“Over the past few months, permanent secretaries have headed working groups to translate our manifesto’s programmes, projects and initiatives into strategic plans and assign them the appropriate and realistic timelines,” he stated. 

The one-day retreat will include seven presentations from the five ministries, the Governor’s Group and the Ministry of Finance on their respective strategic plans with a focus on 2009. The Cabinet Secretary and all permanent secretaries will also be in attendance.

The objective, the Premier explained, is to streamline the Party’s manifesto into the ‘why’ and ‘how’ programmes and projects are executed, while adding,

“The strategic plans will also help to provide a clearer picture of the requisite funding this Government must consider as we complete our 2009 budgetary submissions.”

According to Premier O’Neal the retreat fits perfectly into the current public sector reform programme as strategic planning is also one of the four service delivery areas.

Ministers portfolios changes

There have been several modifications added or subtracted to Ministers’ functions and duties stated the Premier, with all the amendments to be released shortly in a booklet entitled Portfolios of the Governor and Ministers by the Department of Information and Public Relations.

In the Premier’ Office, the subjects of Gender Affairs and National Health Insurance have been re-assigned from the Premier to the Minister of Health and Social Development.

“The Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Social Development has always expressed a very strong interest in gender issues so she has welcomed this new subject under her portfolio.  Given the Health ministry’s mandate to build the new hospital, it is also fitting that national health insurance is also coordinated by that same ministry,” O’Neal pointed out.

Additionally, the Wickham’s Cay Development Authourity has been re-assigned to the Premier’s Office, along with the Office of the City Manager. The Premier announced that Lucille Lettsome George has been given the position of the Wickham’s Development Project. The position became vacant a few months ago after the untimely passing of the Manager Calvin Baronville.

Alternative energy, climate change, global warming and food and food security are new additions to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour, and according to the Premier, this move is an indication that the Territory must continue to keep pace with global issues.

Safety in public buildings now falls under the purview of the Ministry of Communications and Works.  

“As the ministry responsible for the Territory’s infrastructure, safety in public buildings complements the mandate of the Fire and Rescue Services, BVI Electricity Corporation, and the Building Authority at the Public Works Department,” Premier O’Neal noted.

He also stated that the Governor David Pearey has approved the re-assignment of responsibilities under the various portfolios of the ministers of Government, which is in accordance with section 56 of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007.

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