Island Sun - Local News - British Virgin Islands

LOCAL NEWS

E-Commerce report completed

The government of the BVI is now considering a proposal that could make the territory "e-commerce ready". A report prepared by a 14-member committee was presented to Chief Minister and Minister of Finance the Honourable Ralph T. O'Neal on Thursday March 29th.

In accepting the Report, he promised that it will not collect dust on the shelves. One of the recommendations of the committee - that legislation be prepared paving the way for e-commerce, has already been acted upon. He said the legislation has been approved by Executive Council and circulated.

According to the Chief Minister, a trade license has also already been issued for a company to set up an e-commerce business here. He said company officials are now looking for commercial and residential accommodation. Some Members of the Legislative Council have predicted that e-commerce will become the third leg of the economy.

Chief Minister O'Neal said: we'll wait and see; as we watch what is happening around us in the other territories, we feel assured that there is a place here for e-commerce.

The BVI Leader expressed gratitude to the members of the committee who worked hard to produce this Report. I hope that we will be able to implement it very, very, very soon we must now get e-commerce ready and make sure that we create the right climate to foster the opening and the operation of this business in the British Virgin Islands.

The Honourable J. Alvin Christopher, Minister for Communications and Works, chaired the e-Commerce Committee. The other members were Hon. Andrew Fahie, Hon. Ronnie Skelton, Ms. Dancia Penn Q.C, Mr. Bennet Smith, Ms. Benedicta Samuels, Mr. Glenn Harrigan, Mr. Robert Mathavious, Dr. Haldene Davies, Mr. Theodore Fahie, Mr. David Abednego, Mr. Phillip Beck and Mr. Allen Wheatley. Mr. Malvern Brathwaite served as Secretary/ex-officio member on the Committee, which was appointed in May 2000.

Hon. Christopher thanked the Chief Minister for the opportunity to develop this Report. He said it was a learning experience for many members of the committee. The Minister said the Committee made a deliberate attempt to keep the Report brief. We did it this way simply because we want it to be easy to review that any lay person can understand.

The Committee held meetings with representatives of many businesses within the community, such as Cable and Wireless and several trust companies. He said one of the most important findings during the research stage is that e-commerce is already present in the territory. He said the Committee was basically preparing a legal way of carrying out this industry.

We hope that the recommendations of this Report (10 of them) will meet with the approval of yourself and in so doing, you can take the necessary steps and I promised the members of this Committee, I will do everything possible to urge the encouragement and help support as quickly as possible, the implementation of the recommendations of the Report.

Chief Minister O'Neal said the next step is for him to read the Report and circulate it to Executive Council. He said while doing so, his office would examine the requirements for implementing the recommendations, especially as it relates to the cost. After consideration by Executive Council, the Report would be laid on the table of the Legislative Council so that it becomes a public document for residents to peruse as they so desire.

[Local News][Caribbean News][Sports & Entertainment]
[World News][What's New & Commentaries]
[BVI History, Attractions & Features] [Your Spot in the Sun]
[Legal][Contact Us][HOME]


			LOCAL NEWS

			E-Commerce report completed The government of the BVI is now considering a proposal that could make the territory "e-commerce ready". A report prepared by a 14-member committee was presented to Chief Minister and Minister of Finance the Honourable Ralph T. O'Neal on Thursday March 29th. In accepting the Report, he promised that it will not collect dust on the shelves. One of the recommendations of the committee - that legislation be prepared paving the way for e-commerce, has already been acted upon. He said the legislation has been approved by Executive Council and circulated. According to the Chief Minister, a trade license has also already been issued for a company to set up an e-commerce business here. He said company officials are now looking for commercial and residential accommodation. Some Members of the Legislative Council have predicted that e-commerce will become the third leg of the economy. Chief Minister O'Neal said: we'll wait and see; as we watch what is happening around us in the other territories, we feel assured that there is a place here for e-commerce. The BVI Leader expressed gratitude to the members of the committee who worked hard to produce this Report. I hope that we will be able to implement it very, very, very soon we must now get e-commerce ready and make sure that we create the right climate to foster the opening and the operation of this business in the British Virgin Islands. The Honourable J. Alvin Christopher, Minister for Communications and Works, chaired the e-Commerce Committee. The other members were Hon. Andrew Fahie, Hon. Ronnie Skelton, Ms. Dancia Penn Q.C, Mr. Bennet Smith, Ms. Benedicta Samuels, Mr. Glenn Harrigan, Mr. Robert Mathavious, Dr. Haldene Davies, Mr. Theodore Fahie, Mr. David Abednego, Mr. Phillip Beck and Mr. Allen Wheatley. Mr. Malvern Brathwaite served as Secretary/ex-officio member on the Committee, which was appointed in May 2000. Hon. Christopher thanked the Chief Minister for the opportunity to develop this Report. He said it was a learning experience for many members of the committee. The Minister said the Committee made a deliberate attempt to keep the Report brief. We did it this way simply because we want it to be easy to review that any lay person can understand. The Committee held meetings with representatives of many businesses within the community, such as Cable and Wireless and several trust companies. He said one of the most important findings during the research stage is that e-commerce is already present in the territory. He said the Committee was basically preparing a legal way of carrying out this industry. We hope that the recommendations of this Report (10 of them) will meet with the approval of yourself and in so doing, you can take the necessary steps and I promised the members of this Committee, I will do everything possible to urge the encouragement and help support as quickly as possible, the implementation of the recommendations of the Report. Chief Minister O'Neal said the next step is for him to read the Report and circulate it to Executive Council. He said while doing so, his office would examine the requirements for implementing the recommendations, especially as it relates to the cost. After consideration by Executive Council, the Report would be laid on the table of the Legislative Council so that it becomes a public document for residents to peruse as they so desire.
			[Local News][Caribbean News][Sports & Entertainment] [World News][What's New & Commentaries] [BVI History, Attractions & Features] [Your Spot in the Sun] [Legal][Contact Us][HOME]