BVI Chief Minister Hon. Ralph T. O’Neal welcomes H.R.H. The Duke of York
to the unveiling ceremony for the foundation stone of the new
Airport Terminal [Island Sun photo]

Prince Andrew says
BVI visit was a "wonderful experience"

ISLAND SUN GOES ONE-ON-ONE WITH H.R.H. THE DUKE OF YORK
The following represents a verbatim report on an interview conducted with His Royal Highness The Duke of York by Island Sun reporter Angela Burns- Piper just prior to his departure Monday morning at the Beef Island International Airport.

On arrival at the airport just after 8 a.m., Prince Andrew was met by Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Education, Health and Welfare the Honourable Eileen Parsons, who presented a number of senior Ministry officials. The Duke walked through an avenue of flags of all Commonwealth countries made and modelled by school children. He met other students on the roof of the airport terminal and spoke to Reporters outside the departure lounge, before inspecting a parade of Girl Guides, Master Guides and Boy Scouts. His Royal Highness then departed for Montserrat, via Antigua.

IS: Yes Sir, first of all, I don't know if you want to make a statement or should we just launch into questions?

HRH: No, launch into questions.

FRIENDLINESS

IS: This is your first visit to the British Virgin Islands. What is it that struck you most about the islands? HRH: Their friendliness! It's quite evident that everybody has a smile on their face, everybody is enjoying themselves. They're incredibly friendly to visitors such as myself and it has been a wonderful experience for me to be able to come here just to touch or scratch the surface of what goes on here. I've had an opportunity to see a number of the islands and it's been wonderful being able to go around and see it. Unfortunately, two days is just not long enough. But in the context of what I am here for, which is to visit all the United Kingdom's Overseas Territories in the Caribbean, it's all I can afford in terms of time, on this occasion. But, I'm sure that given a fair wind and another invitation from the Governor, I shall be back.

(GOVERNOR: Next week Sir!)

HRH: Next week!?...Yes, exactly.

OFFSHORE SECTOR

CANA: Have you had an opportunity of making inquiries about the offshore sector financial institution and what is your impression, if at all?

HRH: I did have a meeting with the Chief Minister and we did discuss the offshore sector and my knowledge of the offshore sector is not as great as perhaps the experts here that are better placed than I am. However, my understanding of the offshore sector has increased markedly as a result of being here and I shall watch what happens with the offshore sector with great interest. There are a number of concerns I think that the offshore sector has in the future and I shall just be able to watch it. I don't think I'll be able to affect anything to do with the outcome. I think we're just going to have to see how it pans out. It's a difficult one, but it produces I believe 55% of government revenue on the islands, so it's a very important sector and it needs to be supported in whatever way it can. But I think we're going to have to watch it very carefully and the government are aware of the problem and being aware of the problem is 50% of the way of solving it. But I think there's a lot to be said for it and it brings a lot of revenue in and I think that I would hope to see a satisfactory resolution.)

IS: How does what you've heard about Britain and her remaining colonies compare with what you actually saw here in the British Virgin Islands over the past two days?

HRH: I think I'm much happier with the relationship the United Kingdom has now got, or is now beginning to develop with its Overseas Territories and the work that has been going on in the last number of months, both around the Caribbean and in the United Kingdom to develop this relationship, is making great strides towards cooperation, which is far closer than we've had for a number of years. And I think that can only be a good thing and I would hope that we would continue to have that relationship and to continue to develop it. The Governors are all meeting in London later on in May, the Chief Ministers come across to London and have meetings as well and I think that's a very good dialogue and I think there is an opportunity for dialogue now which I think that neither the Overseas Territories out here or the United Kingdom can ignore and we must continue to develop it.

IS: Two final quick questions Sir...

HRH: (Laughs) Two final quick...two final? It's normally one final! Yeah, O.K, go on.

IS: Why was it important for you to visit the BVI and the other Dependent Territories?...Why is it considered important?

HRH: It's important for two reasons. One of which is that the United Kingdom has a responsibility for a great deal of the integrity of the islands. The number of Royal visits that have occurred in this part of the world have diminished for a number of reasons, in the fact that there are so many other things that have been on everybody's plate. And at this particular time, following on from the government's initiative in the engagement with the Caribbean and other Overseas Territories, it is a recognition and a signal to the Caribbean that we are here and we wish to be engaged and we wish to cooperate and we wish to be friends and to continue this dialogue in the future.

IS: And based on the discussions you have had with His Excellency the Governor and the Honourable Chief Minister, will there be any special representation that Your Royal Highness will be making to the British government or Her Majesty on our behalf?

HRH: I am not in a position to be able to make any special representations. That's not my position to make special representations. But of course, in the course of conversations, there may well be ideas that have germinated that may take seed in somebody's minds. That's all I can say. But I mean, at the moment, I have no remit from the Governor or the Chief Minister to take any messages back of anything, apart from their good wishes, to Her Majesty. And I know that Her Majesty wishes me to send her good wishes to the Overseas Territories and particularly to the BVI, which she remembers when she last visited here in '77. But, I think that the key is that this is just a step on the road to the relationship with the United Kingdom and the Overseas and we look forward to this relationship growing in the future.