begun.
Beyond the Hospital we have also worked to strengthen care throughout the
Territory. We have sent new doctors to Virgin Gorda and have improved
clinic facilities in all the Sister Islands. We have put in place plans to
build Helipads on Jost Van Dyke and North Sound to allow for emergency
evacuation services.
And in order ensure the efficient operation of the entire healthcare
system, we have, for the first time in our Territory’s history,
established a BVI Health Services Authority that is charged with making
sure that our healthcare dollars are being used wisely and strategically.
And as we improve our healthcare services, we are also working hard to
promote prevention and healthy lifestyle choices. We have appointed an
expert Programme Director to head up our fight against HIV/AIDS.
As part of the Programme’s multi-faceted campaign to fight the spread of
this terrible disease a major educational initiative has been launched
targeting those most at risk, particularly our young people.
Similarly, we are working hard with educators, community leaders, the
Department of Youth Affairs and Sports and others to combat the plague of
drugs and to drive it from our Territory for good. While we seek to
protect our young people from these twin scourges, we are also making sure
that adequate resources are dedicated to provide dignified and proper care
for our seniors. Just a few months ago a contract was signed for the
construction of a new Road Town Senior Citizens Centre, which is scheduled
to be completed by the end of this calendar year.
Ladies and Gentlemen: In all these areas – developing our economy,
providing opportunity for our people, improving education and healthcare,
creating a modern infrastructure – we are confident that we are on the
right track. We see the progress that is being made and are hopeful that
the people of the Territory are benefiting in their everyday lives. But we
also know that there is still much to be done. And nowhere is the sense of
continued challenge more apparent than in the area of crime and personal
security.
As we complete our second year in office let me say bluntly that I am not
satisfied with the state of security in the Territory today.
Ladies and Gentlemen: This Government will not rest, will not relax and
will not be satisfied until this problem is mastered. As a start, we will
soon be bringing forward new legislation to stiffen penalties for any
person convicted of illegal possession of a gun or the use of a gun in the
commission of a crime.
Quite simply, our tolerance for guns is zero. And let this message ring
out: if you commit a gun crime in the BVI you are going to Balsam Ghut and
you are staying there for a very long time.
Ladies and Gentlemen: Over these past two years, my Government has worked
hard to earn the trust and respect of the people of this Territory
everyday. We have never once taken for granted the faith you placed in us.
And there is no doubt that there have been mistakes and missteps along the
way. No great enterprise ever proceeds free from all flaws. But we have
persevered. And we have done so because at each step of the way we have
been able to draw strength and renewed purpose from the people of this
Territory.
This Government believes with great passion in the potential of the people
of the BVI.
We believe that when given the necessary tools and provided the
appropriate conditions, the people of the BVI can thrive on the world
stage in any field. But in order for that to happen, the Government must
do its job, first. In order for the people of the BVI to realize their
goals and aspirations they need the laws in place that will allow them to
operate in the world markets; they need the skills and knowledge to
compete; they need the security that is the basic birthright of every
citizen and resident of our Territory; and they need an economic
infrastructure that allows individuals to turn energy and creativity into
entrepreneurship.
So as we look ahead to the coming year we reaffirm our commitment: To make
the BVI work for all.
Making the BVI work for all means providing a hand up to those who are in
need, making the BVI work for all means ensuring that basic services such
as quality healthcare are never denied to anyone based on income, making
the BVI work for all means joining together to make smart investments in
our future; and above all else, making the BVI work for all means creating
a Territory in which all the sons and daughters of our soil have the
opportunity to realize the fullest extent of their God-given potential.
And in that spirit, I would like to spend a moment talking about the
Prospect Reef project, which I mentioned earlier and which I am sure is
familiar to you all. I return to this project not just to reiterate my
belief that Prospect Reef will soon become a Centre of Excellence for our
entire hospitality industry, as well as a successful enterprise that will
improve the entire BVI tourism product.
I believe all this to be true. But beyond the direct benefits that all BVI
citizens and residents will enjoy from the success of this project, I want
to talk about what this endeavour symbolizes for this Government and this
Territory.
Ladies and Gentlemen: I have said this before and I say it now – we here
in the BVI must recognize our fundamental realities – we are not a
Territory rich with oil; we do not have great deposits of gold, or iron,
or other valuable minerals; we do not have vast tracts of land for
farming.
What we have in the BVI is our waters, our natural beauty, and our people.
