London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Aug 02, 2025

VI & Southampton strengthening engagement ahead of COP26

VI & Southampton strengthening engagement ahead of COP26

The Government of the [Virgin] Islands (VI) and University of Southampton are strengthening engagement through policy dialogue, academic discourse and discussions around cooperation in the lead up to the COP26 climate change talks.

Following exchanges with officials at the university in June, Special Envoy of the Premier Mr E. Benito Wheatley reaffirmed the VI Government’s position that the University of Southampton is as a key partner of the VI as preparations are made ahead of the climate change meetings in Glasgow.

“The University of Southampton and the BVI Government share a keen interest in climate change issues and there is a strong interest by both sides to work together on activities ahead of COP26. Our respective representatives have remained engaged since the late recovery period after the September 2017 hurricanes, which highlighted the severe impact of climate change on the BVI as a Small Island Developing State. There is an opportunity for us to work together to highlight the very real risks that exist,” Wheatley said.

To strengthen cooperation, the Government and University held a virtual policy/academic exchange from May 6-7, 2021 in which they discussed areas of mutual interest such as climate change, maritime management, coastal management, marine biodiversity and cooperation on higher education. In attendance were Dr the Hon. Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Sports, Agriculture and Fisheries; Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9), Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration; and Government officials from relevant Ministries and Departments. Speakers included Professor Damon Teagle, Director of the Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute; Mr Gareth Giles, Head of Public Policy Southampton; Dr Wassim Dbouk, Marine and Maritime Policy Research Fellow; and faculty members at the University of Southampton who made presentations on their research in their respective fields.

Host of areas for cooperation- Dr the Hon Wheatley


Speaking on the policy/academic exchange, Deputy Premier Wheatley said: “We were highly impressed by the range and depth of academic expertise demonstrated by faculty members at the University of the Southampton in their presentations during the various segments of the programme. The capabilities of the University presents an opportunity for the Government and academic institutions such as the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) to partner with Southampton on research and to address several of the policy challenges we face, such as mitigating the impact of climate change on the agriculture and fisheries sectors and our marine biodiversity due to changing weather patterns and the warming of the ocean. There are a host of areas in which we can cooperate.”

The VI Government and University of Southampton have committed to continuing to explore areas of cooperation and joint activities in the lead up to COP26.

Dr the Hon Wheatley and Hon Vincent O. Wheatley were joined by Mr Joseph Smith-Abbott, Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration; Mrs Tessa Smith-Claxton, Assistant Secretary in the Ministry for Agriculture and Fisheries; Ms Abbi E. Christopher, Fisheries Officer; Dr Richard Georges, President of HLSCC; Dr Arlene Smith-Thompson, Vice President of HLSCC; Ms Tracy Bradshaw, Interim Director, BVI London Office; Ms Siohban Flax, Deputy Director of the BVI London Office; and Mr E. Benito Wheatley, Special Envoy of the Premier.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Trump Threatens Canada with Tariffs Over Palestinian State Recognition
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Trump Sues Murdoch in “Heavyweight Bout”: Lawsuit Over Alleged Epstein Letter Sets Stage for Courtroom Showdown
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
Trump Administration Finalizes Broad Tariff Increases on Global Trade Partners
J.K. Rowling Limits Public Engagements Citing Safety Fears
JD.com Launches €2.2 Billion Bid for German Electronics Retailer Ceconomy
Azerbaijan Proceeds with Plan to Legalise Casinos on Artificial Islands
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
×