GOVERNOR SAVAGE REFLECTS ON HIS YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE BVI

Two days before leaving, His Excellency Governor Frank Savage held a 
wide-ranging press conference reflecting on his four years and three months 
of service as Governor of the British Virgin Islands.

He began by acknowledging the support he received from the Governor's 
Office and throughout the wider public service and in the Royal Virgin 
Islands Police Force. He also paid tribute to the Deputy Governor, the 
Attorney General and the Commissioner of Police, whom he referred to as his three closest advisers, the Chief Minister and Executive Council, members of the Legislative Council and the many friends and extended church family of himself and wife Veronica.

"At my installation in July 1998, I promised to act fairly, without fear, 
with probity and integrity and to do what was best for all in the 
community," Governor Savage recalled. "I have tried to live up to that 
undertaking, but it is for the community to judge in the months and years 
ahead if I succeeded."

He said he leaves the territory with a sense of a job half done. Referring 
to the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) he initiated, he said 
while the foundations are in place to make further good progress, the 
programme has a long way to go if we are to introduce world-class 
management practices right across the public service.

The Governor is also responsible for the police force. He pointed out that 
the RVIPF is in the throes of modernization and he is grateful for the 
financial support given by Executive Council.

"There are already some early signs that the programme is working, with 
serious crime down by around 10% and arrests up by around 60%," H.E Savage reported. He said he is particularly pleased with the formation of Police community groups in East End, Road Town and Virgin Gorda and look forward to learning of the establishment of other groups in the near future.

Since his arrival in the BVI, Governor and Mrs. Savage have been living at 
a temporary residence at Beef Island. The Old Government House in Road Town was condemned and will be preserved as a museum. The new Government House is now under construction and should be completed within the next 18 months.

He came to the BVI from a stint in Montserrat. He said he brought with him 
a firsthand knowledge of dealing with a destructive volcano and other 
natural hazards. Within his first few weeks here, the BVI was faced with 
the prospects of a powerful hurricane, Georges. At his insistence, 
transport was provided for those who wanted to leave Anegada in the face of 
predicted sea swells of 20-30 feet, however, the only persons to leave were 
not from that island and the nurse was among the evacuees. "The Chief 
Minister has pulled my leg about that ever since."

Fortunately, during that hurricane, conditions eased and the territory was 
not faced with the danger first feared. Governor Savage said the important 
point was that the BVI was well prepared, the community well advised and in the case of Anegada, given a choice.

"The BVI is in the centre of a natural hazard zone, with earthquakes and 
hurricanes the constant danger and as I leave, I urge all of the community 
to maintain a vigilant watch and to always be well prepared," the Governor 
said.

He said he believes the BVI faces a golden future. He said leaders would be 
called upon to make the right choices when confronted by increased 
competition from without and by competing forces and views within the 
territory. But he said he hoped all who reside here would be treated 
fairly, not only in accordance with international commitments to the 
various human rights treaties, but also in accordance with the community's 
sense of decency and fair play.

Governor Savage said both he and his wife have had the pleasure of working 
closely with a good number of ngo's and charities, such as the Red Cross, 
the Family Support Network, VISAR, Lions and CADA and many youth 
organizations, such as the Girl Guides and Boys Scouts. They have 
entertained close to 10,000 persons in Government House and met many more of the community in their travels around the islands.

"We have been treated with great respect and friendship and we have made 
many special friends with whom we hope to maintain contact after our return to London," he stated. "You have all made us feel at home and we will be sad to depart, although we hope at some point in the future to return to enjoy the beauty of Nature's Little Secrets, without the responsibility 
that goes with the position of Governor."

Governor Savage has been invited by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London to work on a part-time basis representing the Overseas Territories.