• Governor - David PEAREY
• Deputy Govenor - Dencia PENN-SMITH
• Premier - Ralph O'NEAL
• Min. of Communication and Works - J.Alvin CHRISTOPHER
• Min. of Education and Culture - Lloyd BLACK
• Min. of finance - Ronnie SKELTON
• Min. of Natural Resources and Labor - Eileene PARSONS
• Permanent Secretary - Clyde LETTSOME

Public Holidays: 1 January, New Years Day; 1 March, H. Lavity Stoutt's Birthday; 8 March, Commonwealth Day; Good Friday; Easter Monday; 31 May, Whit Monday; 12 June, Sovereign's Birthday; 1 July, Territory Day; first Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday in August: Festival Monday, Festival Tuesday, Festival Wednesday; 21 October, St. Ursula's Day; 25 December, Christmas Day; 26 December, Boxing Day

Economic Structure
According to the EIU's Country Profile for December 2011, Tourism is the most important sector of the economy and is based mainly on luxury accommodation and yacht charters, with yachting visitors outnumbering hotel guests in most years.  The economy is dependent on tourism and financial services, which represented 15.9% and 36.5% of GDP respectively in 2004, the latest year for which data are available.

Economic Performance
Following a downturn in 2002-03, economic growth is estimated to have picked up in 2004-06, led by tourism and financial services. Real GDP growth in 2007 was estimated at 9.5%, up from 7.2% in 2006. The use of the US dollar as the currency of the BVI and the strength of the economy help to keep inflation under control, although price increases for imports from other Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries tend to result in inflation slightly above US levels.

Since the mid-1980s, the BVI has become one of the world's leading offshore financial centres specialising in the registration of international business companies (IBCs). Tourism was affected by the international economic downturn and fears of terrorism in 2001-03, but stopover arrivals have since recovered and reached 358,056 in 2007.

Economic Policy
A memorandum on co-operation and partnership with the UK sets out a development framework, including specific plans for action in different policy areas. Licence fees from international companies (particularly in financial services) setting up in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) make up close to 60% of current fiscal revenue and have contributed to the growth in revenue since the 1980s. 

A 2005 tax reform removed the distinction between onshore and offshore company tax regimes, to address EU and OECD concerns over ?ringfencing ?. Income tax payable by individuals and local companies was replaced by a payroll tax on earnings over US$6,500, with 8% payable by employees, 2% by small business employers and 6% by large businesses.

Source: Economist Intelligence Unit Country Profile. December 2011

MDGs

Summary of progress on the global MDG agenda. February 2008

According to the British Virgin Islands Millennium Development Goals: A Plan of Action for Localising and Achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Like many other Caribbean and middle income countries, the BVI measures up quite well against several of the global MDG targets and indicators. Levels of poverty and unemployment are low. The most recent available data put the incidence of poverty among households at 16 per cent and the adult unemployment rate at 3.1 per cent. The territory has achieved universal access to primary and secondary education and in 2006, the government expanded access to tertiary education through a tuition fee waiver for BVIslanders attending the local community college. Literacy levels are high. There is a high level of female participation in the labour force and the labour market is very open to women in the service sector. The goal where the BVI shows the least progress is perhaps MDG 7, 'Ensure Environmental Sustainability' whereby development concerns continue to override environmental ones.
source: OECS

Country Poverty Assessment

Caribbean Development Bank. Government of the British Virgin Islands. Country Poverty Assessment.  Final Report. Volume 1 of 2: Main Report

The final report of the Poverty Assessment in the British Virgin Islands is one of a series of Country Poverty Assessments (CPAs) undertaken throughout the Caribbean since 1995. Its primary objectives are:
* To identify the extent, severity, characteristics and causes of poverty in the
BVI;

* To evaluate the effectiveness of current policies and programmes in terms of
their impact on the poor and vulnerable groups of the population; and

 * To make recommendations for future policies and programmes to contribute to the
reduction of poverty on the island.

Economic Outlook

The outlook for the BVI over the next 3 to 5 years appears to comprise a levelling off in tourist arrivals and expenditures plus a broadening of the array of off-shore services. This first development may result in a slowing down in the demand for immigrant labour. The second development is likely to further enhance government revenues without creating significant new employment. It may be expected that the economy of the BVI will continue along the trend lines established in the 1990s if the Government can ensure OECD and US regulators that its offshore services meet new international requirements for reporting and transparency. Because these financial intermediation services can move quickly to new homes in other jurisdictions, the Government must take great care in this regard, especially as this sector contributes about 50% of total Government revenue.

Economic Structure

The provision of off-shore financial services in the BVI has been a world-class financial success. There are currently some 470,000 international business companies registered in the BVI. The BVI are expanding this sector by entering three new but complementary markets: mutual funds, insurance and yacht registration.

