In light of BVI Ports Authority Managing Director Oleanvine Maynard’s arrest in Miami last month, Deputy Premier Kye Rymer addressed questions on May 13 about a Florida company registered in the names of Ms. Maynard, BVIPA Deputy Chair Roxane Sylvester, and BVI Tourist Board Chair Kenisha Sprauve.
“The BVI Ports Authority, LLC, is a company registered in the United States in 2019 to enable the BVI Ports Authority to rent office space in the Miami area to provide an outreach location for its cruise business,” Mr. Rymer said in a press conference on Friday.
He added that the office is located near the Miami International Airport, and he said he had been advised that it was intended to be a shared space for the ports, the BVI Tourist Board, and the VI Shipping Registry for dealings with the US.
“It was intended to be a multi-agency space for the purpose of marketing and promoting tourism, ship registration and perhaps in the future serve as a base in Miami for Virgin Islanders, residents and students requiring assistance while abroad,” Mr. Rymer said. “In addition, it could potentially serve as a business hub for BVI entrepreneurs requiring office or meeting space during travel.”
Holding the shares
Mses. Maynard, Sylvester and Sprauve registered the Miami LLC and are holding the shares of the company in the BVIPA’s interest, Mr. Rymer said.
He added that the company — which was registered on Dec. 23, 2019 — was not set up “to engage in any revenue-generating business.”
The office never officially opened due to the pandemic, he said, adding that it is still managed by the BVIPA.
“As minister, I am conducting further inquiries. I have requested certain documents and information from the BVIPA, and when these are received and reviewed, I will be in a better position to determine whether any further action would be required and what that action should be,” he said. “At the present moment, it would be too speculative to make any further pronouncements on the matter. However, I give the public the assurance that whatever findings are made from the current ongoing inquiries, these will be shared with the public and I will, of course, advise the public on whatever further action — if any is necessary — is to be taken so that the public can be confident that its interests are secured.”