Friday, December 05, 2008London Calling

Dawn SmithThe BVI London House Seeks to Shape Our Reationship with the UK and Europe

The London Office of the Government of the Virgin Islands can be found in a six-storey 18th century building now known as BVI House, at 15 Upper Grosvenor Street in historic Mayfair. It is the focal point in the United Kingdom and Europe for socioeconomic and political matters related to the Virgin Islands, and helps to shape its relationship with the United Kingdom and the world. The Office falls within the portfolio of the Premier’s Office and works in partnership with ministries, departments, statutory bodies and the private sector to promote all aspects of life in the Virgin Islands and to strengthen and defend its economic pillars especially the thriving financial services sector.

The London Office opened in 2002 and in so doing, joined the ranks of the other Overseas Territories with offices in the United Kingdom (Anguilla, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, St. Helena and the Turks & Caicos Islands) as well as the network of embassies and high commissions representing the international community. The role of the office is defined by the traditional expectations of a representative office in another country, the Government’s priorities at any given time, and the changing nature of diplomacy in a modern, technology-driven world.

The initial objectives of the Office were to strengthen the voice of the Virgin Islands with the United Kingdom Government and other international partners including the European Union and the Commonwealth, promote BVI business, support Virgin Islanders in the UK, provide diplomatic representation, speak for the Virgin Islands, and respond to enquiries about the Virgin Islands and manage BVI House. These objectives remain the same today although the manner of their implementation is constantly under review in response to ever changing circumstances.

The Office’s director reports directly to the Premier’s Office in the Virgin Islands and who is also the UK Representative of the Virgin Islands. The director is supported by a small staff in London and a network of professionals in the Virgin Islands public sector. In addition, London-based networks such as the All Party Parliamentary Groups for the Virgin Islands, the UK Overseas Territories and the British Caribbean, the London Circle, the Friends of the BVI and Virgin Islanders resident in the United Kingdom play a crucial role in facilitating the work of the Office.

The directorship is a consuming assignment and the typical working day lasts at least 10-12 hours. This is primarily because of the volume of work that comes through the London Office and from the 4-5 hour time difference between London and the Virgin Islands. The director is called on to represent the Virgin Islands and speak on its behalf in diverse fora, and therefore must keep abreast of local and international events, while displaying the flexibility needed to deal with a wide range of issues and circumstances and constantly engaging a wide network of stakeholders, advisers and contacts. A typical day includes media review and the necessary follow-up, meetings touching business, government, culture, civil society, and other aspects of life, bringing people together to help them achieve defined goals, conducting research, preparing reports and advice, disseminating timely information and building networks through one-on one contact meetings, seminars, literature, press contact, conferences and social events, office administration and management of BVI House – part of which is let to tenants. Because of these responsibilities, the director also participates at meetings, conferences, seminars and other events on behalf of ministries, departments and public sector bodies.

Through the London Office, the British Virgin Islands maintains its active membership in the London-based United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association (UKOTA) which was established by the Governments of Anguilla, Bermuda, the Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St. Helena and the Turks and Caicos Islands on November 2nd, 1994. This organisation promotes the interests of the United Kingdom Overseas Territories and encourages cooperation between them. Among its objectives are providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and discussion of issues of common interest, making recommendations to the Governments of the Overseas Territories on appropriate courses of action, fostering the relationship with the UK Government, the European Union, the Commonwealth and other international organisations and institutions, and defending and representing the collective interests of Overseas Territories. In recent years, for example, the strong lobby from UKOTA was a key part of the effort by Overseas Territories’ Governments to secure home fees (university fees charged to UK nationals) for British citizens living in the Overseas Territories which came into effect as of the 2007/ 2008 school year. The British Virgin Islands is currently the secretary of UKOTA.

As the UK Representative of the Virgin Islands, the Director of the London Office builds and maintains relationships with diplomatic representatives from the Caribbean and all over the world through one on one meetings, membership in diplomatic organisations and participation in diplomatic events.