Tourism

The BVI tourism product is diverse, comprising sailing, cruise ship arrivals, scuba diving and high end resorts. Government officials indicate that yachting and cruise ship tourist arrivals may be peaking. Nevertheless, Government hopes to increase value added in the sector and to spread arrivals over a longer season, attract higher-spending visitors and encourage the development of smaller, boutique hotels. These actions are not expected to result in large increases in employment.
source: CDB

Social Development Report 2005/06

Statistics indicate that the overall poverty conditions of the BVI were relatively adequate, yet poverty among the immigrant population, single parent families and senior citizens is beginning to emerge. As an immediate concern, the government needs an adequate policy framework that focuses on the speicfic areas of poverty, as mentioned above.

In a Social Welfare Policy report,The Development Planning Unit of the government of BVI gives a comprehensive analysis of the social services provided for the less fortunate and senior members of the society. Social services for (Vulnerable groups) Women, Children and Youth, The Elderly and People with disability are particualrly addressed for policy reform by the government.

The first group assessed was the welfare of women, where the association called 'The Women Desk'(establihed by the national women's group) serves as part of the government machinery and works closely with NGO's, churches and other Support groups in order to maintain the development of women in the BVI. Implementation of a integrated approach among NGO's, stakeholders and all public and private institutions are stated by the governemnt as vital to the future development of women.

In approaching the needs for Children and Youth (following the 1990 World Summit for Children), the government of BVI has taken pervasive measures in:

• Reduction of infant and under five-child mortality rate.
• Reduction of maternal mortality rate by half.
• Reduction of severe and moderate malnutrition among under five children.
• Universal access to safe drinking water.
• Universal access to sanitary means of excreta disposal.
• Universal access to basic education and completion of primary education.
• Reduction of adult illiteracy rate.
• Improved protection of children in especially difficult circumstances.

Strategic policies recommended to help guide a positive direction for the full development of children and youth will be undertaken by the government, a few mentioned were;

• Put in place a National Youth Policy, which identify the needs of the youth and strategies on how to achieve their needs. This is in pursuit of optimum development in preparation for fulfillment of their role and function in the national community specifically and in society in general.
• Establish a National Youth Council as a focal point of central representation for individuals and groups. This will provide greater participation in decision making and national politics.

Social needs of the Elderly are also addressed by the government. Statistics indicate that the rate of life expectancy and entry of women in the labour force has been increasing, which means the expansion of social services including higher national insurance payments and special recreation should be targeted at an aging population.

With their Social Security insurance program, the government already provides financial security for insured elderly persons. However, social security was only established in 1980, and many elderly still suffer from from lack of benefits. Civil servants working for 25 consecutive years are entitled to recieve a monthly pension.Development strategies were henced designed to improve and review the Pension plan and legal framework to include persons who served but were never covered under the Pension Act.

Finally, the disabled group was shown to be 4.4% of the total population of BVI, moreover, only 41.4% of the active group (15-64 years) of disabled persons participated in formally employed positions. In order to tackle this situation, the BVI government has progames such as "Social Security Invalidity Benefits" designed to financially assist persons who has become permanently incapable of work and has become medically certified as being likely to remain incapacitated.

Education
EIU Country Profile. December 2011.
There is full access to primary and secondary education in the BVI, with schools of a
reasonably high standard. For tertiary education, there is a community college in the capital, Road Town. An estimated 98% of adults are literate. A distance education system allows locally-based students to take some courses at the University of the West Indies.

Solid Waste Management

HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS prevalence
Since 2003, the National AIDS Programme has improved surveillance of, and reporting on, HIV and AIDS in the territory. There are 57 BVI residents living with HIV who are known to the Department of Health (some residents seek treatment overseas for confidentiality reasons). Of this number, 29 people have AIDS (16 women and 13 men) and 28 are HIV positive (15 women and 13 men). The first case of HIV/AIDS was identified in 1985 and by February 2007, a total of 85 people had tested positive for HIV in the territory. However, the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC) estimates that the prevalence rate for HIV infection in the BVI is 1.5 per cent. This suggests there could be as many as 375 infected people in the territory.5 The data indicate that HIV prevalence among 15 – 24 year olds is low (Table 21). However, there are little data available for children under the age of 16 years, as they are not tested without parental consent....

 Challenges in addressing HIV/AIDS

In the BVI, the epidemic is considered to be still increasing, or blooming, and systematic monitoring and data collection has only been in place since 2003. The National AIDS Programme is underfinanced (not having had a budgetary increase in 10 years) and understaffed. The recent decision to mainstream and integrate the HIV/AIDS Programme into the national health programme suggests HIV/AIDS may be framed primarily as a public health issue in the BVI. It will be important for the territory to not loose sight of the fact that the pandemic is also a development issue and to ensure that strategies to address HIV/AIDS place it squarely on the development agenda and not just on the health agenda. Mainstreaming could, however, be an opportunity for the BVI, if it also includes integrating the programme in poverty reduction efforts, social policy analysis as well as the new gender policy.....
source: The British Virgin Islands Millennium Development Goals: A Plan of Action for Localising and Achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)