UK officials arrive for financial talks

British Virgin Islands: A two-member delegation from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK are in the BVI to continue talks today on the financial status of the territory, according to a BVInews.com report.

The delegation headed by economist Steve Johnson arrived in the territory last evening. Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr. Orlando Smith, and his delegation started talks on the financial status of the territory in the UK last November and in a press conference, the Premier said these discussions will continue in the territory early this year when a delegation from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office visits the BVI.

According to the BVInews.com report Governor Boyd McCleary said that the delegation will be in the BVI for two days and “they will be continuing discussions with the Premier and his colleagues about the management of public finances. Those were discussions that began in November at the time of the Overseas Territories Consultative Council Meeting”. When asked if the delegation will be discussing the recent budget that was passed in the House of Assembly, the Governor said: “They will be talking generally about public finance management.”

The Governor was also asked if the two-member delegation will be holding talks with the Premier before the budget is debated and passed and he said: “I can’t comment on the details of what’s being discussed. They are going to be talking about the general issue of how the public finances are managed and will be having meetings with the Premier and some of his colleagues. We are looking to get a better understanding. This is a team from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office who are coming out here to have discussions which started in November and they hope to make further progress in discussing with the BVI government the management of public finances.”

The BVInews.com report stated that the Governor also said the whole issue of the BVI budget to be sent to the UK before its passed will also form part of the two-day discussions with the two economists from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. “There are a number of issues to be discussed and that is one of the issues that will be discussed,” the Governor said.