The National Unity Government is seeking to have the Miami-based BVI Ports Authority LLC (Limited Liability Company) dissolved with plans of reestablishing another company to maintain the office space.
This is according to the Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable Natalio Wheatley who made the comment in response to questions posed by the media at a recent press conference.
While responding, the premier noted that the Deputy Premier and Minister for Communication and Works Honourable Kye Rymer has much more information on the matter that will be forthcoming in the not-too-distant future.
He said, “I do not believe that it is currently doing business, but he has much more detailed updates as it pertains to that company and I believe he is seeking to have it dissolved and perhaps for another company to be formed to be able to operate some type of office out of Miami on behalf of BVI Tourist Board, Ports, Shipping Registry etcetera.”
The BVI Ports Authority LLC became a topic across the territory after a document bearing the name of the former BVI Ports Authority Managing Director Oleanvine Maynard, started circulating across the territory following her three-count indictment on drugs and money laundering charges.
Investigations found it to be a legitimate company
The concerns prompted Rymer, who at the time was just appointed the minister responsible for the BVI Ports Authority, to conduct preliminary internal investigations into the company.
According to the deputy premier, the investigations found that the entity is a legitimate company which acts as an outreach location for the territory’s cruise business.
He said, “The BVI Ports Authority, LLC is a company registered in the United States in 2019 to enable the BVI Ports Authority to rent office space in the Miami area to provide an outreach location for its cruise business.”
“In addition, it was decided that the office space could also host the BVI Tourist Board and the Shipping Registry. It was intended to be a multi-agency space for the purpose of marketing and promoting tourism, ship registration and perhaps in the future serve as a base in Miami for Virgin Islanders, residents and students requiring assistance while abroad,” he added.
Company never handled revenue
Rymer also assured residents that the Miami-based company did not handle any form of revenue and he explained why Maynard’s name was among a list of three directors on the document, who are all shareholders of the company.
“According to the advice provided, in order to establish the company, a minimum of three (3) Directors were required. The Directors names are Roxane Sylvester, Deputy Chair of the BVIPA Board; Kenesha Sprauve, Member of the BVIPA Board of Directors and Chairman of the BVI Tourist Board; and Oleanvine Maynard the Managing Director of the BVIPA. These persons are holding the shares of the company in the interest of the BVI Ports Authority,” he explained.
The deputy premier further disclosed that the office of the BVI Ports Authority LLC was never officially opened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but said it was used to host government agency meetings while officials were in Miami on business travel.