The Virgin Islands is one of the 20 Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) referred to in Part IV of the EC Treaty and the London Office has the day to day responsibility of maintaining the relationship with the European Union and its agencies as well as for active membership in the Overseas Countries and Terrritories Association (OCTA) formed in 2002. The OCTA members are Anguilla, Aruba, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, French Polynesia, Greenland, Mayotte, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, Pitcairn Islands, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, St. Helena, Turks & Caicos Islands and Wallis & Futuna. The OCTs are associated with the European Union through their relationships with four EU members states namely, the United Kingdom, Denmark, France and the Netherlands. Through its links with OCTA, other European Union agencies and members of the European Parliament (MEPs), the London Office is able to bridge the geographical gap and foster the relationship between the BVI and Europe. In 2008 alone, the London Office facilitated the participation of the Virgin Islands in the debates and discussions on the 2008 Green Paper about the future relationship of the European Union with the overseas countries and territories. It also encouraged the Virgin Islands’ participation in training, workshops, projects and research covering areas such as EU procedures, education, climate change, aquaculture, energy and waste management. In addition, the Virgin Islands and the European Commission co-chair the Partnership Working Party on Financial Services - a group comprised of OCTA members, the Commission and the Member states which was formed in 2005.

The London Office is at the forefront of the Virgin Islands’ relationship with the Friends of the BVI. This active and diverse network of people in the United Kingdom with links to and interests in the Virgin Islands is chaired by former Governor Frank Savage CMG LVO OBE. In addition to regular meetings, the Friends work with the London Office to plan charity events such as the Silent Auction in aid of the Eslyn Henley-Richiez Learning Centre in Tortola which raised more than US$3,200.00 in 2007 and the Robert Chalwell Jr In Concert event which raised more than US$8,0000 to benefit the Youth Empowerment Project. They also meet for Members’ Evenings for presentations on history, culture and current events in the Virgin Islands.

Formed in 2004, the London Circle is part of the umbrella Friends group and has a business focus. Its members work closely with the London Office and the BVI International Finance Centre to promote the interests of the Territory in financial services, tourism and other areas of the economy. They provide feedback and advice on topical issues and represent the Virgin Islands at conferences, seminars and networking events.

The London Office is also responsible for keeping the Virgin Islands All Party Parliamentary Group abreast of issues affecting the Virgin Islands and coordinating familiarisation visits to the Virgin Islands. This group is very important for representing the interests of the Virgin Islands in the UK Parliament. The group is currently chaired by Lindsay Hoyle, MP who, along with other members of Group paid an official visit to the Virgin Islands in 2006. Another member of the group visited the Virgin Islands in early 2007.

The London Office is now entrenched as a source of information about the Virgin Islands and enquiries are received on a daily basis through the website (www.bvi.org.uk), by telephone, email and in person. It has also become a first point of contact for formal requests for information and cooperation.
Supporting Virgin Islanders in the United Kingdom is a key part of the work done in the London Office. The number of Virgin Islanders residing indefinitely in the United Kingdom is very small and just over 50 students are currently enrolled in universities throughout the United Kingdom studying accounting, business, education, law, public sector management and the social sciences. The London Office is constantly in touch - distributing information of interest, and through informal visits and interaction at BVI House. In any given school year, for example, standard student events include a welcome and familiarisation event in mid-October, a professional development seminar in February, work experience opportunities in London and meetings with Government ministers, members of the House of Assembly and senior civil servants throughout the year.

The establishment of the London Office is a source of pride for the Virgin Islands and it has received unwavering support from successive governments. From an administrative point of view, the challenge is always to deliver results over and above expectations within budget in one of the most expensive capitals in the world and in the face of fluctuating exchange rates.

As an Overseas Territory advancing its agenda in the United Kingdom and worldwide, the Virgin Islands’ greatest challenge arises from its size, stability and relative prosperity making it, for the most part, a low-priority item on the international agenda. The Virgin Islands has a population of less than 30,000, a strong economy, GDP per capita of US$41,000 (2007 est.), political stability and a literate population with relatively easy access to health care, education and the other basic rights of human existence. Larger countries throughout the world – in Africa, Asia, Europe and elsewhere - are lobbying for a semblance of the standard of living that we enjoy. In this reality, the interests of a small population in a small Caribbean country is easily relegated to the realm of collateral damage when larger countries and blocs seek to implement policies, directives and other measures that would undermine the success of our key economic pillars in pursuit of their national and shared objectives. The challenge is always to get the facts out to decision makers and to the public and to engage them to take account of our interests. Fortunately, the Virgin Islands has established a strong network of friends over the years and the quality of our income-producing sectors continue to generate positive awareness and support throughout the world which go a long way in counteracting the challenges that we face.

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