The United Kingdom’s Privy Council approved a request from Virgin Islands leaders to add two junior minister posts in the House of Assembly, according to Governor John Duncan.

The Privy Council’s order has already been laid before the UK Parliament and will come into force Nov. 5, Mr. Duncan said in a statement, adding that after that date he will appoint two members of the HOA to the position.

“The new ministers will not be members of Cabinet, but will assist in the performance of ministerial functions relating to economic development,” Mr. Duncan said, adding, “The exact portfolios will be agreed on the recommendation of the premier.”

Dr. Smith announced his intention to create the posts when he was sworn in in June, calling the positions “ministers of state.”

The premier may say more about the posts Monday when the HOA meets to debate amendments to the Employee Mobility Act and the Insurance Act.

According to the agenda for the meeting, lawmakers will also introduce amendments to the Trade Marks Act and the BVI Business Companies Act. Debates on those laws will take place at a later sitting.

Government ministers will lay several documents on the table of the House, making them public, including the recently completed report from the Minimum Wage Advisory Committee.

Other documents to be laid include annual reports from the Civil Registry and Passport Office, the Deputy Governor’s Office, the Human Resources Department, and the Virgin Islands Shipping Registry.

No questions from the opposition are slated for the meeting.

See the full order paper for Monday’s sitting below:

 

 

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