PREMIER WELCOMES NEW BVI ALL PARTY UK PARLIAMENTARY GROUP

Friday August 6, 2010

Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE today welcomed the election of the new officers of the BVI All Party Parliamentary Group in the United Kingdom Parliament.

Member of Parliament (MP) Mark Pritchard of the Conservative Party was elected chairman while MP David Crausby of the Labour Party is the new vice-chairman. They are joined by joint secretaries Jim Dobbin of the Labour Party and Andrew Rosindell, MP, of the Conservative Party. Mark Menzies, MP, of the Conservative Party was elected treasurer.

Commenting on the election of the new officers the Premier said, “Following the United Kingdom General Election there are many new members in the House of Commons and I am pleased and grateful that so many have demonstrated an interest in the BVI. We look forward to welcoming the new officers and their colleagues to the BVI in due course.”

Honourable O’Neal added, “I would also like to pay tribute to the support that Lindsay Hoyle has shown. He has always been a keen supporter of all the Overseas Territories and we were particularly grateful that he was our chairman for so long. I congratulate him on his new role and hope that we will continue to stay in touch.”

Hon. Hoyle, MP, stepped aside as chairman following his election to the position of Deputy Speaker in the House of Commons. He held the chairmanship position from 2005–2010.

Incoming chairman Hon. Pritchard said, “I look forward to working closely with the Government of the BVI to ensure that the British Government is aware of the importance of the BVI to the UK economy and to make sure that the BVI is not misrepresented. I have long held an active interest in foreign affairs and I look forward to developing strong links with the BVI.”

The BVI All Party Parliamentary Group is a forum for parliamentarians of all parties from both the House of Commons and the House of Lords to come together to discuss issues of importance to the British Virgin Islands. Formed in 2004, the group provides a link between the BVI and the UK Parliament by fostering and maintaining good relations with interested parliamentarians.