The seas and the sunshine are God’s gift to the BVI; investing in our
people and empowering them to realize their potential is our
responsibility to one another. Here in the BVI we cannot afford to be
complacent about our future. We cannot afford to be unimaginative about
our possibilities. We cannot allow ourselves the luxury of standing still.
We, the people of the BVI in this time and place, are summoned to secure
the future not just for our children – but for our grandchildren and
their children. In every choice we make, in every dollar we spend, in
every policy we enact our obligation is to ask: “what will this mean for
the BVI three generations hence?”
That is an enormous responsibility. But also an inspiration.
For when I look ahead to our future – 10 years from now; 20 years from
now; beyond that, even – I am filled with a sense not of limitation or
fear but of possibility and hope.
I look into the future and I see BVIslanders owning businesses that are
competing on the world stage – and doing it from right here in the BVI.
I look into the future and I see young BVIslanders attending world class
schools, one and all. I look into the future and I see every BVIslander
with access to the highest quality healthcare – here in Tortola – but
also on Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke and Anegada.
Ladies and gentlemen: I look into the future and see our Tourism industry
in which local people don’t just work in our leading businesses, but own
them and run them. I see a future where the managers, head chefs, and
CEO’s of our leading businesses are BVIslanders – and their work is
making the BVI the envy of the region and the world. And that is where
Prospect Reef comes in.
We will not take up positions of power in tourism or anything else unless
we earn it. In order to make sure the next generation of leaders is made
up of sons and daughters of our soil then we must start planning today.
The graduates of Prospect Reef are going to enter the world with the
confidence and skill they need to realize this vision – and the talent
to change our Territory for the better. But in order to get there we all
must be prepared to work hard and to sacrifice. Because this hopeful
tomorrow that I see – whether in education, or healthcare, or tourism
– none of it will come to us for free.
We as a people shall earn our future through work, through wise investment
and through sacrifice. And, as for me, I would not have it any other way.
I do not want a BVI that costs us nothing.
I do not want a future that we don’t have to build with our own two
hands. For only by working for our own tomorrow will we as a people know
the pride and self-fulfillment that are the truest hallmarks of a free and
proud and independent people. And I know that this sense of optimism and
hope is shared throughout our Territory.
Nowhere is it more evident than among the fine men and women of our public
service. These dedicated professionals are the backbone of everything that
this Government has accomplished or will accomplish. They are truly the
fuel that powers our Territory. Their skill, dedication and talent make
our achievements possible. But beyond the professional discharging of
their duties, what separates them out is their shared commitment to a
vision of a better BVI.
Let me today say directly to all the men and women of the public service:
the people of the Territory thank you; your Ministers thank you; and,
above all, I thank you. And beyond thanking you, I call on you to help
lead the way forward. We have so much yet to do – only by working
together as one team, one family will we realize our best potential.
And ladies and gentlemen: There can be no higher calling for a public
service, for a Government or for a people.
We are building a brighter tomorrow for our children. And so even at the
hard times, let us be joyful in our labour. Let us recall generations past
who endured so much to bring us to where we are today and let us find in
their example the strength to push ahead.
Ladies and Gentlemen: I close this evening on a personal note. These past
two years have been an enormously exciting time. Waking up each morning
and heading off to do the people’s work is an honour and privilege that
I find new energy for each day. Above all, I draw my greatest joy and
inspiration from the work we are able to do to reach out to our young
people and point the way to a better future for them.
Every time I see the young faces of our children so full of confidence and
expectation I am filled with such pride, such hope. For me, this is the
true meaning and mission of Government. My friends: We are here to serve
but for a short time. That is the destiny of men and of Governments.
In the end we will be measured not by the votes we receive, not by the
roads and buildings we leave behind, not by the laws we pass or the
policies we effectuate – ultimately we are judged by a higher standard.
We will be judged by the numbers of lives we have impacted and by the kind
of world we leave as legacy to our children. And we will be held
accountable to history.
Did we leave our Territory stronger than when we found it? Did we lift up
our people and create hope and opportunity? Did we inspire our youngest to
achieve all that they were capable of?
In these questions I am reminded of the words of the poet who once wrote: Life
is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got
a hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as
possible before handing it on to future generations.
Let us all seek together to make the torch of our beloved BVI burn more
brightly than ever – so that when we look back at the work we have done
we can say with satisfaction and pride: we left our Territory in better
state for the next generation – and we have confidence that they will
leave it better still.
No legacy can be prouder. No mission more honourable. No goal more worthy.
Together we shall succeed.
Thank you. God bless you all. And may God forever bless the British Virgin
Islands.
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