The late Ralph T O’Neal is set to be honoured at the BVI London Office on Monday with a Commemorative Bust as part of its 21st anniversary celebrations since the opening of the office.
Premier Dr. the Honourable Natalio Wheatley made the announcement at a press conference on Thursday.
He said the plan to honour the territory’s first premier commenced over a year ago to pay homage to the visionary for his role in establishing the BVI London Office in 2002.
Also providing details on the celebrations in store for the late premier was Deputy Premier and Minister of Financial Services, Labour and Immigration, Honourable Lorna Smith.
Smith was the first Director of the BVI London Office and she said the honour is fitting for the late O’Neal whose decision to establish a BVI office in London continues to benefit the territory.
The late O’Neal, who hails from Virgin Gorda, passed away at the age of 85 in November 2019.
He is the longest-serving elected representative in the BVI after serving more than 40 years since first being elected in 1975.
In addition to serving as Premier, he also served as the Minister for Finance and Economic Development, Minister for Social Services and the Minister for Natural Resources and Labour.
He initially represented the sister island of Virgin Gorda as the Seventh Electoral District Representative until it was changed to the Ninth Electoral District to include Anegada.