Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has said the people of Ukraine deserve to live in peace within their own internationally recognised borders, as called for by the UN General Assembly. Photo: VINO/File

Premier and Minister of Finance Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1), 2nd from right, has lauded the response of the United Kingdom (UK) and Overseas Territories (OTs) to the Ukraine crisis at bilateral talks in the Territory with Overseas Territories Minister The Right Honourable Amanda A. Milling, 2nd from left, on March 18, 2022. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands

Premier Andrew A. Fahie (R1) was accompanied at the UK-BVI bilateral meeting by Health Minister Hon Carvin Malone (AL), Permanent Secretary Dr Carolyn O’Neal-Morton and Special Envoy of the Premier Mr E. Benito Wheatley. Photo: Government of the Virgin Islands

“The United Kingdom and Overseas Territories have applied unprecedented sanctions in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine which we hope will help bring an end to the crisis. War is not the answer. The people of Ukraine deserve to live in peace within their own internationally recognised borders, as called for by the UN General Assembly. Our regulatory agencies will continue to do their part,” Premier Fahie said in a Government press release today, March 23, 2022.

The VI government of Premier Fahie, which has been fighting to get the United Kingdom (UK) to understand the Virgin Islands' position on a similar issue, had previously said a country’s sovereignty and right to self-determination should be respected.

“In the modern civilised world, sovereignty, the right of people to self-determination, and the principles of international law must all be respected,” the VI Government had argued in a statement on February 28, 2022.

Impact of Ukraine crisis on VI discussed

The Minister of Finance, according to the press release today, also discussed with Honourable Milling the economic impact of the Ukraine crisis on the [British] Virgin Islands and his Administration’s potential fiscal and other policy options to respond to rapidly rising inflation and the sharp spike in energy and fuel prices.

According to the Premier, “I appreciated the interest by Minister Milling on the economic ripple effects of the Ukraine crisis on the British Virgin Islands and shared with her the various fiscal and other policy options currently being considered to respond to higher prices at the pump and higher electricity bills. She understands the global economic impact the Ukraine crisis is having on economies around the world and the need by Governments, including my Administration, to respond accordingly.”

At the bilateral talks Minister for Health and Social Development Hon Carvin Malone (AL) also updated Minister Milling on the impact of COVID-19 in the Territory and thanked the United Kingdom for the provision of vaccines and other assistance.

Minister Milling confirmed that the UK will continue to support the BVI’s COVID response, the press release stated.

The issue of advancing medical cannabis in the Virgin Islands was also discussed.

To round off UK-BVI bilateral talks, Premier Fahie and his Ministers hosted a ministerial dinner in which he thanked Minister Milling for traveling to the Virgin Islands on his invitation, which he hoped had given her greater familiarity with the people and culture of the islands and a better sense of the Territory’s remaining hurricane recovery needs, potential for sustainable development and modest recovery of tourism from the pandemic.

Premier Fahie was accompanied at the UK-BVI bilateral meeting by Hon Malone, Permanent Secretary Dr Carolyn O’Neal-Morton and Special Envoy of the Premier Mr E. Benito Wheatley.