Mark Simmonds, the United Kingdom’s newly appointed minister for the overseas territories, made his first official visit to the Virgin Islands this week, telling reporters Tuesday that he was “impressed” with recently enacted changes to the territory’s public finance laws.
Mr. Simmonds, who was named to the ministerial post nine weeks ago after UK Prime Minister David Cameron reshuffled his Cabinet, said at a press conference at Government House that some of his Tuesday discussions with Premier Dr. Orlando Smith and other Cabinet members centred on the Protocols for Effective Financial Management, an agreement Dr. Smith signed with the UK in April.
The UK minister said he was “impressed with the progress that has been made in responsible and prudent financial management,” praising House of Assembly members for passing an amendment to the Public Finance Management Act this month.
See the Oct. 25, 2012 edition for full coverage.
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