London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 31, 2025

BVI and UN WIDEN COOPERATION AS BREXIT ENDS EU AID

BVI and UN WIDEN COOPERATION AS BREXIT ENDS EU AID

The British Virgin Islands has strengthened cooperation with the United Nations ahead of losing future European Union support for sustainable development at the end of 2020 when the Brexittransition period expires.
To advance the sustainable development of the islands, the British Virgin Islands Government has secured technical assistance from the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) to help develop a National Sustainable Development Plan for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

In addition, UN ECLAC has also agreed to Co-Chair with the British Virgin Islands a summit of the regional commission’s 14 Associate Member Countries (AMCs) in 2021 that will focus on addressing the assistance gap to the AMCs as they strive to meet the SDGs.

Implementation of the National Sustainable Development Plan will be supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under a Memorandum of Understanding signed on 2ndNovember 2020 by Premier and Minister of Finance Hon. Andrew A. Fahie and UN Assistant Secretary-General Luis Felipe Lopez-Calva that will strengthen cooperation between the British Virgin Islands and UNDP in the areas of sustainable development, climate resilience and COVID-19 response and recovery.

The UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Barbados has also confirmed it is strengthening its coordination role among UN agencies in the region to support the sustainable development of the British Virgin Islands and the countries included in the Eastern Caribbean.

In response to the disruption caused by COVID-19 to the sustainable development agenda and the negative economic, social and health impacts of the global pandemic, the UN is helping the British Virgin Islands to address the effects of the virus as a part of its Multisectoral Response Plan for the Eastern Caribbean. Among other things, UNDP, UNICEF and UN Women have collaborated with the British Virgin Islands Government to produce a COVID-19 Human and Economic Assessment of Impact (HEAT) Report on the islands which has been used to help guide the local response.

The British Virgin Islands has also been active in the regional and international dialogue on COVID-19’s impact on Latin America and the Caribbean and proposals for post-pandemic recovery. Among other things, in his role as Vice Chair of UN ECLAC’s Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee (CDCC), Premier Fahie has chaired a High-Level Panel on ‘Challenges for the Caribbean to Build Back Better from COVID-19’ at the 38th Session of UN ECLAC from 26th-28th October 2020.

The High-Level Panel included the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia Hon. Allen Chastanet, State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica Senator the Hon. Leslie Campbell, UN Special Envoy on Financing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Mr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, Assistant Secretary-General for the Climate Action Team of the UN Mr. Selwyn Hart, Assistant Secretary-General for Trade and Economic Integration of CARICOM Mr. Joseph Cox and Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies (UWI) Sir Hilary Beckles.

Premier Fahie also chaired a UN ECLAC/UWI Development Partners Forum on 14th October 2020 on the theme, ‘Investing in Higher Education to Build More Resilient Post-COVID-19 Economies.’ The meeting featured remarks by Prime Minister of Barbados Hon. Mia Amor Mottley and UWI Vice Chancellor Sir Hilary Beckles, and included participation by over 100 participants from governments, donor agencies, development banks and UN agencies.

The British Virgin Islands’ has received high plaudits for its COVID-19 response from UN Assistant Secretary General Luis Felipe Lopez-Calva, UN Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Mr. Didier Trebucq and UNDP Resident Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Mr. Ugo Blanco.

Premier and Minister of Finance Hon. Andrew A. Fahie has also received high commendation for his regional statesmanship over the course of the global pandemic from UN ECLAC Executive Secretary Ms. Alicia Barcena and ECLAC President Costa Rica Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship Mr. Rodolfo Solano Quiros.

Commenting on the British Virgin Islands cooperation with the UN, Premier Fahie said,

“The British Virgin Islands will continue to deepen our relationship with the UN as we work closely on the local response to COVID-19 and engage with regional and international partners to lay the groundwork for post-pandemic recovery, climate resilience and sustainable development for Caribbean SIDS.”

The Premier is supported in his role as Vice Chair of the CDCC by Permanent Secretary Dr. Carolyn O’Neal-Morton, Deputy Secretary Mrs. Elvia Smith-Maduro, International Affairs Director Ms. Najan Christopher, Assistant Secretary for External Affairs Ms. Dwynel Davis, Development Cooperation Specialist Ms. Patlian Johnson and Special Envoy of the Premier Mr. Benito Wheatley.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
×